bored

Today I felt a pull down, my mind was drianed with thoughts, my body felt like I was carrying a huge sack of cement on my back, my stomarch hurts, wasn’t sure it the mael I had that morning, but my digestion sysytem was running me down. Eyes were swollen, I looked like someone who just came out of trance or something. Even when I had cereal and banana to kick of the day I still lack the agility and mobility I know I should have, but instead I just tend to believe it is one of those days you go through with undigestive system or one of those bad days that you don’t have any clue why you feel uneasy with your self.
How could I get myself out of this breakdown, if I know where to go or just do something I that will make me feel alive again and take out this lazyness away from me I will be so glade. But yet, I couldn’t find anything fun to do. I listened to music hoping that will help, but nothing. Everything I tried simply added more tired, lazy, draggy pace into my bone. I was going insane gradually that’s what I concluded in my head. I am going insane. Nothing tends to work out fine today. Oh! This morning I was waiting for some guys to come fix the light in the house, cos last night when we came back from work, the light was off. We tried to fix it ourself but couldn’t. then this morning we called the light guys, which they said they will coming between the hours of 8-12pm, but as usual they failed to come through. So I ended up waiting the whole morning in the house, sleeping, wodering around the house like some stranger who lost his way and find himself in house full of mask. Lol!
I went outside to check if any truck or van passing by, nothing. But nothing. Nothing. Those light guys didn’t show up. Not until about 3pm to 4pm they showed up. Whats so anoying is, they didn’t go inside the house to do anything. My God! Men I’d stayed in the house waiting for those guys for nothing…. Men I’ve already lose my mind.

For Immediate Release

02/10/2010
Baoku Moses
Positive Image Productions
www.baokutcr.com
513-266-2070

For immediate release,

Positive Image Productions
&
The Blue Wisp

Present: The 2nd edition.

Cincy Unity Jam
At The Blue Wisp
03-20-2010
5pm to Midnight

Following the success of the 1st Cincy Unity Jam in December last year,
Positive Image Production and The Blue Wisp proudly present the 2nd
edition of Cincy Unity Jam; bringing people together in unity to seek and
celebrate peace, because without unity there is no way peace can be
achieved.

Positive Image Productions, a subsidiary of Positive Image Arts
Organization, hopes to contribute to building a peaceful and respectful
world in which to live. We hope to be able to accomplish this, and many
more positive achievements, through music, arts, entertainment and
collaboration with other organizations.

Cincy Unity Jam will take place on the 20th of March, 2010 at the
legendary jazz club, The Blue Wisp. The doors will be open to the public
at 4pm, and the first performance will kick off at 5pm. Coming back bigger
and better, there are going to be 8 bands in the line up to perform in
this edition; as well as African dance performances, belly dancing,
poetry/spoken word, and a drum cirlce.

The bands in the 2nd Cincy Unity Jam line up are:

Mayan Ruins
MAYAN RUINS performs Psychedelic Tribal music accompanied by Tribal
Bellydancer ZAHARA. Traditional rhythms are improvised over by
musicians Christian Hartman (bass/drums) Derek Garteiz (guitar/drums)
Gregory Morris (violin mandolin & other instruments), Paul Ravenscraft
(conga/percussion/electric sitar), Will Menton (guitar/drums), Rob Dorsey
(throat singing/drums) & Denny Schoeny (drums/Percussion) to create a
trancey sound great for listening intently or dancing wildly!
http://MayanRuinsTribal.com
http://www.myspace.com/mayanruins

Alchemy
Cincinnati power trio Alchemy brings an explosive new sound to the local
music scene in 2010. Forged in the furnace of blues and rock, Alchemy
jams with a unique set of skills. At it's core is guitarist Mike
Connolly, a soulful singer-songwriter, whose style recalls guitarists of
the past while creating his signature sound. He's been heard around
Cincinnati performing solo acoustic and electric over the past few years.
Patrick McMahon is Alchemy's veteran wind wizard, playing harmonica, sax
and flute. Patrick has been in many influential groups, including
fringe-rock pioneers,Bitter Blood Street Theatre, and internationally
acclaimed Blacklight Braille. Richard "Iron Man" Cisneros venerates Peart,
Moon and Mitchell with his African-style hand percussion. Patrick and
Richard play as the duo in "Tree of Life Band", and have performed
together in the CEA-nominated band Totems. Alchemy is adding something
fresh and innovative to the local music scene with their blend of rock,
blues, folk, psychedelic and world music. They're transmuting sound into
gold in a venue near you.
http://www.myspace.com/alchemycincinnati

Matthew Shelton
Matthew Shelton was born in South Carolina and moved to Cincinnati to
study the Arts. He is a prolific singer/songwritter, and a
multi-instrumentalist whose talents include mastery of the mbira, a
traditional African thumb piano. His diverse performance venues include
bars, museums, DIY dives, art galleries, coffee shops and rec centers. He
has opened for Vampire Weekend, Daniel Johnston, Animal Collective, Wussy,
Pit er Pat, Ariel Pink, the Hiders, Howling Hex, and the Sheds, to name a
few. A well-rounded artist, he is also a visual artist who paints and
creates unique lightbox pieces, in addition to his great songwriting
skills. http://www.flexyourlovemuscles.com
http://www.myspace.com/msheltonmusic

Latin Block
Junior Garcia (Lil Yankee), John Lombert (Yung Bronx) and Jonathan Cabot
(Jking) of Latin Block are what some people might say is the future of
Entertainment. The group Started paving their way into the music industry
in 2006, with the unique style of music they call Reggaehiphop. Latin
Block describes Reggaehiphop as a combination of Reggaeton, Hip-Hop and
R&B, with the bi-lingual flow of Spanish and English. Coming into the
music industry with their new unique style, Latin Block is determined to
make a big impact. With the high determination to succeed, members of the
group studied what it takes to be the best in the industry, which lead
them to becoming Jacks-of-all-trades. With the help of their manager
Angel Lombert, not only do they write their own music, but they produce
and record it, make their own videos and photoshoots, and do everything
else that goes into making a master piece. Latin Block's hard work is
paying off as they have accomplished a lot within a short period of time,
from playing numerous concerts to appearing on radio and TV shows. Never
slowing down, they have a number of new projects lined up.
http://www.myspace.com/latinblock

Sandy Suskind Jazz Trio
Sandy Suskind, flute and saxophone, has been playing jazz in the
Cincinnati area for over 30 years. Sandy attended U. of Cincinnati's
College Conservatory of Music, majoring in theory and jazz performance. He
has played and recorded with well-known trumpeter Tim Hagans, guitar great
Cal Collins, and pianist Steve Schmidt to name a few. He has also jammed
with multi-horn legend Ira Sullivan and harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy.
His influences are too numerous to list, but include Coltrane, Sam Most,
Frank Strozier, Mahler and Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School.
Sandy feels that now is the most fruitful musical period of his life, and
is planning to record a CD of his original compositions in the near
future.
http://www.myspace.com/sandysuskind

Shiny Old Soul
Shiny Old Soul (Cosmic roots) is a guitar/bass/drum trio comprised of
former members of The Gregory Morris Group (Cincinnati, Ohio). It
combines fundamental elements of a traveling storyteller, jazz
influenced dynamic percussion, bittersweet folk roots and east coast horn
creating a bastion of invention that shanghais the senses into a hyper
real environment rich with [un]savory characters. One part jazz, one part
folk, one part punk, one part rock, but it's really all about the songs.
Bank robberies, pregnant pirates, time travelers, voodoo spells,
allegory, and plain old sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll conspire to reveal a
world of simple feelings in exotic places. A broken heart by any other
name... A genuine enjoyment of the art and the opportunity to play
together keep the music and the performers fresh and sincere, resulting in
songs, which like any good story, can never really be told the same way
twice. "It's not the upside down backwards smooth as jazz frenetic as
Django guitar playing of leader Gregory Morris or the tight and versatile
rhythm section of Michael and Katherine that make the group unique, but
the cool, progressive blues seated groove they lay down." - Jeff Roberson
http://www.myspace.com/thegregorymorrisgroup

Uptown R&B Band
Influenced by the likes of Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Jackie Wilson,
Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and The Commodores, Uptown R&B Band ROCKS the
HOUSE! Uptown R&B band has been satisfying dancers and partiers for more
than 20 years in Cincinnati, the tri-state area, and beyond. They have
also funked it up in San Francisco, Atlanta, New Orleans and Orlando to
name a few. They are the hottest and most authentic R&B show in the
country.
http://www.uptownrb.com

Baoku & The Image Afro-beat Band
Afro-beat, a musical combination of western big band jazz with African
instruments and languages, is a musical expression of peace, love, unity,
truth and justice. The Image Afro-beat Band is comprised of talented
musicians that come from different musical & cultural backgrounds to play
the unique style of music known as Afro-beat. Using the power of music,
the band hopes to create appreciation for cultural diversity, respect for
life and to contribute to making the world a more peaceful and respectful
place in which to live. United, we can do it.
www.reverbnation.com/baokutheimageafrobeatband

Dance/solo Performers:

Becky Umeh
Becky Umeh was born in Anambra State, Nigeria and grew up in Lagos. An
activist, she pressed the Nigerian Government to support artists, without
forcing them to serve propaganda goals. Since moving to Washington DC in
2002, Umeh has worked with producers such as Hugh Medrano, Nancy Havlik
and George Faison; and has performed for non-profit organizations, many
cultural centers, universities, and churches. Multitalented, she initially
gained national visibility as an actress in the Nigerian Television
Authority, as well as for roles in various independent films. She then
studied traditional and contemporary African dance at Ivory Dance Academy,
founded by National Troupe of Nigeria member Steve James, with which she
toured in the school's group Ivory Ambassadors, and conducted field
research on traditional dance in Nigerian villages. After graduation from
the program, Umeh served as the Dance Director of Ivory Dance Troupe for 5
years. During this time, Umeh launched her singing career and founded her
band, with which she produced the album "Aiye". In 2005 Becky Umeh went
on tour in multiple US cities with Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa; and in
2006 choreographed the Lion King production sponsored by Metropolitan Fine
Arts in Virginia.
http://www.facebook.com/beckyumeh
http://www.myspace.com/beckyumeh

Vincent Etagweyo
Vincent Etagweyo, hails from Nigeria’s Delta state. Recruited at a young
age by the selective and prestigious Black Marbles Dance Academy, he then
advance to join the professional dance company, Body Language Klinik, at
age 21, where he had the chance to explore his creativity on a wider
range, including choreographing his own pieces and teaching children. He
is a member of the Guild of Nigerian Dancers in Lagos, Nigeria. Also an
accomplished poet, he is the founder of the Version Project poetry
association in Miami, FL. Etagweyo’s reputation as a talented artist has
allowed him to work both in Nigeria and internationally, collaborating
with some of the world best choreographers to reach a broader audience.
The deep emotion conveyed through his work comes from a fusion of both
traditional and modern African dancing, with Western-inspired contemporary
styles.
http://vincent24.wordpress.com
http://www.theversionphaseone.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/Etagweyo-Efe/710786398
===============================================

Present in addition to the line up of the talented bands and performers,
there will also be arts and crafts vendors present to exhibit their work
throughout the duration of the event.

Cincy Unity Jam is set to take place at:
The Blue Wisp
318 E. 8th Street
Between Broadway & Sycamore
in Downtown Cincinnati, OH.

The door will open to the public at 4pm, and the event will start at 5pm
and go 'til midnight. Tickets will be sold for $12 in advance and $15 at
the door. People can call 513-266-2070 or email baoku@baokutcr.com for
tickets. Additional information about the event can be found at:

www.baokutcr.com
www.thebluewisp.com
www.myspace.com/baoku
www.facebook.com/baoku
www.myspace.com/theimageafrobeatband

With the power of Music, we hope to bring people together in Unity.

Peace to all,

Baoku Moses
Positive Image Productions
513-266-2070
www.baokutcr.com

Music in Beautiful Space

african dance, contemporary, hip hip, poetry, south beach chamber ensemble.

music in beautiful spaces

Sleepless Night

Our Music Recommendations From Among the Official Sleepless Night Events on Saturday

By Arielle Castillo

November 05, 2009 09:00

photo by Ben Thacker

Sleepless Night returns this Saturday to Miami Beach. Staying up all night there is nothing new, but the event is way more high-falutin', asking you to stay awake for things like opera and experimental dance. That can seem like a tall order in this town, but the last edition was surprisingly well-attended, and it's nice to at least say you did something cultural, no? (You can read a general explanation of it here.)

I have to say, though, that this year's musical line-up is somewhat disappointing. There is, indeed, a ton of live music all over the place as part of Sleepless Night, but most of it generally falls along the very wide spectrum from Latin to jazz to Latin jazz. Okay, jazz, I won't hate on, because about the only place to hear it around here these days is the Van Dyke, and jazz lovers gotta get a bone tossed to 'em some time.

But most of the event line-up completely ignores the opportunity to bring in a crowd that would usually give artsy events a wide berth. It would have been a lot more fun and smart to mix in some more dance music, hip-hop, or rock in with the program of short films, art, theater, and dance.

The only organizers who really aimed for a youthful, more party-type crowd are the people behind Rhythm Foundation, who, for the evening, control a stage at the 21st Street beach. However, even they played it safe by asking the Spam Allstars to headline. Yes, people love them, but it's not exactly like there's a shortage of events or venues in Miami regularly featuring Spam and Suenalo.

Anyways, there are a few music-type performances on the official Sleepless Night schedule that sound different and worth seeking out. Check out a few recommendations after the jump.

*Ben Neill and LEMUR (League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots, 6 p.m., Normandy Fountain Stage (Rue Vendome between Normandy Drive and 71st Street).

What is cooler than robots who play electronic music? That's right, pretty much nothing. Ben Neill, meanwhile, is a composer and inventor who created something called the "mutantrumpet." Of course these weirdos live in Brooklyn. Here's an example of a LEMUR tune, to give you an idea. Amazing.

*The Beach High Rock Ensemble, 6 p.m., the Euclid Oval Stage (Lincoln Road at Euclid)

Being in the school band at Beach High is actually cool, and this ensemble has produced local favorites like Jacobs Ladder.

*The Global Cuba Music Fest at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 6 to 11 p.m.

Yes, this is on that Latin jazz spectrum, but they managed to snag some pretty big names in that world. Also, this is a nice venue for that kind of music, with good acoustics and seating, and it's probably the only time you'll get into a show at the Fillmore for free. Click here for a Crossfade post from earlier this week with a breakdown of the performances.

*FLEA Ensemble, 6 to 11:30 p.m., the Wolfsonian-FIU (1001 Washington Ave.)

A very adjective-filled description full of many-syllabled words boils down to this: avant-garde laptop music.

*Rockarchive exhibit, 6 p.m. to midnight, the Betsy South Beach (1440 Ocean Dr.)

Not music per se, but music-related -- classic rock photos and a meet-and-greet with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jill Furmanowski.

*Oy-Le! 6:30 p.m., the Ocean Drive Main Stage (Ocean Drive between 8th and 9th Streets)

Siempre Flamenco and the Heavy Shtetl Klezmer Trio come together for a mash-up of klezmer and flamenco! Actually, that doesn't sound like such a discordant combination; it's guaranteed to be loud and dramatic.

*Miami Lyric Opera's La Traviata, 7 p.m., North Beach Band Shell (7255 Collins Ave.)

Stuffy as its reputation may be, opera actually is amazing when performed live -- dramatic, with lots to look at. It's admittedly difficult to make it through one without the translation supertitles, and it's doubtful the bandshell will have that sort of technological set-up. But the emotion and pageantry of this selection should provide enough to follow the general gist of the plot.

*The Entire Rhythm Foundation Stage, 8 p.m. onwards, at the 21st Street Beach

All performers here are a safe bet for fun. The Brazilian samba band and dance ensemble Grupo Embalo goes on at 8 p.m. Pop/rock wunderkind Jacob Jeffries plays with his band at 9 p.m., and Transit Lounge staples Lanzallamas Monofonica go on at 10:20 p.m. If your Spam Allstars tank is running dangerously low, they headline at midnight.

*Deep Surface, 9 p.m., Ocean Drive Main Stage

A multimedia performance created by composer Gabriel E. Pulido, this is an "homage to the sea" involving dance, video, and electronic and live music. This is the premier of the piece, which is sponsored by the Ocean Foundation and the Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

*ArtOfficial, from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Catalina (1720 - 1756 Collins Ave.)

One of the few acts to really get the live hip-hop thing right, these guys provide one of the best live shows in town.

*Angela Laino, 10 to 11 p.m., the Florida Room at the Delano (1685 Collins Ave.)

She's already a staple at the Florida Room, which is worth a visit just for its fabulous retro-mobster-chic interior design. But Laino is the real draw here on Saturday -- she's an amazingly talented soul-type singer/songwriter with a serious set of pipes.

*The South Beach Chamber Ensemble, 10 p.m., Ocean Drive Main Stage

Again, this is a stuffy name for something that is actually quite cool and genre-blending. This particular piece includes hip-hop artist La Guardia, drum machine beats from Name Brand, African drumming and dancing by Etagweyo Vincent Onokurte, and Indian percussion from Shri. Oh yes, and live poetry by Carlos Pintado.

*DJ Miguel's Disco Alfresco, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., Da Leo Trattoria (819 Lincoln Road)

Okay, this is basically a retro DJ set, but disco is classic.

*80's Joe's Home Movies, 11 p.m. Keirin Cycles (235A 9th St.)

Honestly, I can't find any info on this guy, but it's supposed to be an acoustic thing, and the name is promising. The Keirin Cycles crowd is kind of the fixed-gear, cut-off-jeans type so this won't be boring. Also, it's worth sticking around Keirin afterwards for a big-screen showing of the '80s Disney epic Tron!

*Afin-k-o, 11 p.m., South Beach Languages (227 9th St.)

These guys get a shout-out for being the only Vallenato band playing.

*Silvano Monasterios and the Fourth World Ensemble, 11 p.m., Normany Fountain Stage.

Yes, jazz again, but among the best performers in the genre at Sleepless Night. This year Miami New Times even named him "Best Jazz Musician."

*"Rock the World" Featuring DJ Maximus 3000 and Tania Mashay, 1:30 - 5:30 a.m., Ocean Drive Showground (Ocean Drive Between 11th and 12th Streets)

The official description says this is a "kaleidoscope of pop culture presented as a party rock audio/visual showcase... topped off by theatrical light up LED costumes in sync with the music, audience participation and glow products spread throughout the crowd." Hmm, this could turn out to be just a DJ in a light-up suit passing out glowsticks, but the duo also promises live singing from Tania Mashay, showcasing original synth pop! Synth pop and glow products! Could be interesting.

Hubert Adedeji Ogunde (May 31, 1916 in Ososa, near Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria – April 4, 1990 in London, England) was a Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician who founded the Ogunde Concert Party in (1945), the first professional theatrical company in Nigeria.
Ogunde starred in Mister Johnson, the 1990 motion picture which also featured Pierce Brosnan. The movie which was shot on location in Jos.

Background

He worked first as a teacher before joining the Nigerian Police Force. Like many of his theatre contemporaries, such as A. B. David, P. A. Dawodu, Layeni and G.T. Onimole, his theatre career began under the patronage of the Church. In 1944, he produced his first opera, The Garden of Eden and The Throne of God, by commission of the Lagos-based Church of the Lord, a sect of the Cherubim and Seraphim Society. The performance was in aid of the Church building fund. The huge success of the production spurred Ogunde on to writing more operas until he decided to leave his amateur status as an artist and turn professional. He founded Ogunde Theatre — the first contemporary professional company in Nigeria. By this act Ogunde began the rise of modern professional theatre in Nigeria, a movement in which he remains the supreme artist and father figure.

Professional theatre work

The first play featured at Ogunde Theatre was entitled Tiger’s Empire. Premiered on March 04 1946, Tiger's Empire was produced by The African Music Research Party and featured Ogunde, Beatrice Oyede and Abike Taiwo. The advertisement for the play was the result of Ogunde’s call for ‘paid actresses’. It marked the first time in Yoruba theatre that women were billed to appear in a play as professional artists in Light in their own right. Tiger’s Empire was an attack on colonial rule. It was followed by Darkness and Light, although Ogunde does not remember writing it. This is the only play that has escaped his memory.[citation needed] A public outcry had been going on for a year over the growth of a ‘social evil’ which was entering into Lagos society and corroding it. This evil was popularly known as the ‘Aso Ebi Craze’, a craze which required both men and women to buy the most expensive materials for social gatherings.

The rule was that: “When someone wants to celebrate a marriage or a funeral obsequies (sic) she chooses a piece of cloth to wear on the occasion and approaches relatives and friends to buy the same stuff to wear with her as uniform on the day. The number of people to wear the uniform with her will depend on her popularity and social connections.

“The custom has lent itself to much abuse in that the occasions for celebrating marriages of funerals occur so often that one may be asked by friends to buy ‘Aso Ebi’ more than ten times a year”. This craze of course bred intense competition with celebrants trying to outshine one another. It was a competition that delighted textile traders but which often ruined marriages, as women were known to leave husbands who could not afford to robe them, for lovers who could. Ogunde decided to make his first social satirical comment by writing a play designed to expose the vulgarity and ostentatiousness of the craze. He called the play Human parasites. A tragedy in two acts commenting that ‘Aso Ebi is a Social evil…

Aduke who kissed and keyed a thousand lovers for the sake of Aso Ebi… what happened when boys refused to be keyed is better seen than described”

Personal life and legacy

Clementina Oguntimirin later married Ogunde and became Adesewa Ogunde or Mama Eko (Lagos Mama) as she was popularly known by her fans in the 60’s, after taking the leading part in the popular play of that name. She had five children for Ogunde. The two senior girls Tokunbo and Tope are now leading members of the company.

Oguntimirin died in a road accident on September 1970 en-route to a scheduled performance in Ilesha. The following year, Ogunde wrote a play in her memory called Ayanmo. Her death was mourned throughout the country and press and mass media coverage of her death and funeral was extensive.[citation needed]

With many internal fightings amongst the elites Ogunde's Yoruba tribe of Nigeria in early 1970s, Ogunde came up with a song "Yoruba ronu" calling for unity of purpose. This has remained an evergreen album in Nigeria.

Ogunde died on April 04, 1990 at London's Cromwell Hospital following a brief illness.

Ogunde became the leading producer of Yoruba celluloid movies with "J'ayesinmi" (Let the world rest)and "Aiye" (Life!)blazing the trail.

Greatest Tap Dancer of all time

Bill"Bo Jangles Robinson- 1878-1949- is known as the greatest Tap Dancer of all time. His fame has reached mythic proportions. He had charm and charisma and, it was said, "He talked with his Feet". His rhythms were so intricate and fast it was impossible for other dances to repeat some of them.
During the great depression of the 1930s Bill Robinson was the highest paid black entertainer. He shared his wealth with less fortunate friends and neighbors through those hard times.
Bill Robinson performed shows on Broadway as well as in famous clubs around the country. He formed revues that appeared in Vaudeville, and he danced in several films, including four with child star Shirley Temple, and Stormy Weather with Cab Calloway and Lena Home.

BLACK HiSTORY MONTH

Sharing his work with a deferent audience is something he can deal with and, he knows how to manipulate his body vocabularies to reach out his intensions and motives, as to expel the means of one untied people can be. On the 14th of February 2009, the Windisch-Hunt Art gallery in Coconut Grove are once again celebrating the Black History Month, showcasing various artiste works from all range they certainly have the gig and vibe.

Something special came out this time, a dancer from Nigeria who dazzled people coming in to fill their eyes with one or two peep in the gallery. He moves around them with his dance movements and the smile on his face. Yet he never seems to lose the flow and rhythm of the musical beat. A beautiful African percussion. The gallery was occupied with people standing on deferent angles watching, while some, busying exploring the art works hung on the wall.

As Black History Month ends, folks also use this time out to share love with one another, children and friends. The park was full with people from deferent county, states, region. It was a very bright and warm atmosphere with the sun burning very hot in Liberty City Miami at the “Touching Miami with Love” .

Mr Etagweyo Vincent Onokurte a Nigerian dancer, intrigues the audience with his dance movement and body gestures. He speaks words of our fathers through his gestures and communication of the music, accompanying his dance steps. “it is very good for the kids to experience something like this and know how important culture really means.

At 2:00pm, Etagweyo Vincent Onokurte started his movement at Liberty City where he did his third performance of the Black History Month; “showcasing myself and sharing my History and Culture as a cultural exchange and educational vocation with kids, adults”. They where really pleased with what the dance and most of all, what the organizers and families gave as part of the support to the county/humanity. “we want to reshape the world with our ministry, our art, our words, and our lovingness”. The kids also shared some of their great art works and how they understand what is going on, on their various environments. Some of them did poetry, while some took the duty of getting people situated and making seats and other availabilities the guest might need.
They also took us back to the footstep of Dr Martin Luther King Jr (“I HAVE A DREAM”).“Reciting these words of Dr King really meant a lot to this kids. We want them to think positively, and knowing full well that they can make it, no matter the stormy weather”.

We want to build our community and make it a better home for our children to think positively and with open minds; instead of the harm devices and smoking cracks and weed. Because these, it loses their sense of understanding and their lives is fall shot with lost. 60-70% of these kids turn out becoming thugs and hoodlums, doing violence because they have not being educated the proper way.
It is not just doing convocations or gathering that only matters, but how educated these kids are in their various homes. Although I am not talking about the America, or Africa, but every corner of the world. We should give heed to the society, transform these mentality and change the system for better place.

Vincent

Coconut Grove Grapevine: Art is constantly moving through the streets

Coconut Grove Grapevine: Art is constantly moving through the streets
It was a night of blessed memory, each movements, each words, each sound, each gestures, each breath, becomes a force that moves with the wind and intertwine with me. I feel my body transcending into realm of imagination as i move vividly to sound of the music. I draw energy from the audience who stood in amazed, trying to see what the next move or gesture would say; " Lines of Movement".

A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY

A traveling party found itself catapulted from inside a long and dark tunnel of a magic forest. There they had a vague memory that when the trip started there were only smaller number of them, perhaps fewer than 10. now, looking around, they were 36, then 70, or perhaps 100, all packed together and looking all identical and rapidly increasing in number if by magic.
Then a sinister game began. Soon they realized they where that bunch landed wads kind of a protective circle inside a prison, that none of them could leave except under the penalty of death. Another problem was that each individual, even inside the delineated safety zone must stay connected with the group for, alone each individual would be immersed in toxic wastes that kill instantly (within second). Finally, and worse, the grace period afforded these involuntary pilgrim was very limited: in 280 days they were to be expelled to be on there own. What to do?
They discovered that, in the confine of strict laws, they have creative power; that they could be and do everything they wanted.
So, first they decided to stick together, live for one another, and use their power of creation always for the benefit of all not for anyone in particular. They cultivated special skills and talent that focus on the collectivity's need. Voluntarily diversifying, some took on the dangerous task of defense, some specialize themselves in looking for food and process it for everybody. Others took on the task of keeping the community clean. They built a most sophisticated portable flee market that moves like a river where everyone indiscriminately finds what they needed for survival. They even created a high tech administration topped by a leadership that cares, comforts, heals, and delegates and inspires. In the end, this small group that started the journey as an anonymous bunch had grown into a model of a most civilized and self-sufficient community. They conquered their present and even planned for the future. When they left the protective forest there was no sorrow but rejoice.

"WAR CHILD"

“WAR CHILD”
Roaring sound elude the air, bullet flying everywhere. The street is deserted, women, children, brothers, sisters, everyone fleeing to an unknown destination, finding shelter to rescue their heads and the life's of their children and love ones. We had no where to go, no one to run to. Those who we think can help us, most of them have died, while others have fled to neighboring villages. The more we run the more the war keeps coming close. We never had a day or two to rest before the war reaches our tent. I lost his mother during one of the conflicts while we were trying to escape a terrible plot by gunmen who came in surprise in the middle of the night, both of us miss our way and couldn't find one another.
Story came that she is died. That she was shoot while trying to find her way towards a narrow path, some people say because she was pregnant she couldn't run, that she was in pain, maybe she wants to deliver, then died on the curse. Some say she is nowhere to be found. But to me, that was the last time I saw my mother. The only memory I have is the last time we held hands together, running for our life's. Maybe that is the way life has decided for both of them.
Or maybe, life has something ahead for this young boy to become a voice that will rebel against the oppressions and discrimination. Maybe he is the positive force that will one day stand up and redeem his people from pang they are.


Deep in my sleep I bellow,
light flashes deep into
the heavens cry, unveiling it garments of non
existence,
a tempest, a shrill wind,
a eye of eagle eroding through
the rivers. Thus; greed prevailed in thy
vineyard.

Deep sleep in my dream I quench,
the thirst of agony, lingered in
the borders of innocents soul.
“I listen to each word coming
from his mouth,
each vessels he puke
rebel the string he abide”.
A bitter junction like the sparrow
tide to its web.

“As we forgive those who wrongs us,
so shall the dowers who miss leads us
realize we are no seed for Hebrews”.

the street is crying deep,
lamenting as the scorn pierce deep,
its swords knows no justice with its struck.
The street is falling low,
innocent juveniles
wonder for better days
cos thy sanctuary is false before them.

deep in my dream I am cast away
my dreams, my hopes where blown astray,
my history,
my courage is hung,
killed by the same weapon
I
once admire.

“children should be going to
schools,
not fighting in battles, because
they will lose their
life
even if they survive.”

for Emmanuel Jal and many other children who were taking away by military men to train to become a weapon of destruction to mankind. who have fought in Sudan's war. To those who lost their love ones and still mourning as we speak. The war in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Kenya and all over Africa continent.

“We need peace and justice”.
Vincent

"WAR CHILD"

"Children should be going to school, not fighting in battles, because they will still lose their life even if they survive."
From the book of "war child" by Emmanuel Jal
Emmanuel's charity Gua Africa (Gua meaning power in Arabic and peace in his native tongue Nuer) supports survivors of war from Sudan and Rwanda who are in high schools and universities. These are the people who will rebuild their countries in the future. Gua Africa also sponsors children at primary school in Nairobi slum and hope to find support for more pupils. Emmanuel's dream is to build a school in Leer in honor of the woman who rescued him, Wmma Mccune.
There he will be able to give the children from his home what he was given. "education and freedom"

www.guaafrica.org or www.warchildmovie.com

A Young Man On A Mission

"Left home at the age of seven/one year later I'm carryin' an Ak-47." For hip hop artist Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier in Sudan's brutal civil war, these lyrics are hardly empty posturing. They are the bitter reality of a young man who was "forced to sin" but determined to "never give up and never give in." Today, wounded but still hopeful, he fights a new battle: bringing peace to his beloved Sudan and building schools in Africa. This time, his weapon is a microphone. See why audiences from New York to Berlin to London rave about the award-winning film, War Child, and have embraced the hip-hop artist with a terrifying past and a gentle soul. Interspersing original interviews, live concerts, and rare footage of Jal as a seven year-old boy, War Child will make viewers cry, laugh, dance, and celebrate the power of hope.

Nigeria baby poison deaths rise


The death toll from a contaminated baby medicine sold in Nigeria has risen from 34 - recorded in early December - to 84, the health ministry has said.
There have been 111 reported cases of children who have fallen ill after being given teething syrup "My Pikin".
The poisonous syrup was discovered last November when babies began dying of organ failure across the country.
Authorities have called on private pharmacies to turn over stocks of the paracetamol-based syrup to regulators.
The Nigerian-made mixture was found to contain engine coolant.

Government will leave no stone unturned to.. ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not occur again
Babatunde Osotimehin
Nigeria's health minister
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) shut down the Lagos-based manufacturer and the main supplier of the medicine last year.
Nafdac has also appealed to parents to not treat their children with any type of teething syrup until it can find all the remaining stocks.
The dead children are aged between two and seven, Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin said.
"Government will leave no stone unturned to find answers to the many questions being asked by Nigerians and also ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not occur again," he said.
The name My Pikin means my baby in Nigerian pidgin.

Gunmen free Nigerian boy of nine

Gangs of jobless youth make money from kidnapping and extortion
A nine-year-old boy kidnapped by a gang in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta has been released.
His 11-year-old sister was shot dead trying to protect him as they walked to school in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week.
It is understood no ransom was paid to the kidnappers even though his father is an employee of Royal Dutch Shell.
Kidnapping of oil company employees by gangs of armed men is on the increase in the Niger Delta.
Emmanuel Awonusi is reported to have been released unharmed.

Militant groups have been kidnapping oil workers and their families for many years in the Niger Delta.
They say they are trying to force a fairer distribution of wealth from Nigeria's oil, but jobless young men make money from extortion, kidnapping and oil theft.
The lucrative kidnapping business has attracted copy-cat gangs, analysts say.
Oil companies always deny paying ransoms but it is believed to be a common practice.

Three deny SA reggae icon murder

Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube was an internationally recognised reggae star
Three men have denied at the high court in Johannesburg murdering the internationally-acclaimed South African reggae star Lucky Dube.

Julius Xowa, Sfiso Mhlanga and Thabiso Maroping also deny unlawful possession of firearms and attempted hijacking.

The shooting of the 43-year-old musician outside his brother's house in Johannesburg in October 2007 shocked the country.

Lucky Dube's family and friends were in court for the opening of the trial.
The accused - all in their early 30s - were denied bail when they appeared in court in November last year.

It emerged at the time that one of the suspects had been out on bail on a separate charge when he allegedly took part in the murder of the reggae star.

This angered opposition parties and members of the public who questioned the country's judicial system.

But police were praised for making quick arrests.

Death penalty calls

Four suspects were initially taken into custody, but one was later released under the instruction of the directorate of public prosecutions.

Lucky Dube was shot dead in front of his son and daughter in Rosettenville, a southern suburb of downtown Johannesburg.

The killing led to renewed domestic calls for the restoration of the death penalty in a bid to stem one of the world's highest murder rates.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says South Africa's international image has been tarnished by its alarming crime levels.

Nearly 19,000 people were murdered last year, according to official statistics.

Millions of visitors are expected for next year's football world cup.

Lucky Dube, who recorded in Zulu, English and Afrikaans, began his career by singing mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music and recorded his first album with the Super Soul band in 1982.

He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die, which was banned by the apartheid government.

His albums Slave, Prisoner and Together As One won him global recognition.

The trial is expected to last about a month.

hate it or love it

Some people derive joy conceiving evil and hate in their heart. They even nurture it as if they've won a lottery ticket. They can even go the extend of wagging their mouth behind you and call you names and stuff just to paint their dirty jobs and show how coward they are. But they are afraid to say it in front of you, cos they know, they are the real notorious to them self. A hypocrite industry that is what they are. Low entities that they cannot be on their seat and be content with who they ARE.
I don't care who you are or what you say are. or what they call you. To me, you are just a figure of your own pocket, if your prowlers are getting into you and you think you can't keep your short gun or pipe where it should be, please freely donate it to a science lab, let them help you find a solution or make research on what you will do with it.
offense to any body, but I feel I don't owe any body an apology or whatsoever. it just a piece of my mind. and I have to let go, and let the air take it far away.
I will be, cos in Him, with Him and through Him I am able to breath and live through the next day. That's all I need as a human. I can't spend my time thinking of backward individuals who care less for other people, but them self or the benefit they want. I don't care of who say, him say, she say or who say so.
But this is my pray for you. Don't think I will not keep you in my treasure boxes or care for you. Your respect I will always keep and acknowledge, your boldness and zeal I admire.
Blessings and peace will continue to find you, favors will always drench your roof and never leaves your shadow.

Vincent....

Dr Martin Luther King Jr

So many times we've been battered and lingered under the influence of those entities who governs us. We have been scourged and denied of lively hood. We are taking for granted and been connoted falsely by leather weapon and metal steels. There are those who believes a black man and white man are differ, that they cannot work on the same path of daylight. Those who sets ambush and walk through the darkest night, plotting and pro founding racialism. “We say to them that it is time for all men in the world to unite and liberate our society from the tranquility and purgatory that is ever flooding in the hearts of men.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr
“Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to leave together in peace and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. I refuse to accept the views that mankind is also tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant”

The light of freedom will come as the dawn of a new day envelope and shines from the East and dwell in the North. “As men will walk through the streets with one voice singing Hymns and shouting these words; this is the day we've been waiting for”. Oh yes! Let it be said that in our time we have conquered even in tribulation. To those who plays the game of racial discrimination and violate humans rights because of its skin type; you will trample to the ground like leaf cast off from its stem. You will perish and bleed with maggot.

Vincent

Anger at priest kidnap in Nigeria

Niger Delta militants
There are many gangs in the Niger Delta involved in kidnapping

The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria has condemned the kidnapping of a missionary in the oil-producing south.

The Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev John Onaiyekan, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the kidnappers had made a "grave mistake".

Father Pius Kii was seized by unidentified gunmen from the steps of his church in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Many gangs in the Niger Delta make money from kidnapping, extortion and gun running.

Unconfirmed reports from Church sources said militants had demanded a $20,000 (£14,000) ransom for Father Kii.

'Fear God'

"If they can kidnap a priest, then really no-one is safe," Archbishop Onaiyekan said.

"They should realise they have made a grave mistake, fear God and release him."

Father Kii is a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, a Roman Catholic missionary organisation.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the most visible militant group, has not commented on the kidnap.

The group has been kidnapping oil workers since 2006. In the past they have "rescued" non-oil worker hostages from other gangs.

Violence has cut oil production in the Niger Delta by about a fifth.
source BBC NEWS/AFRICA/NIGERIA

Black Washington looks to Obama

On his desk beside the nameboard that tells you he is director of marching bands at Howard University in Washington DC, John Newson keeps a miniature bale of cotton.
"Washington DC - a ruling elite, within a mainly African-American population"
When he lifts it and turns it in his hands his eyes take on a curiously distant quality and stories of this country's divided past come tumbling out.


He is a dignified, professorial figure these days, but he can remember the old times in rural Louisiana when he was put out of school three hours before the local white kids and sent to the local plantation fields to chop cotton - back-breaking work for a little boy in the boiling heat of the Southern summer.
He remembers too the local laws about "eye-balling" - no black man or woman dared to risk making eye contact with any of the white folks in the streets of their little town.
You looked down, or looked away, or you got a ticket and a fine.

Mr Newson's band, from the college they call "The Black Harvard", will be marching in the inaugural parade in the heart of their home city - Howard is just a few blocks across town from the White House.
It is a small story of change in a country which has changed enormously since little John Newson was sent out into the cottonfields of Louisiana all those years ago.

He is moved at the idea of a black man taking power in the White House, and not just for what it says about the long road African-Americans have travelled since he baled cotton when he should have been sitting in class or playing with his friends.

BLACK STREETS
Washington DC is sometimes called Chocolate City, and it is a curiously divided place."America's not exactly accepting us with open arms now just by the election of a black man as president"
Corey Crane
Tour operator
The tiny governing elite - which tends to live and work in the glittering centre - is surrounded by seas of largely black streets.

Mr Newson wonders if Barack Obama might be the man to bring together those two disparate identities sharing the same space.
After all, he commands the ruling elite now, and yet he can still talk comfortably with the black street.
Not that Mr Newson believes the election of Mr Obama means an end to the African-American journey. To illustrate his point he told me this story about what happened when he and his wife took three of their grandchildren back to a four-star hotel in Louisiana a few years ago to show them the Old South in which they had grown up.

"My wife and the three grandkids went to the swimming pool and on two occasions when they got in, all the white folks who were swimming got out and left," he told me.
"My wife even stayed in the water for nearly two hours to see if they would come back - and they didn't."
As Mr Newson said, Barack Obama's election is a moment of symbolism and he will have huge powers - but he cannot make people stay in swimming pools together.

America - and the South in particular - still have some changing to do.

poetry lamentation

Poetry Lamentation is a monthly activity of poetry and writing. Starting 31st of this month with on line poetries of deferents poets and writers alike. It is a unite to converge both old and young writers and those who are aspiring and willing to embraces the art. We will also be showcasing their work, and as well deferent artiste and exhibitions.

Imagination

IMAGINATION
A Dance of fierceness that circulate within the boundaries of Afro-Caribbean and Africanization.. the piece is a weapon that bound voice of many youth and those who sick the liberation of African continent..

In the solo dance piece, “IMAGINATION” Etagweyo Vincent Onokurte a young radiant contemporary choreographer explores through the realm of his body language and gesticulation of his philosophy ideology of racism and conflict. Ironically imagination evolves from the pang from the society and most of the fraction between tribal wars and religious genocide. Over time African humanitarian artilleries (AFA) have been going round from community to community about these issue of tribal genocide, but each time the society is engage in a solution, a sudden destruction emerge. This is political anarchy the society experience day in day out.
It flows like virus beneath the society, slowly eating up people. Then, the prime of one soul to survive inside these hood is not justify.
MUSIC
The music is viable weapon. The instrument depicts the struggles of each stages human lives. Some are in constant influence of the power that falls on hand. Ignorantly using these medium as a point of contact to harm others. Take life and commit whatever crime they want. While for some is the revise of changing the worng deeds. They use these gift to help and change both them self and the society around them.
I have used three music to reach out my feelings of how i feel and to educate people, most especially the youth of today. Two African music and a western dialog (poem) (United Kingdom) the first is a singer named DESS REE. She is so inspiring. When I first listen to music I knew immediately that this song will fit into my creation. I didn't hesitate to grab her track for my work. The second artiste is from Benin Republic. he is a noble chanter-man whose music and voice roar as a weapon and cut arose regions and communities around the African continent. His instrument depicts the how to cultivate traditional and moral intelligence. The third is from Nigeria. A soul traditional musician. A prince whose ideas and intuition of music of life is historical. He uses the context of today's situation. Especially the youths to expresses his own kind of music. His words are rebel in positive minds. Positive thinking. Helping one to know and understand the background of African culture.

CHAIR

The chair is another method of which I used to execute my own ideology and the philosophical mentality of the pang around me. I feel the chair is a weapon of talking about the ills in the society. The wrong deeds that is happening to our people in the southern part of Nigeria. So many people where killed because of the raw material and wealth. Today delta state Nigeriais not a conducive environment for tourist to visit. Youths over there now are frustrated, thus; it leads the youth into violation. The North, is another killing and crisis going on. People are killed in the name of SHARIA law. And so on in Africa. thiese shows how Arfican leaders are tutoring people, children of oyung age fighting in combats with one another.

These is what things I believe. “Even if they refuse to listen to us, true justice will prevail and liberty and harmony will dwel in Africa once again". They can't turn there ear forever. The truth will always be seen”.
Ironically the chair as a symbol of power and destruction, I also place this as a point of contact with every human being. If we look deep inside our heart, we realize that we are not so pure the way we think.

WHITE WRAPPER
A symbol of peace and unity within the lives of humanity and animals. Every species that breaths and walk on the surface of the earth. I use the wrapper as a way to convey an idea, to experiment in deferent methods and ways to able to show how the mind or the second sense of a humans heart is. In every pure heart there is a spot that is not pure or just. That is to say; it comes a time when a mans heart conceive hatred towards somebody. Consciously or unconsciously the mind on its own conceive these syndrome.

CONTEXT OF THE MOVEMENT

The movement are based on true stories, both my life history and situations around me. Body gestures, words, smiling, screaming, people standing, bus driver and it passengers, market square, the conflict, wars and e.t.c. Each time I see things around it makes me to reflect on something that has happened before or some times I will just visualize stuff ahead. Some people say we artist think ahead of every human. I think that is true , because we see things in a deferent way and react to them in an artistic manner.
The movement which I did in the piece were abstract and mixture of Africa traditional dances which are the influence I have cultivated while working on the piece. Each movement has it manner of approach, each steps has it's own sequence and rhythm, each gesture has it own funny ways or clownish way that depicts animals or situations around. And each time the movement changes the feelings change too. These gives the piece a deferent idea,mood and meaning.

Part of which I'm revolting is to bring people together both old and young alike and lets fight against these scourge. The piece as it is, is a tool of manifesting the goal of liberty withing humanity and the existence of life.