Top Picks: PBS's 'Great African Civilizations,' Sampha's 'Process,' and more
Exploring Africa
Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the history of Africa in the PBS series , in which Gates travels to the Nubian pyramids in Sudan; Africa鈥檚 oldest university in Fez, Morocco; and other destinations. The series debuts on Feb. 27 at 9 p.m. and will air over multiple nights.
Time change
The app not only lets you keep track of time across the world but has great visuals. Download it for the next trip when you鈥檒l need to remember a time change. It鈥檚 available for iOS for $2.99.
Heartfelt music
Great beauty can come from pain, and there鈥檚 no better example than British singer/songwriter . Wistful and grief-tinged songs from a heart still in the midst of healing provide the perfect title for his affecting debut album, 鈥淧rocess.鈥� If his tender falsetto sounds familiar to fans of Solange, Drake, and Kanye West, it鈥檚 because he鈥檚 been a favorite collaborator and background singer for the new soul A-list for several years. His appeal lies in the humility and vulnerability in cathartic tracks such as 鈥淲hat Shouldn鈥檛 I Be?鈥� and 鈥淜ora Sings,鈥� a tribute to his late mother. Critics are hailing it as one of the year鈥檚 best so far. We agree.聽 聽
Mountain high
If you鈥檙e exploring and are curious about that summit in the distance, can provide useful information. The app identifies nearby mountains without needing an internet connection, which is perfect for hikers and nature lovers. PeakFinder Earth is available for $3.99 for iOS and Android.
Impactful romance
Actress Ruth Negga received Academy attention for her work in the movie , which is available on DVD and Blu-ray. The film stars Negga and Joel Edgerton as real-life couple Mildred and Richard Loving. Richard is white and Mildred is black; their marriage violated the Racial Integrity Act in Virginia. The US Supreme Court ruling on their marriage changed history. Monitor film critic Peter Rainer writes that the couple鈥檚 鈥渄evotion to each other under such an onslaught is convincingly steely. This is due in large part to Negga鈥檚 performance, which gives Mildred鈥檚 reticence a righteous core.鈥�
