From the Dutch-language ZAM Africa Magazine:

On May 8, 2006, the South African Judge Willem van der Merwe ruled that ANC leader Jacob Zuma was not guilty of the rape of Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, the daughter of his late friend Judson Kuzwayo, his fellow prisoner on Robben Island who died in exile in 1985. Zuma did not deny having sex with her, but claimed since the victim wore a khanga, a wraparound cloth, she had "asked for it." Following the verdict, Kuzwayo, moved to Amsterdam prompted by persistent threats from Zuma’s supporters. There she gained political asylum, partly through assistance from the AIDS Fonds and people involved in the former anti-apartheid movement. On September 26 [2008] Kuzwayo performed, dressed in a khanga, the poem below at the opening of the exhibition "Identity, Power and Connection," on the eve of the bi-annual Afrovibes Festival. In this way, she responded for the first time to the court’s verdict:

I am Khanga
Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo

I wrap myself around the curvaceous bodies of women all over Africa

I am the perfect nightdress on those hot African nights

The ideal attire for household chores

I secure babies happily on their mother’s backs

Am the perfect gift for new bride and new mother alike

Armed with proverbs, I am vehicle for communication between women

I exist for the comfort and convenience of a woman

But no no no make no mistake …

I am not here to please a man

And I certainly am not a seductress

Please don’t use me as an excuse to rape

Don’t hide behind me when you choose to abuse

You see

That’s what he said my Malume

The man who called himself my daddy’s best friend

Shared a cell with him on [Robben] Island for ten whole years

He said I wanted it

That my khanga said it

That with it I lured him to my bed

That with it I want you is what I said

But what about the NO I uttered with my mouth

Not once but twice

And the please no I said with my body

What about the tear that ran down my face as I lay stiff with shock

In what sick world is that sex

In what sick world is that consent

The same world where the rapist becomes the victim

The same world where I become the bitch that must burn

The same world where I am forced into exile because I spoke out?

This is NOT my world

I reject that world

My world is a world where fathers protect and don’t rape

My world is a world where a woman can speak out

Without fear for her safety

My world is a world where no one, but no one is above the law

My world is a world where sex is pleasurable not painful

Courtesy of Africa is a Country via Chimurenga Magazine.

The freedom to express
Cannot be given up.
It comes from God.
Be free and brave.
Only one prison remains:
Our minds.

– Reesom Haile, poet

Photo from the archives of Nunu Kidane.

Sculpted images of African men and women were rarely shown in public galleries before the 19th century, but Charles Cordier's plaster bust of "Saïd Abdullah of the Mayac, Kingdom of the Darfur (Sudan)" had a tremendous reception, when it was displayed at the 1848 Paris Salon.

Finished in two weeks, the bust reflects the mid-19th century European fascination with non-Western physiognomy, costumes and customs, later characterised as Orentalism.

In 1851 Cordier made a pendant bust of a female entitled "African Venus" and bronze casts of both busts were commissioned, indicating the growing crossover of cultures as Africa became more accessible with improved methods of transportation and trade.

When Benazir Bhutto was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988, she became the first women ever to lead a Muslim nation. On 27 December 2007, her life and leadership was cut short by a suicide bomb attack and shooting. BHUTTO, a new film by Duane Baughman, reveals her legacy as seen through an intrepid political career.

An official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, BHUTTO features interviews with experts, friends and family members including Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower and current President of Pakistan; Pervez Musharraf, exiled former President of Pakistan; Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State; Arianna Huffington, journalist and Bhutto's college friend; and Fatima Bhutto, journalist and niece.

BHUTTO will have its U.S. theatrical premiere in New York and Los Angeles on 3 December 2010. A nationwide roll out will follow.

+ Learn more about the film.
+ Learn more about Benazir Bhutto.

Photo: Bhutto at her home in Dubai on 4 December 2004. (Lichfield/GETTY IMAGES)

Over the last three decades, according to the United States' Center for Disease Control, obesity rates in America have tripled in children between the ages of 6 to 11 and adolescents age 12 to 19. Today, nearly one in three children is overweight or obese. Further complicating the issue, girls today are bombarded with images in media and fashion promoting ultra thinness as an ideal that have a negative influence on body image and are linked to eating disorders among other unhealthy habits.

The Girl Scout Research Institute's latest survey, Beauty Redefined: Girls and Body Image (2010), demonstrates that many girls consider the body image sold by the fashion industry unrealistic, creating an unattainable model of beauty:

• Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed say the fashion industry (89 percent) and/or the media (88 percent) place a lot of pressure on them to be thin.
• However, despite the criticism of this industry, 3 out of 4 girls say that fashion is "really important" to them. Girls still feel intense pressure from the media to have an 'ideal' body type. When they do not measure up to these unrealistic beauty standards, their self-esteem, body image, and physical health can be significantly damaged.

Girls still feel intense pressure from the media to have an 'ideal' body type. When they do not measure up to these unrealistic beauty standards, their self-esteem, body image, and physical health can be significantly damaged.

What are some things you have done to encourage young women and girls to see themselves and their bodies positively? Is it possible to change the way the media portrays women in film, television and editorial? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

+ Download the Beauty Redefined factsheet

Known best for richly colorful cultural testaments, photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu prepares for the release of his feature film directorial debut "Restless City".

A love story set in New York City's West African immigrant community, "Restless City" follows Dijbril as he negotiates the frogmarch of Canal Street, New York's mecca for counterfeit goods.

Djibril hustles out a living there with his compadres, thick as thieves, quick as blades, one step ahead of caution.

A narrative of adventure and tragedy, Dosunmu's gift for storytelling through imagery is sure to resonate as witness to Djibril's struggle to make ends meet and achieve his dream of becoming a musician.

Written by Eugene M. Gussenhoven and starring Sy Alassane (Djbril), Sky Grey (Trini), and Tony Okungbowa (Bekay), look for "Restless City" as it makes the festival rounds, including a Sundance showing, during the 2010-2011 season.

Photo by Jenny Baptiste

“I feel sad. I don’t know where my son is. I feel a huge amount of sadness…When he left he said, ‘Mum, I’ll call you in 12 days’, but I never heard from him again. I still have hope.” – Mother of Migrant (Mexico, 2010)

Every year tens of thousands of people leave their homes in Central and South America and journey north through Mexico, seeking a better life in the United States. As irregular migrants they do not have legal permission to enter or remain in the country.

Inspired by the stories of the people who make the journey, actor and producer Gael García Bernal ("Amores Perros", "Y tu mamá también", "The Motorcycle Diaries") and director Marc Silver ("Resist", "The Games") collaborated with human rights agency Amnesty International to produce  The Invisibles (Los Invisibles), a series of films depicting the lives of irregular migrants in Mexico.

The four films record the journey of hundreds of migrants from the border between Guatemala and Mexico on their way to the United States. The premiere of The Invisibles coincides with the start of this year’s Global Forum on Migration and Development, taking place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"You don't imagine that your dreams can end in a moment on this journey." – Migrant from El Salvador (Mexico, 2009)

+ Watch the films
+ Take action

A follow-up to their Framework and Dress the Part poster series, Ensemble, depicts musical icons like Prince, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and others through their fashion repertoire.

Designed by Moxy's Glenn Michael and illustrated by James Alexander, the posters are a limited edition of 250 each and only available through the Moxy website.

Ibrahima Samb, 25, is my English language student. He is studying accounting and, unfortunately, really likes listening to Eminem.  I promised to bring him some Amir Sulaiman and Mos Def our next class.

I asked him, in Wolof, if I could take his photo to show my friends back home and he quickly jumped up and started directing me as posed for the camera.