NBAF The time is upon us for the National Black Arts Festival; this year's theme, convienent to this column, is "In Conversation: South Africa and the American South".

Some sites have already been open since the beginning of the month, such as a good documentary/photo/history exhibit at the Carter Center about US segregation vs. SA apartheid.

Arts and crafts mainly by or related to South African traditions are on display in several galleries, and even for sale at an artists' market at Atlantic Station this weekend.

Music, plays, movies etc. Too much to list here, go to the events webpage. Many are free, open to the public, and in venues all around town. Not to be missed: King Leopold's Ghost, a movie about Belgian colonial rule in Congo Kinshasa. Belgians are said to have been the worst colonial exploiters. I suspect its true. Let's find out.  ¶ 10:05 PM