the countdown begins...

_posted in africa | music | 13 July 2007

who's going to go see femi kuti at hob on sunset thursday? who you ask? ME! thats who. the count down has begun.

this is going to be the concert of the year for me, until tinariwen in november. fickle heart that i have, moving from one greatness to the other...

antero had the nerve to say he's not interested in seeing femi and how he's never been into afrobeat, except for fela. he attributes this lackluster view of afrobeat from some lame taking him to go see antibalas. alright, lets get a few things ironed out.

antibalas is to afrobeat what phish is to rock. they are a jam band that sucks on cd. as well as jam bands that are a shadow of the form they have claimed. thats about it.

to his credit antero does enjoy the awesomeness of fela, as he should since he is a well cultured human being (like that antero?). but i'll be damned if i'll let antero pass up on seeing one of the great afrobeat performers every to grace the shrine. now in a perfect world i'd be at the african shrine in lagos listening to femi.

so be prepared for regular emails and calls antero. you have been warned, so i suggest you resign your self (and why does it have to be this way) to seeing femi, while drinking over priced beer at the house of blues.

"how you gonna disretrospect me?"

_posted in africa | dayedayerocks | film | ingredients for life | 12 July 2007

alright... a coworker sent me a link to who's your caddy?. let me just say right now, i love the 'kast... me and outkast go back to 1994, hardcore... but i'll be damned if i let big boi get away with this racially charged remake of a horrible movie. that movie being caddyshack 2 with jackie mason.

let's get beyond the fact that the movie looks like complete shit, and talk about why, why and WHY my people have to come incorrect when it comes to comedy. lowest common denominator means you're a whack ass comedian, with no insight or you're not smart enough to come up with an intelligent comedic viewpoint. i think you need to look at some good examples; dave chappelle, richard pryor. it's possible to still talk about race and not feed the stereotype machine... if your whole shtick is about being black, then you need to work on your fucking act. last time i checked, black and white people pissed the same way, shat (yes i said shat) the same way as well... something about pants and one leg at a time thing...

"how you gonna disretrospect me" big boi? ras! im just saying man. when are we going to make movies that are not dumb racial comedies, that more or less solidify stereotypes. fuck i cant even stand "white trash" comedy. i dig smart comedy that deals with real issues, be they black, white, yellow, brown, pink or mauve issues.

_in other news.

the quiet life has a post about african eats... oh yes... believe me im making me some fufu and moambe stew soon. i haven't had nigerian food since leaving atlanta. man i miss my international friends. i never had to venture far to find some food from indian, morocco, nigeria or senegal. and all i had to do was go home to get some west indian food cooked by my own mama. man, i could use some salt fish and ground food right. about. now.

since i've mastered west indian cuisine (and my da is quiet proud) it's time to venture past our caribbean home to the motherland. this will be my first foray into african eats, so i may create a nice new category on the site... recipes gone wrong, in the kitchen, or ingredients for life. holy shit... im feeling ingredients for life. it has been decided... fresh recipes as caprice dictates.

_soundcheck: common: like water for chocolate

thus africa...

_posted in africa | music | 11 July 2007

yet again... africa... my heart pines for you...

i've been rocking tinariwen almost thrice a day with a lot of femi kuti thrown in for good measure.

speaking of tinariwen... they will be in los angeles and san francisco in november. i'm that far gone that i'm definitely making the los angeles show and hoping i can afford the san fran jazz festival. one day i'll see them play at the festival au desert .

speaking of concerts this summer... there are some amazing things going on for the free no less... the only thing better than free is stolen... the temple bar of course isnt free, but im so reluctant to even put it out in the universe, because i don't want to end up there and find its packed, but in all fairness you should know who's going to be there... damn me and my fairness... anyone interested in going to these shows let me know...

GRAND PERFORMANCES
Friday, August 03 - 8:00 PM: Afro Cuba Calling!
Saturday, August 04 - 8:00 PM: Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective
Friday, August 10 - 12:00 PM: Vieux Farka Toure
Friday, August 17 - 12:00 PM: Alex Cuba
Thursday, August 30 - 8:00 PM: Kronos Quartet

SKIRBALL CENTER Sunset Concerts @ 7pm
Thursday, August 9 @ Taper Courtyard : Vieux Farka Toure

TEMPLE BAR
Friday, August 10: Vieux Farka Toure
Saturday, November 3: Tinariwen

ROYCE HALL : UCLA : 8pm
Saturday, December 1: Youssou N'Dour
Saturday, February 16: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Wednesday, March 12: Angelique Kidjo

_soundcheck: tinariwen: aman iman

"Good thing I'm not an idealist-I'm just here for the money."

_posted in africa | sunday morning news catch up | the world | 08 July 2007

there's some guy claiming that the press ties the hands of those fighting the war on terror, suggesting that there should be another my-lai massacre like the one in vietnam. that alone will solve all the problems with terror, killing civilians in cold blood. thomas friedman has always been on of my favorite columnist, but i've never agreed with his views on globalization aka neocolonialism. i need to read some of samir amin's work. speaking of neocolonialism, danny glover takes the imf and world bank to task in his latest film, bamako.

The Taliban's Opium War

full article

supplemental photography

supplemental audio

quote 1

A great dust cloud formed as the A.T.V.s hyperkinetically whizzed past us and the trucks kicked up plumes of swirling yellow powder. Picking up speed, Lockyear exclaimed, "This is redneck heaven. You get to run around the desert on A.T.V.s and pickups, shoot guns, and get paid for it. Man, it's the perfect job!"

quote 2

"How long have you been growing poppies?" Wankel asked him. The farmer looked surprised. "When I was born, I saw the poppies," he said.

When we were ready to move on, the farmer said, as if to be polite, "Thank you-but I can't really thank you, because you haven't destroyed just my poppies but my wheat, too." He pointed to where A.T.V.s had driven through a wheat patch. Wankel apologized, then commented that it was only one small section. "But you have also damaged my watermelons," the farmer insisted, pointing to another part of the field. "Now I will have nothing left."

Wankel turned away. As we walked on, the farmer called out, "Are you destroying all the poppies or just my field?"

quote 3

Hook, a former Army man and prison guard, had been hired by DynCorp just the month before. One morning, he said, "The real problem in this war on terror is you guys, the press. Ties our hands. The only way to fight this is to give them back the same medicine, like Operation Phoenix, in Vietnam. My Lai-what Calley did there was probably just on orders."

quote 4

Back at camp, everyone was in a bad mood. Hook, the former prison guard, remarked, "We ought to take all those guys and hang them in public, beginning with the governor." He laughed, and added, "Good thing I'm not an idealist-I'm just here for the money."

Sorry, Thomas Friedman, the World Is Round

full article

quote 1

But, like all revolutions, this one will have its winners and losers. Of the former, most obvious are corporate CEOs who will fatten their bottom line by tapping into the vast reservoir of cheap foreign labor. On the other side is Joe Six Pack, who will suffer from a net loss in American jobs. Much of the success of Friedman's book lies in his dire warnings to Americans that they are on the verge of a major crisis. Not only are hard-working, low-wage Indian workers stealing their jobs, but hard-working, tech-savvy Chinese students are increasingly taking seats in top undergrad and graduate college programs. And, Friedman frets, if America doesn't wake up, it will face a potentially disastrous decline: Or, as Infosys's CEO Nilekani later explains, the American middle class "has not yet grasped the competitive intensity of the future. Unless they [do], they will not make the investments in reskilling themselves, and you will end up with a lot of people stranded on an island."

quote 2

According to Amin, the ethic of liberalism -- "Long live competition, may the strong win" -- is now ravaging societies of the Third World, causing further "social alienation and pauperization of urban classes."

"What is going to become of these billions of human beings, already for the most part, the poor among the poor?"... In this drive to satisfy the insatiable hunger for new markets of its Western clients, the WTO is sanctioning a process that will "destroy -- in human terms -- entire societies."

Bamako: Danny Glover Produces and Stars in New Film Putting the World Bank and IMF on Trial in Africa

full article

supplemental audio

quote 1

And Bamako is the capital of Mali -- that he began to weave this story where we have men and women who are traumatized and who are dismissed by globalization. They're the ones who give testimony. So it's their story. It's them -- they're saying, in a most brilliant way, how globalization has impacted their life, how the IMF and the World Bank and structural adjustments and conditionalities have impacted their life, and the structural violence that it's caused in their life. This courtyard has people who are unemployed, women who dye fabrics, which is a dying art in Africa, anyway. Most of the fabrics are now dyed somewhere else, particularly in China. And so, this is just -- then they unfolded this story, and then, not only that story, that within the story the court happening, you see the life, the teeming life, the life of the people as they go through the day-to-day aspects of survival.

quote 2

Imagine if we even look at our own lives here, in reference to what is happening in areas in this country where people are in slums and in inner cities. We don't know what's really happening in those areas themselves.

quote 3

You, Harry Belafonte, Nelson Mandela, the Congressional Black Caucus, progressives throughout the country have been talking about getting rid of this debt and then promoting trade. And nothing, Danny, is more disturbing to me than last week's announcement that the US was building a huge military base in Africa. Question: what for?

_soundcheck: tinariwen: the radio tisdas sessions

my newest crush...

_posted in africa | photography | 06 July 2007

wow. im so smitten right now... andrew dosunmu's photography is honest. and i love it. all his images have a quality that just screams realty, they arent airbrushed crap of artists or models, they are places and people that make sense. you can tell from his images that he's confident, he doens't feel out of place, he belongs where ever he 's taking a picture, he belongs with the people in his images. even his fashion photography appeals to me and i hate fashion photography.

he directed the video for youssou n'dour's birim! and any man who can make me love tracy chapman even more than i already do, is completely talented in my book. he's done work with common, patrice and other artists. and i'm not sure how he wasn't on my radar, cause he's exactly what i love about photography and film.

he did a documentary by the name of hot iron that i did see so long ago and thought, "holy shit. that's mad crazy, i love it!" check it out.

_soundcheck: youssou n'dour: joko from the village

on the rumba river

_posted in africa | film | music | 27 June 2007

if you're in los angeles, i suggest you take your lovely self over to the Mann Theater near the corner of Westwood and Linbrook on 28.June at 7pm to see On the Rumba River.

africa, music, film... three things that make for a happy daye. watch the trailer... watch an excerpt from the film. and i dare you to not sway in your seat.

it follows wendo kolosoy, the congeles rumba legend.

_soundcheck: john lee hooker: it serves you right to suffer

Heart of Light

_posted in africa | film | 27 June 2007

i just got an awesome email tonight that completely has me revved up.

jaime lauren, an anthropology student at UCLA, and fellow classmate from my documentary film class will be shooting a film in Zambia at 3 refugee camps. Please read the excerpt below about her project.

_information

Currently, I am in pre-production on Heart of Light, a documentary about refugees of the conflict in the Congo (which killed 3.8 million people).

In collaboration with UN Operating Partner FORGE, I will shoot this film at 3 refugee camps in Zambia this summer. Additionally, logistics-permitting, we will follow a refugee family on their emotional journey of repatriation to the Congo.

The extremely talented Director of Photography, Barney Broomfield signed on to the project. Barney is the son of cinematographer Joan Churchill and director Nick Broomfield, is gifted in his own right, and his films have aired on PBS and the BBC. Additionally, he has experience working all around the world, including 3 months in a refugee camp. We are thrilled to have him on board! Also, I met recently with the Director of Artist Relations at Amnesty International, who offered to help get the completed Heart of Light out to her 2 million members. I am confident that this, coupled with Barney's involvement, will ensure that Heart of Light has a wide-reaching humanitarian impact.

This project was recently honored with a grant from the Strauss Foundation. Nonetheless, in order to sponsor Barney's involvement (including airfare, in-country transportation, lodging, equipment, stipend, etc.), we still need to raise an additional $10,000 minimum by July 14. I simply cannot do this without your help!

Therefore, I am writing to ask if you might consider making a contribution to FORGE for Heart of Light. Your support would be immensely appreciated, and will play a key role in ensuring that this film has a wide-reaching impact. Also, as FORGE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all contributions are 100% tax deductible. Finally, those supporting at amounts over $1000 will receive "very special thanks" in the credits.

_to donate

DONATE TO Heart of Light
Click on the orange button that says "donate now." Then, in the field that asks, "Is this donation to be attributed to certain FORGE project, please enter "Documentary -- Jamie Lauren"

_contacting Jaime

email: jamielauren2000@yahoo.com
phone: 310 770 1460

im extremely excited for jaime. she has all the right elements to make an amazing project come to life. please DONATE if you can. Five dollars isn't too small of an amount, no amount is too small of an amount. also, repost this on your blog if you want to help out, or your MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, or whatever social network you're a part of.

thus fucking africa!!

_posted in africa | 26 June 2007

it's literally killing me that i've yet to make a trip to africa. i've been listening to anything from the continent i can get my hands on, watching any film i can find by african filmmakers, reading all i can by african writers, researching countries on the west coast of the continent, checking out plane ticket prices to mail, senegal, burkina faso, south africa, et all. its a sad state of affairs.

we're planning on connecting with the family in panama this december, so im hoping i'll be more comfortable with foreign locals and filming.

anyway, i just came across the short that sunu gonera did in cape town. he's the same cat that did pride. i didnt see it and didnt realize he did it until recently. its his first major film and i hear its a solid movie, but im not sure how i feel about four screenwriters for a film.

gonera's first commercial, i believe, was a psa he did for the organization sports trust, called cricket. you may have to use an application like vlc to view the this movie, it didnt work for me in quicktime. anyway, check out his short. i think it's solid.

_soundcheck: anthony hamilton: southern comfort

"We asked for workers, but we got people."

_posted in africa | sunday morning news catch up | the world | 24 June 2007

on most sunday mornings i read news i may have missed during the week or just honestly didnt have time to get to... so i thought i should post the most interesting ones...

those who know me know im all about learning about what's going on in the world, the shit thats not on cnn and the rest of the 24hour crappers. charlie rose is my favorite interviewer... amy goodman is close behind... i love the new yorker and think it should be required reading for all americans regardless of your political lean... if there's anything that can teach staying power and in depth understanding of a subject, its a new yorker article... the norm is at least 9 pages for any article... and you do walk away a more informed citizen...

anyway.. on to the news...

Aborigines lose right to run their lands over child sex abuse scandal

full article

quote 1

"I'm absolutely disgusted by this patronising government control. Tying drinking with welfare payments is just disgusting. If they're going to do that, they're going to have to do that with every single person in Australia, not just black people."

In a World on the Move, a Tiny Land Strains to Cope

my introduction to amilcar cabral was the first time i saw chris marker's Sans Soleil

Full Article

Supplemental Video

quote 1

An estimated 200 million people live outside the country of their birth, and they help support a swath of the developing world as big if not bigger. Migrants sent home about $300 billion last year — nearly three times the world's foreign aid budgets combined. Those sums are building houses, educating children and seeding small businesses, and they have made migration central to discussions about how to help the global poor. A leading academic text calls this the "Age of Migration."

quote 2

Countries that want migrant muscle and brains also want more border control. Many of them see illegal migrants as a security threat, especially in a terrorist age, and worry that large-scale migration, even when legal, can undercut wages, require costly services and subject national identities to bonfires of religious and cultural conflict.

In Ethiopia, Fear and Cries of Army Brutality

Full Article

Supplemental Video

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In village after village, people said they had been brutalized by government troops. They described a widespread and longstanding reign of terror, with Ethiopian soldiers gang-raping women, burning down huts and killing civilians at will.

quote 2

It is the same military that the American government helps train and equip - and provides with prized intelligence.

The Possessed

Full Article

quote 1

"In general, anything that is patrimony of the cultures of the world, whether in museums in Asia or Europe or the United States, came to be there during the times when our governments were weak and the laws were weak, or during the Roman conquest or our conquest by the Spanish. Now that the world is more civilized, these countries should reflect on this issue. It saddens us Peruvians to go to museums abroad and see a Paracas textile. I am hopeful that in the future all the cultural patrimony of the world will return to its country of origin."

quote 2

Because she is of European origin, she was derided by her many enemies as la gringa and dismissed as the particular sort of gringa who latches onto indigenous styles in a sentimental and condescending way.

Incredible Eddie

Full Article

quote 1

"I gave up caring about my career $80m ago."

Self-Described Economic Hit Man John Perkins: "We Have Created the World's First Truly Global Empire"

Full Article

quote 1

I can make sure that this man makes a great deal of money, he and his family, through contracts, through various quasi-legal means, and I can also- if he doesn't accept this, you know, the same thing is going to happen to him that happened to Jaime Roldos in Ecuador and Omar Torrijos in Panama and Allende in Chile, and we tried to do it to Chavez in Venezuela and are still trying - that we will send in the people to try to overthrow him, as, in fact, we recently did with the President of Ecuador, or if we don't overthrow him, we'll assassinate him.

_soundcheck: mokobe: mon afrique

the material world

_posted in africa | photography | the world | 06 June 2007

recently while at manual arts high school i came across these amazing photographs of people's homes, turned inside out. im really late finding out about them, but i thought the concept and the images are just profound. nova has a site dedicated to "the world in balance," and the material world is featured. seriously take some time to read through "the world in balance," there's a lot of great information and stories there.

_quote

His resulting book, Material World, offers extraordinary images of families in front of their dwellings with all (or nearly all) of their possessions. Experts at the United Nations and World Bank helped determine the criteria for average families according to location (urban, rural, suburban, small town, or village), type of dwelling, family size, annual income, occupation, and religion. Here, we present five of the photographs Menzel and his team produced, along with updated statistical data for each country.

the photographs and ideas are that of peter menzel. i never knew about menzel's books but i've seen a few of his images over the years and never thought to look him up... i enjoy photography for the sake of art, but i love when photography (film, literature, any art for that matter) puts a mirror or even a different lense of how we see the world. if you can find a great balance between commerce and your passion, then you're alright in my book.

he's extraordinary in taking basic everyday activities and making you think beyond your own experience. his exploration on the economic divide; the haves and the have-nots is very honest. there is a huge disparity in material wealth the world over, but he creates no victims in his images, he gives you the honest truth of people's situations, for better or worse.

the images below are a great example of the genius of his work. the first image is one week's worth of food for a family in nunavut, canada, while the second image is that of a darfur family at a refugee camp in chad. i was dumbfounded by this comparison. these images are part of his latest book, hungry planet: what the world eats.

npr has interviews with menzel and d'aluisio (co-author) about the material world and hungry planet books. great thing about the npr interview is a complete cost breakdown for one week's worth of food. the interviews are very interesting as well.

i think the reason i find menzel's images so amazing is because of the process he goes through in creating them. working on my documentary in the last few months has been hard to say the least; working and school, while trying to get that done at the same time, but can you image putting your life on hold, in order to make a mark the only way you know how, with your camera and your ideas. i can only hope to get to that point, sooner than later, no doubt.

_soundcheck: andy palacio & the garifuna collective: watina

"you got more ideas than time"

_posted in africa | dayedayerocks | interactive narratives | photography | 09 April 2007

and... scene...

yea, it's been four months, i know. and in the last four months; lots of new projects, old projects revived, new ideas, etc.

a few things have stood out in the last few months; one being the time i spent teaching a workshop on documentary filmmaking with antero's kids from manual arts high school. it was only for two days, but i have to say it was the highlight for what has started out as a dreary year. the day after the workshop ended i realized i was getting up to go to work, not to hang out with these amazing kids. man, that was depressing. just those two days solidified my ultimate goal of film, media and teaching.

a few gems that i've come across.... enjoy.

MediaStorm always has great work. one piece thats stuck with me is "Kingsley's Crossing." Olivier Jobard created a great narrative from Kingsley's six month journey to get to Europe. there are times i need to be reminded that life requires courage and self-sacrifice, even when trying to make a name or a place for yourselve in the world.

Washington Post's On Being.
and
Peep Show.

_soundcheck: bob marley, legend

happy refugee day

_posted in africa | dayedayerocks | film | photography | the world | 20 June 2006

today is national refugee day*. of course it makes me think of many things and people, but something that stands out for me is my friend nesanet's story... she's originally from ethopia and awhile ago should told me about her family having to trek to sudan, to a camp, a refugee camp. they were refugees. as much as i pride myself on being aware of the world; the injustices, the cruelty, the need for checks and balances not just for governments, but organizations (like the wto and imf) as well corporate entities, i've been pulled in so many directions that i've not done as much as im sure im capable of doing at this time, in this place. and even though "[insert-social-ill-here] day" is something that i'm sure is meant to evoke some sort of reaction, i find the concept lacking and just another fucking thing we do to make ourselves feel good... "i observed blah-blah-blah day."

_*

me : happy world rufugee day
sp : yeah
sp: i saw that
sp: wieeerd
sp: guess it's logical
me: yea a friend of mine lived in a rufegee camp with her fam when she was younger
sp: you regulate everything else to a single day
me: walking from ethopia to sudan
sp: like love and respect and etc
sp: no shit
sp: that's hardcore
me: indeed... fucking culture of those in control
me: **** day
me: we're so stupid that we cant see further than... world aids day... worlds rufugee day... world imperialist day...
sp: lol
sp: world imperialist day
sp: awesome
sp: that should totally be a holiday
me: it is... 4th of july
sp: that doesn't have the same ring to it
me: hehehe
me: indeed it does not... i think initially we were meant to be a shining beacon of blah blah blah
me: there are no shining beacons... and i wish people would admit to it... and stop acting like america, britain, or any other western country has all the answers...
me: fucked up fuckers that we are
sp: very true
sp: speaking of beacons, i loved that klimt story
sp: that's awesome
sp: surpassing picasso
me: yea im gonna go see it on next week...
sp: very outstanding

the skirball has a photography exhibit by michal ronnen sarfdie, rwanda: after, darfur: now now showing... to coincide with this exhibit they are showing the documentary, refugee allstars as well as a live performance by the band. the band is comprised of six sierra leonean musicians who met while in refugee camps in the republic of guinea.

being very interested in design and how design plays a HUGE role in social issues, i found these gems to be worth mentioning...

the refugee radio created by mareike gast, german designer, who worked at Freeplay. you can buy a radio (for $55) and it will be shipped to a community in need... a few of these have taken the place of a few items on my "must buy list," let's be honest half the shit on my "must buy list" isnt even worth looking at, let alone buying....

came across vestal design a while back and thought they are doing some really great things... one of their ideas, The SHRIMP (Sustainable Housing for Refugees via Mass Production), refugee housing....

a refugee camp in the heart of the city... i really wish this was going to be los angeles... check out the pictures... this will be in atlanta in september... i suggest those of you at home check it out!

_in other news...

i had this meeting with a friend concerning some business opportunities and it seems i was something of an oddity for him, since my goal wasn't to make money with my various ventures, but to establish community and/or community-minded organizations and goals. he says in business school you are taught to "go for the kill" monetarily speaking, the way of the business jungle and all that... i figure along the way money will find its way in my pocket and ill live more comfortably than i do at present. its already a sad state of affairs when money (lack thereof) is the determining factor for so many of my decisions, can you see it being the determining factor for my goals and behavior if it were to be in abundance. i can see myself being one of those many people (look to hollywood) whose reality is a construct of their own making. right now its a moot point even thinking about this since im as poor as a church mouse. but, as of late ive been concerned about my responsibilities as an individual and how little things have the ability of pushing my focus from here to there... although my fundamental belief structures are sound, i can at times, easily be pulled away from my responsibilities.

it's ten days into my summer and i've not done much. i have filmed a lot and gotten maybe 4 more hours of footage which is great, but damn if im not as focused as i should be for someone excited about finally working on her documentary. there's been too much drinking and too many distractions (making up for a semester of good behavior) and me being the extrovert i tend to be, too much wanting to hang out, when sitting at home working would benefit me more.

_soundcheck: wolf parade, apologies to queen mary

new music wednesdays (is back!)

_posted in africa | new music wednesdays | the world | 29 March 2006

imagine my complete utter delight when i found out that salif keita had released a new album (in november of 2005!) im shocked i wasnt on top of this, but last week i got the album and i wanted to wait until i had some serious downtime. so last night i listed to it three times! and ive already listened to it twice this morning. i heart salif keita!!!! and i thought that moffou was my favorite of his albums... but this definitely gives me that... that feeling... i cant even describe it... its visceral...

of all the things pulling me to africa, the music has been the strongest force. can you imagine seeing salif keita live in africa! youssou n'dour! amadou & mariam! pape & cheikh! ladysmith black mambazo! baaba maal!cheikh lo! femi kuti! angelique kidjo! and so so so many more... and ive been thinking since music and film have been these amazing forces in my life, and the things pulling me to the continent, that id try for this years WOMAD in rivermead, but the fam is going to be in l.a until july 24! so thats cutting it close... but damn, youssou AND salif are going be there!! so im gonna keep my eye out for next years festivals and see what i can get going... and if anyone knows of some choice film and/or music festivals i should be hitting up let me know... in africa? definitely let me know...

_"thus africa"
salif keita: m'bemba
amadou & masriam: dimanche à bamako
mulatu astatke - ethiopiques, vol. 4

_tried and true
ben harper: both sides of the gun
matisyahu: youth
spearhead: chocolate supa highway
elmore james: dust my broom
elmore james: the sky is crying - the history of the elmore james

_on another note, the "makin move and shakin fools" came from the sp... he bitched and moaned about me stealing his thunder and how his "intellectual property is being infringed upon." hehehe...

_update
daye(who rocks) : you happy now cry baby
daye: you got your props
sp(who sucks) : lol
sp: bitched and moaned?
sp: lol
sp: i recall just a sentence.... something like, bitch you're a thief
sp: lol
sp: yeah
daye: heheh
sp: you need to take your ass to africa
sp: use that bank you got and go
daye: i know
daye: right

_soundcheck: salif keita, m'bemba

rest in peace ali farka toure

_posted in africa | dayedayerocks | news | 07 March 2006

this morning started off well... but this made me sad! ali farka toure has died... and if you dont know this amazing musician then you need to get to know him... he was one of the musician who help mold the blues (african blues not less!) for me over the years... so in honor of this beautiful man, its an all blues day... muddy waters, toure, john lee hooker, robert johnson, blind willie jonson, johnny guitar watson, johnny taylor, son house... shit its time for a new playlist... the blues!

alright people... stay up and find some inspiration... death can take your hand at any time... i suggest you have your hands full so that mofo cant get a good grip...

_soundcheck: ali farka toure, african blues

"little by little fills the cup"

_posted in africa | interactive narratives | photography | web | 11 December 2005

another lovely interactive piece, little by little outside of being lovely its content is awesome and well worth your time...

produced by 49th parallel productions and the oakland tribune... the accompanying article is rather short, but you get all the info from the interactive piece...

_quote

He saw them walk miles to learn in dirt-floor school houses, sharing books with other students crammed onto wood benches.

They had so little and yet were so determined to learn and so quick to laugh.

_soundcheck: richard pryor, is it something i said

photography tuesdays

_posted in africa | interactive narratives | photography | 06 December 2005

gideon mendel has a nice interactive piece over at the guardian, an answer in africa... i first came in contact with mendel a year ago when i saw his book, a broken landscape. he primarily shoots in various countries in africa and the hiv/aids pandemic...

_other interactive pieces from mendel for the guardian...

eight women one voice
Salvation is Cheap
Gideon Mendel in Mozambique: The children left behind

_soundcheck: me first and the gimme gimmes, are a drag

world aids day

_posted in africa | interactive narratives | photography | the world | 01 December 2005

today is world aids day... get tested... learn a new fact about hiv/aids... better yet, teach a new fact about hiv/aids... be informed... be safe... be smart... be caring... be...

_links

global business coalition on hiv/aids
keep a child alive
stop aids campaign
unaids: i love the fact that the united nations programme on hiv/aids reads as unaids; as in to release, free, or remove from aids... smart...
we all have aids: kenneth cole's public service campaign... definitely worth checking out...
world aids campaign
world aids day
world health organization

_important things to watch

pandemic: facing aids is a five-part series that shows the effects of aids around the globe... it doesnt shy away from the pandemic and how it effects us all...

yesterday is amazing! i'll talk more about this movie later... you have to watch it! the fact that leleti khumalo is the main character was enough for me... because i can't get enough of the music in sarafina!...

kristen ashburn's photo essay on aids in africa

_soundcheck: damian marley, welcome to jamrock