Sleepless Night

THE VERSION: the version workshop

THE VERSION: the version workshop

A Stranformation of Image

Black History

“Untitled”

I am the light that shines in the day,
I am the tender voice that dwells inside the heart of the lonely.
I am the night, a fog swaying deep into every whispering ears sleeping far from home.
I am the song in your heart,
I am the shrill breeze that walks with you even when you find no path to trail.
I am unspoken, I am voiceless,
I am silence, I'm gentle,
tender like I don't exist.

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.

New Me in Him

His hand lift me up this morning
He made me to walk through the path of nature again
like a newly wedded groom
I bath inside the ocean of His unending blessing till
the sun begins set fourth in the north
My feet stand in His water of grace as I was once
born again into a new earth;
“A WORLD OF HIM
He speaks to me in a new voice
he shows me how to recreate with choice
and I follow his voice, his words, his creativity
He his a unique master that blends me
with his wand to be like him and I want to direct
my words through him that is in me
Like the sun that rise and set for another
sphere.
my word will spread through eternity
it will drench it purity on every ear,
and my feet, body is a symbol to
express and redefine the greatness he's fashioned
me to become
I will twist my body and spin my arms around
and I'll draw out words and movements to address
his tenderness,
and soar like the birds
because HE is merciful
I felt his presence dwelling within me
and becoming like him more and more.
I want to dance with him
I want to write about him
I want to move with him
and touch the sun with him.
This is the SON of a new rising SUN
a bird soaring in a new horizon
this is Vincent, a new Me in Him......

PHRASES TO MEDITATE

“Before God can do his thing,
we must do our thing”
st Augustine

“ He has sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never call retreat.
He is sifting out the hearts of
men before his judgment Seat
Julia Ward Howe
“battle Hymn of the republic

“ All that is not eternal
is eternally out of date.”
C.S Lewis

“I will test them as gold is tested.”
Zachariah 13, 9

“Humility isn't thinking little of self;
it isn't thinking of self at all.
Anonymous.

WHY IS IT?

A man wakes up after sleeping
under an ADVERTISED blanket
on an ADVERTISED mattress
and pulls off ADVERTISED pajamas
bathers in an ADVERTISED shower
shaves with an ADVERTISED razor
brushes his teeth
with ADVERTISED toothpaste
washes with ADVERTISED soap
put on ADVERTISED clothes
drink a cup
of ADVERTISED coffee
drives to work
in an ADVERTISED car
and then....
refuses to ADVERTISE
believing it doesn't pay.
later if business is poor
he ADVERTISES it for sale
WHY IS IT?

My first time writing poem.......

Staring days and days into the wild, daring eyes
I squint because of the sharp glare.
She’s beautiful, sure, but
Sometimes, she will blind you, rob you of your fate.
Some parts of her seem sad in her dullness---unspectacular.
It is right in front of me, but instead,
I see the lush, the fresh, the vibrant playfulness that moves her.
The sun, her light and child, acts as her guidance through the clouds.

But…something has changed.
Something wicked,
No, something human
Invaded her stillness.
Lady Destiny awoke her, made her aware.
The blood-red apple
The beauty and spectacle,
The piercing eye
That shines through every creature,
Living or dead.
Like spring, yet not spring,
It brings reinforcement, replication,
The renaissance of history and patronage.
Shall we rejoice in dawn or mourn for our fall?



Written by Eva Lin

THE BEATS

Laurie Cook

My Dying Heartt

My Dying Heart

Each night the moon raises,
filled each moment with praises;
I dream of you. one more night i dream of you

We can't be with each other,
but we dying to see ourselves together;
my heart never stop breathing
because you said you'll keep waiting.
Though the hills and mountains have separated us,
but we are still desperate beside all odds;
no one can quench the fire we share,
no one can change our sphere;
we may be distance away,
but in my heart we both here to play.
Love is like a magical song,
soft and gentle, humming for us along.
One more night I want to be with you,
just your touch I know life is true;
together we cuddle like two robes tangle,
mixed in the fantasy of love, yet, we were humble;
Our heat from us makes us twins,
we swim in harmony, down your chest I feel so real.
Loving this,
your kiss is sweet;
but now no one knows I how I feels,
burning in silence, this wounds never ills;
I can't escape another day without you,
I can't walk another miles if my heart don't have you;
I call this “MY DYING HEART”
for in you I will fly HIGH.
We both have long for love,
when kneel at the alter, our bliss descend like the dove.

Nature

Dancevgil

for my SOUL

poetry
dance
music
song
vibe
consciousness
motivation
inspiration
aspiration
determination
information
communication
innovation
education
we want to reach you and the world with our words,
our voice,
our heart
our strength;
"YES WE CAN".

for my SOUL

poetry
dance
music
song
vibe
consciousness
motivation
inspiration
aspiration
determination
information
communication
innovation
education
we want to reach you and the world with our words,
our voice,
our heart
our strength;
"YES WE CAN".

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