Taking Stock
Books, Music, Movies, and Milestones That Defined My Year.
“Progress is a magnitude of Consistency.”
—Billy Oppenheimer
Hey folks, to close out the year, here’s a list of some of my favorite books, music, movies and shows that stood out throughout. Enjoy and don’t hesitate to plug me with what moved you this year.
📚Books
Animal Farm by George Orwell.
I read this book in High School and re-read it this year. With an understanding of the nature of politics, particularly Politics of a country like Zimbabwe Orwell’s Animal Farm finds more resonance.
Its is an allegorical novella that critiques totalitarianism, depicting how a group of farm animals overthrow their human owner to establish an egalitarian society, only to see it devolve into a dictatorship under the pigs.
Relevant references:
—NoViolet Bulawayo on George Orwell: ‘Animal Farm sent me foraging my childhood’
—Zimbabwe's obsession with Animal Farm as novel gets Shona translation
The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith
This book offers a pragmatic and cynical analysis of politics, emphasizing that leaders—whether in democracies or autocracies—are primarily motivated by staying in power. Simply put, it shows how politics is less about ideology or morality and more about practical strategies for retaining power.
Again, coming from a toxic political landscape like Zimbabwe, the book found great resonance with me.
Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke
Explores how the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain in a dopamine-driven world leads to addiction and unhappiness, emphasizing the need for balance and self-restraint to find true contentment.
Digging Stars by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
A book that explores the remnant complexities of colonialism, racism whilst navigating the realities of what it means to be American. In the same breath, it shows that no people have a monopoly on astronomy or knowledge about the cosmos.
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
Must be read with a very open mind and sensitivity to current realities of the Global world like Chinese economic rise and nature of oppressive regimes be it historical colonialism and now.
Who Will Bury You? And Other Stories by Chido Muchemwa
Special Mention: One of the few African literature, short story books I have enjoyed in a while. Finished all stories just yesterday(Dec 28 2024).
📰Newsletters
Six at 6 by Billy Oppenheimer.
This was my favorite weekly Newsletter throughout the year.Meditations on Migration by Allen Matsika
This publication explores Allen’s journey as he returns home in Zimbabwe to raise goats and write after 10years in the US. I enjoy it as someone who recently moved to the US. It’s a taste of home while I’m away from someone with a perspective of where I’m at.Austin Kleon’s Newsletter: New York Times bestselling author of five books: Steal Like an Artist; Show Your Work!; Keep Going; Steal Like An Artist Journal; and Newspaper Blackout.
Whether it’s getting to the South Pole or freezing the planet over, getting in shape or writing a book, building a company, learning a new language, or perfecting your jump shot—progress is a magnitude of consistency. It’s not how hard you go today, tomorrow, and next week. It’s—when we check in on you in three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten years—are you still going?
—Billy Oppenheimer, Article: “Progress is a magnitude of Consistency”
🎶Music
Not ashamed to say, The Private School Amapiano King—Kelvin Momo carried me throughout the year. He released 3 albums in one year, each with more than 15songs. Who does that?
—Find my reviews of his albums here:While I wanted Kelvin Momo to top my Spotify Wrapped, Sjava came top, which is still fine given how much I respect his versatility and authenticity.
Sjava is an multi award winning Afro pop artist. His music is a blend of hip-hop, R&B and African pop styles. He sings and raps entirely in Zulu, writing emotionally resonant sounds about relationships and family matters, and his songs show a commonality between contemporary R&B and trap with traditional Zulu musical forms. He appears on Kendrick Lamar’s curated Black Panther soundtrack. He does it for me.
I played his album Isibuko many times this year.
Notable Mentions: These are the artists or music I discovered this year, or listened to a lot, or are just my all time favorites and made the playlist,
Cleo Sol, Sade, Jacob Banks, Odumodublvck, Black Sheriff, Nutty O, Burna Boy, Asake, Tems, Tyla, NiteFreak, Snoh Alegra, Masego, IAMDB, J Cole.
My Spotify Private School Amapiano Playlist & other soulful music I love:
📽️Movies & Tv Shows
I got into a lot of jazz this year and loved me some jazz fused movies.
Sylvie's Love: a summer romance with a saxophonist who takes a summer job at her father's record store in Harlem; when they reconnect years later, they discover that their feelings for each other have not faded with the years.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman are just too good in this movie as is the whole cast.
The Underground Railroad: I’m a huge Thuso Mbedu fan and she nailed her performance here.
The Office: My forever feel good comfort show.
Abbott Elementary: Quinta Brunson created a sitcom that’s hilarious and nostalgic of the Office but stands out in it’s own way.
Cunk on Earth: a comedic mockumentary series featuring Philomena Cunk, a hilariously oblivious and deadpan presenter, as she embarks on a satirical exploration of human history and culture, blending absurdity with surprisingly insightful moments. Very hilarious!
🚨Updates:
I launched a podcast: The Pen and Pulse Podcast.
It’s a show that seeks to amplify young African voices at home and in the diaspora but with a strong focus in those in the literary space. But not limited to writers, also influencers and academics in culture, politics and life in general.
I put up a invite form if you know someone who may want to come on the show or if you wish to be featured on the show
This publication will undergo a rebrand next-year. I will be re-naming it to “The Pen and Pulse”. Stay tuned for why and the new content!
As always, Thank you for reading this free publication.
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Until next time:
Peace✌🏾 and love 💓.
Aluta Continua, beautifully so
And Wishing you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year!!!