I love Fatoumata Diawara's Fatou album cover. The colours, the styling – everything working together. I also like the photo manipulation/embellishment in the flyer above (by Amankai Araya). Art inspiring art!
Find out more about the Malian singer on MySpace or Facebook.
Manchester DJ collective, COMMUNITY, will be hosting internationally-renowned South African music producer and DJ, Black Coffee, this month.
I cannot wait to dance the night away! Given my excitement, the fact that it's Friday and that the sun is shining hard, these tracks are perfectly in keeping with the good vibes. Enjoy!
Check out more events this February. Share what's going on where you are.
Image via Sowetan Live
A short but exciting month, here are just a few Africa- and Diaspora-related events in Canada, Kenya, the UK and the US. What's happening where you are this month?
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ALL MONTH
African American History Month
Across the US
Various events
This year's official theme is 'Black Women in American Culture and History' and the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum have put together several collections and exhibitions for the occasion.
Black History Month Canada
Across the US
Various events
Festivities and events honouring the legacy of black Canadians, past and present. This year, Black History Month will recognize the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812 and the contributions of black soldiers in the fight for Canada.
Black History Month 2012
United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya
Various events
This year celebrates the daughters of Africa: "Spearheading the Pan African Dream for Peace". The celebration will feature several panel discussions, photo exhibitions as well as jazz nights.
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WEEKEND OF FRIDAY 3rd FEBRUARY
J-Dilla Changed My Life
Manchester, Brighton & London, UK
The now annual UK tribute parties for American music producer and hip hop legend, James Dewitt Yancey, take place this weekend. They start off in Manchester (Friday 3rd at Ruby Lounge) and then move to Brighton (Saturday 4th at Stickey Mikes) and London (Sunday 5th at Scala, King's Cross). J-Dilla's mother, Maureen 'Ma Dukes' Yancey will be gracing all three events, along with a fantastic line-up of DJs paying homage.
Continue reading "Africa- and Diaspora-related events this February" »
I'm enjoying the folky-soulful sound of Michael Kiwanuka on this rainy Manchester afternoon. Wishing I too could be home again …
If you're in the UK, catch Michael on tour over the next few weeks.
His album and EPs are available to purchase at various outlets.
Image via MichaelKiwanuka.com
Hey folks, I know I've been mighty quiet and this is not the comeback … not just yet. I just wanted to share some news that came my way via film aficionado, Nadia Denton, author of the Black British Filmmaker's Guide:
I am delighted to inform you of the first Legacy Media Institute Filmmaker's (LMI) Workshop, London!
Tim Reid (sitcom Sister Sister) the award winning and acclaimed African-American Actor, Writer and Director will launch his inaugural LMI Workshop in London in March.
The Legacy Media Institute (LMI) is based in Virginia, USA. Built on the same model as Robert Redford’s Sundance, the LMI is a support system for diverse, independent film artists with a state-of-the-art facility providing training in filmmaking, business and media production.
For the past three years, I have been working with Tim Reid and made arrangements for 2 UK based and 1 Nigerian filmmaker to attend the LMI under scholarship. This has been so successful that Tim Reid has decided to extend the workshop to the UK. Tim would like to bring about more interaction amongst filmmakers of African descent globally.
In conjunction with the British Film Institute (BFI Southbank), Tim will host a two week masterclass (5th – 17th March) for 12 black British Filmmakers covering practical and strategic aspects of filmmaking. Attendees will be coached by a number of experienced facilitators, most of whom will travel from the US to participate.
I hope that you will apply and/or forward this on to other persons who may be interested.
Kind Regards,
Nadia
Staff Benda Bilili. I highly recommend the film, Benda Bilili – a documentary about the groups rise from poverty and obscurity to international success. It's proper feel-good.
"Musical painter" Lionel Loueke (left) and songstress Zaki Ibrahim.
Ntjam Rosie (check out the beautiful video on the post).
Debra Debs (left) and percussionist Adriano Adewale.
Lyrical genius, M3NSA. Check out his Afri-love interview too. No.1 Mango Street is officially one of my favourite albums from 2011.
What great music did you discover this year?
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In case you missed them, here are the best of 2011 posts from earlier this week:
Whether you're staying in or doing it real big this weekend – have a happy new year! Thanks for reading and supporting Afri-love. See you back here in 2012.
Don't miss any creative inspiration in 2012. Get almost-daily Afri-love direct via RSS or straight to your email inbox. Want less? Subscribe for juicy extra content (2-4 emails per month). You can also connect via Facebook and Twitter.
Last Saturday, The Barefoot Diva, Queen of Morna, Cape Verdean singer, Cesária Évora, passed away.
In her honour, here are some of her beautiful sounds, including an Osunlade remix that's fit for dancing.
For those of you celebrating Christmas, have a merry Christmas weekend. If you've taken time off next week or if you're sat in the office twiddling your thumbs – check back here as I'll still be bringing the Afri-love (and making up for a rather silent past week!).
Image via Sweet Lyrics
It's been relatively quiet on the blog as I prepare for this Saturday's Tropical Christmas event in London. I'm really looking forward to a day of catching up with friends and collaborators, old and new, in beautiful surroundings. I've had a peep at most of the designs that will be available to purchase on the day and this is my preliminary wishlist …
I saw Adele Dejak's Mariatu necklace in person at her London event last month and I was surprised by how large the beads are in person. It's unique, dramatic and sophisticated! The Yves bag is made from recycled cement bags (there are also options in wax print, kuba cloth and recycled rice bags) and is the perfect thing for packing odds and ends (whether they be art materials, accessories or make-up) for travels near or far.
Chichia London's tunics are made from khanga fabric. Perfect for warmer climates but, paired with a polo neck and some leggings, will bring much-needed colour to winter days.
Creativity and Noise t-shirts are screen printed by hand, with love. The designs above will be available as well as some brand new designs, in different colours, on tees, ladies' vests and canvas totes. I've got my eye on the Afro queen on a tote!
My living room's colour scheme is relatively neutral just so that I can add vibrant accents such as these cushions from La Petite Congolaise. The more the merrier …
I look forward to seeing you this Saturday at The Drift Bar. 12pm - 8pm. All the details you need are here. Message me on Facebook, Twitter or via email (afrilovemail AT gmail DOT com) if you have any questions. Some people have been asking – the event is FREE!
Happy hump day!
Today is Tanzania's Independence Day and here's some bongo flava to celebrate the occasion. Happy Friday to my Tanzanian fam and to everybody!
An emerging trend with the inspiring people I've interviewed is that many are masters of several trades. Today's interviewee, Musa Okwonga, is no exception. Musa is a poet, writer, musician, City lawyer by training, member of poetry collective A Poem in between People (PiP), a blogger for The New York Times and The Independent and a twice-published author. His first (and award-winning) football book is titled A Cultured Left Foot and his second is titled, Will You Manage?
Musa also runs Poejazzi, one of the most exciting spoken word and music nights in London, along with word and graphic artist, Inua Ellams and poet and musician, Joshua Idehen. Poejazzi has received two five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and has been named TimeOut Critic’s Choice, and included in its list of 101 Things To Do Around London. Poejazzi has curated two sellout shows at the Southbank in collaboration with E4 and Udderbelly, one sellout pre-show for Henry Rollins at the Southbank, and successful shows at Proud Galleries and Roundhouse Theatre. They have also featured many acts who have gone on become mainstays in london and UK spoken word scene, including Scroobius Pip, Polar bear, Natty, Heidi Vogel, Kate Tempest, Beardyman, Ed Sheeran, and Jono Mccleery, to name a few.
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What's your passion?
Writing. It's the one thing that I do pretty much every day, whether that be tweeting, blogging, poetry or longer pieces.
What inspired you to become a poet? What inspired Poejazzi?
I have written poetry for many years – I wrote my first poem when I was eleven or so – but the real inspiration came when I started reading the old poets, like Alexander Pope and Shakespeare. I have always liked epic writing, and so that's where it started for me.
Continue reading "An interview with poet, writer and musician, Musa Okwonga" »
