afroculture

It was a brilliant stage performance showcasing newer local talents and established teachers, masters and choreographers, boasting a variety of African inspired music and genres.

We also discovered the Congolese Band Soukous Koumbele who performed during the film tribute to dancer Lolita Badindamana, who was a popular Congolese artist, dancer, musician who passed away this year and Carolyn Lilly's friend, the funder of ADX. Playing a number of instruments such as the Conga, they got everyone off their seats.

Out of a number of choreographers and dancers, we spoke to Noire on the night, who choreographed a piece interpreted by 3 dancers "the Market Place" to credit African women who tirelessly sell their goods at the market to feed their families.

Adriano Oliviera from Bahia teaches Afro Fusion which is a blend of Brazilian and West African Contemporary Dance with dynamic movements, connecting energies with less focus on techniques as understood in classical terms.

Demba, namely Dembis Thioung, a professional percussionist who plays a number of traditional instruments such as the dundun, accompanied "Les Femmes Africaines"

We also spoke to Ajani who prepared a free style of mix contemporary styles and Homebros who choreographed solo a piece called "Feeling First" and specialises in Afro Dance such As Azonto and Afro House.

Watch out for these talented artists and be sure to meet them in person this weekend!!!!

Dom Pedro chose filmmaking to spread the history of our African cultures across the world, especially the history of the kingdom of Kongo.

Originally from Angola, Dom Pedro would escape Angola as a teenager due to cilvil war, leaving his parents behind.  Nevertheless, his native land would remain at the centre of his inspiration and creativity, as well as memories of the motherland. Consequently, his love for his culture prompted him to share it with the rest of the world. In fact, he sees it as his life's mission to see African Cultures take their rightful place on the world's stage and to tell the untold story of the motherland so that humanity has a 360° degrees knowledge and vision of itself, Africa being the craddle of mankind.

In one of his most recent and famous documentary "Tango Negro, the African Roots of Tango" (2013), Dom Pedro captured on the screen the social and cultural impact that slavery had on African people and the environment they were forced in, having been snatched away from their homes, families, and natural habitat. We can feel their sadness, nostalgia and the tragedy so profoundly expressed in the musical and dance art form of Tango.

Juan Carlos Caceres, the late acclaimed Argentinian pianist who served as the film composer and passed away in 2015,  would say in the film. "The tango is made up of three sadnesses, three memories," ... "The immigrants' sadness. The gaucho's sadness, people who lived in the country. And finally the Blacks' sadness, who didn't come here as immigrants, but who were brought here, leaving their lives in Africa."

Dom Pedro has produced a number of films and documentaries as listed below. He currently is working on a production centered around the Kingdom of Kongo.

- Ray Lema,1997,Tout Partout Partager, 1997. Doc. Musical (RDcongo)
- Bonga, au nom de la liberté.2000. (Angola). Documentary- Portrait. Musique.
- PACO, 2002. Film de fiction. Séléction FESPACO-Burkina Faso. (Angola).
- Barani, Histoire d'une tradition, Documentaire de Pierre Yaméogo. 2002 Assistant 
- Le long chemin vers la Paix. 2002, (Angola). Documentaire sur la guerre.
- Kin-Malebo Danse. 2005. Musical Documentary (2x 52mns)
- Congo: Rythmes et Rumba congolaise. 2006. Musical Documentary
- Michelino, Star de la rumba. 2006. Doc. Portrait d'un artiste-guitariste.
- Pépé Felly, l'âme de Zaïko Langa Langa. Musical documentary. 2006
- Rido Bayonne - BORN IN AFRICA. Artiste du Congo-Brazzaville.Doc. 2007.

Carolyn Lilly is the founder of Feel the Rhythm Productions.

She is a tireless African dance lover who has been dancing for as long as she remembers, experiencing different types of African dances all over the world. In addition to her passion for dance, she also has a passion to promote African dancers with a soft spot for dances from Francophone countries in West and Central Africa. While living in Paris, she would organise stage performance in Oakland, US for artists such as George Momboye, a reknowned choregrapher from Ivory Coast.

Since moving to London, she has launched an international dance festival showcasing local talents as well as international dancers called ADX (African Dance Explosion).

ADX is a unique festival showcasing and teaching, through various workshops , a wide variety of African dances and techniques from popular dance masters, teachers and choreographers.

This year, ADX 2018 is called « Les femmes africaines ». Carolyn Lilly felt that women are more obscured in Africa yet there are so many strong African women dancers. Therefore, this year, she seized the opportunity to provide an artistic platform where dance could be approached  from a woman’s perspective.

ADX will run from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2018.

See flyer below

Scroll down to continue reading

ADX 2018 - Program

Carolyn Lilly has invited Aïssata Kouyaté from Guinea who will teaching a traditional Guinean dance workshop.

Sellou Blagone from the Ivory Coast will be teaching a traditional Ivorian dance workshop.

Other dances, which evolved from African sounds and rhythm include Jazz, Afro House, Brazilian Afro Fusion and Umfundalai technique. Dollie Henry, a legend and icon in the UK, will be teaching a jazz dance workshop; Sheila Atta will be teaching Afro House and Adriano Oliviera, Brazilian Afro Fusion. Other teachers, such as Dr C. Kemal Nance Umfundalai of contemporary African Dance will be returning this year and Leonora Stapleton will be teaching the Germany Cunningham Technique of modern contemporary dance.

The festival will take place in Morley College commencing with a show and a taster on Friday 28th September 2018. The workshops, on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September will be held at the Stockwell Branch of Morley College. The show will boast an amazing showcase of various styles of African inspired dances and contemporary dance on stage, also providing a platform for young dancers to showcase themselves. A 2Omn musical tribute will be part from the show in memory of a congolese artist Lolita Badindamana, who was a popular Congolese artist, dancer, musician and Carolyn Lilly's friend,  who passed away this year.

You can buy your full pass online today by clicking on the link below. Special discounts are available for students

Carolyn’s closing words :

« For me dance is life. Everything is dance to me. In all you do, keep dancing ».

What struck me about S.Rise, Reggae and Conscious artist from Guadeloupe, is his commitment to self-development and to inspire others. His vision is huge, so much so that he seems to always think he takes babysteps where others would consider they have arrived.

S.Rise owns up to his actions and their impact within the society he lives in. Unlike some, he chooses not to use You but rather personnifies what he sings using I « I don’t want to position myself telling people what to do with themselves but by reminding myself of staying in a positive mindframe, and say I « as an affirmation », it can then resonate within the listener too".

S.Rise would further say « The way I write at the moment is very mindful of the way I will say, formulate stuff and take ownership of the lyrics … This is me now, aware of who I am and where I am coming from, more focussed than before, self-disciplined, knowing the importance of having the mind, soul and body strong. If your thinking process is negative, it’s like eating bad food, you are harming yourself »

And his frame of mind is clearly expressed in his last song « I am winning », available to download for free on his website http://sriseofficial.com and out since the 1st August 2018.

Continue to read below for more info on S.Rise

The inspiration came while S.Rise was performing at a show in St Pancras with the live band called (ONE THE BAND) in Spring 2018. The band played the instrumental of the song « Hello » from an artist called Kes. « I really love this song. When the band played it, I wanted to write something on it. Then I downloaded the instrumental and the chorus came to me. I was at home. »

I am winning is a great song for Summer which willl uplift you on your way to work remaining hopeful while on the « plantation ». The song also encapsulates S.Rise’s general feeling « everything that happened so far this year, Gambia, #Iamnot4sale, Kalash, Etana in Guadeloupe, blessings and babysteps and progress ». He is full of appreciation.

See S.Rise performance with Etana in Guadeloupe and at Kalash's concert in London on 9th June 2018

Continue to read below for more info
 

His manager Red would also mention a significant performance at Hootananny where S.Rise performed his first 45mns set with his live band. It was the 1st time he would headline a concert.

I am winning also states his convinction and his plans. It takes us right into S.Rise’s world with family and friends featuring in the video clip in cartoon forms. « The whole cartoon itself are friends and family. I like how everybody has been showcased…. I liked the way he put my mum and dad from the beginning. I greet them and then am in Guadeloupe with the sun shining. »

The wole concept of the cartoon was hugely important to S.Rise « When you are looking at music videos nowadays, children can’t look at them. For most of them, they are very sexualised. » S.Rise wanted to change that and connect with youth who can easily play it.  And the children do love the characters and seeing S.Rise as a super hero.. S. Rise particularly likes his parents portrayed as a King and a Queen just like the lyric « I am the son of a King and a Goddess ». It is so important to him that young people respects their parents who are life-givers and he also wants to promote a counter culture which does not degrade women, nor hype drugs and the use of alcohol ; which he swaps for « having a bottle of water in his hand »

See still shots below and continue to read for more info on S.Rise

When it comes to S.Rise plans « I am plannning to go to Gambia in 2 years and live there, the plan is to have a business running over this side (UK) and keep being creative in Gambia. I want to set up smthg not as the boss, where I end up working even more than the employee but be the owner of the business, » echoed in the I am winning song :

« I don’t want to be the boss but the owner » ; nor will he follow the leader. « I am not a follower an I dont want people to be followers….. We are the leader. I am going to stand my ground, have my own thoughts and do my own things »

If you haven’t listened to the song yet, here is the link below and website to download.

S.Rise last words for you readers :

« Thank you for all the feedback I have got so far, thank you to Afro Culture with the interview, this is exclusive : stay connected, I am working on an album, debut album, out in 2019"

To see S.Rise perform in the next coming weeks,  join him at Trafalgar Square on Saturday 18th August for the African Holocaust Day Commemoration and at Monday Notting Hill Carnaval Parade with Batuke on Monday 27th August 2018.

I've had the pleasure to meet Deyon King, an amazing and talented creative wearing so many different hats. From taking on the role of a cosmetic chemist, creating her own line of handmade natural makeup "Fruitsoflove" to styling and designing clothes using Ankara fabric, as well as accessories such as earring, bows and handbags, the list is endless. [She can also sing]......

Deyon would say of herself: "I've always been quite a creative type of person. People would come to me with broken bits of watches and earringS that are falling apart and ask what I could you do with it. I've always had a creative nack, gifted by God I would call it".

See pics below and Etsy site link to purchase fruitsoflove items:

But that's not all. Deyon has a beautiful way of passing on knowledge. For instance, she is amazing at styling hair. I needed a hairstyle and within seconds by looking at my face, traits and outfit, she could picture exactly what would suit and the lipstick I would sport out. However, the ones appointed to do my haire were her daughters.

Deyon herself would say that her earliest memories of doing hair was between the ages of 8 to 12 where she would take on the task of doing her cousins' hairs, hairstyles, her mum's friends children and even my mum's friends themselves. She learnt herself from her mum and aunties who would be standing in the family living room with a girlfriend seating on a chair in the middle and they'll get busy styling their friend's hair. "In Caribbean culture, it is quite traditional and natural for the eldest to take care of the youngest hair and a way of making some money by doing hair braiding. I would have a doll that I would practise my braiding skills and cornrows on and be corrected by my auntie. I learnt by watching"

It is therefore not in the least surprising that her daughters, Syrenity and Sakura, have taken it on too.

"Now my kids have got this love for doing hair. They do the same thing with their dollies, try to braid the hair and single plats. They are amazing at single plating and I teach them different techniques as time allows".

You can see them below and the result of course of hair and make up.

We trust that Deyon King, her daughters and her brand will keep on unlocking their creativity. Long life to fruitsoflovve!!!

Trevor Noah, South African Comedian and Political commentator, faced the wrath of French nationals and government following his remark that "Africa won the world cup". Serge Araud, French Ambassador to the U.S., argued that all of the French National players, except for two, were all from French descent (that is ... they were born in France, schooled in France, etc...) and were not Africans... He claimed that France was a diverse country considering all its citizens regardless of their origins alike.

Well, let's hear how French institutions regard some of their Afro-descendants nationals from the horse's mouth itself?

The Carnaval of Dunkerque in the North of France in March 2018, supported by the Mayor of the town, dismissed the request of many black organisations who felt that the representation of "the ball of the blacks" using black faces was offensive to Afro descendants, and didn't want this parade and tradition to be upheld by French institutions.

How does the French Federation of Football deal with offensive behaviours from French footballers on the question of race? That was Antoine Griezmann, by the way, who did apologize realizing that it was inappropriate..

Is French Police treating Black youth alike or was this an isolated incident?

La Kaz Kreol est un nouveau restaurant rapide tropical situé au 10 cours Julien dans le 6ème arrondissement de Marseille sur deux niveaux.

Au rez de chaussée se tient l'espace de restauration. On y trouve des mets tropicaux tels que:

- les Bokit "sandwich guadeloupéen

- des fricassés de chatrou "poulpe avec de la banane plantain 

et bien évidemment le planteur.

Le restaurant est ouvert du lundi au samedi le midi et le soir et un lieu unique à Marseille.

Au premier étage se trouve un espace artistique nommé S.A.C.E (Spirituel-Africain-Caraïbéen-Expression). Celui-ci est dédié à l'art Africain et Caraïbéen, tel que son nom l'indique et est aussi un espace d'expo vente pour des artistes locaux tels que Rhalis Cangou et Ozas 99 Prod.

Le S.A.C.E nous invite à concevoir l'art différemment au quotidien et le à partager avec un large public large.

Pour plus d'infos sur Kaz Kreol, cliquez sur le lien FB ci-dessous:

Leah Sharibu, une adolescente nigérianne de 15 ans, était parmi les 119 étudiantes capturées par Boko Haram du collège "Science Technical College" à Dachpim dans l'état de Yobe au Nigéria en février 2018.

Toutes les filles ont été éventuellement relachées, à l'exception de 5 mortes en détention et Leah Sharibu, retenue par le groupe extremiste Boko Haram par refus d'obtempérer et de renoncer à sa foi chrétienne.

La Grande Bretagne a promis son soutien au gouvernement nigérian pour que Leah soit libérée.

Voir vidéo en anglais ci-dessous pour plus d'infos!!

After a full on career in music, on the UK hip hop scene, touring, owning his own record label at age 18 and producing mixtapes, Mic Assassin decided, in 2007, to start a new career in videowork.

He launched his own video production company and channelled his creativity in producing visual content in the place of creating music. Slightly desillusioned with the music industry at that time which was part of his life since age 9, this new discipline allowed him to meet new people from different industries and walks of life. It also was a lucrative industry which gave Mic Assassin a break from relentlessly working underground selling 1000s of CDs, over the years, hand to hand. 

Since, Mic Assassin is ready to take up music again. He wants it to be fun as he realised that music in his life is better than not doing it and he wants to keep consistent with it. Music has changed though; he is fully aware of it and committed to finding that new sound that best expresses who he is as an artist, a creative and a lyricist. Mic Assassin is also putting an ensemble of musicians together to tour, more shows are coming in November and December, as well as releasing online creative work.

To all of you reading, Mic Assassin's final word to you is "I hope you are pushing your dreams and true to yourselves, living to the best of yourselves"

As his own lyrics declare " You came from a long line, strong line of kings..."

Never forget where you come from, sky is the limit peeps!!!

Saturday, June 30, 2018, Kemi Seba was holding his book signing, following the release of his new book "L'Afrique Libre ou la Mort - A Free Africa or death" at Moussa L'africain, a restaurant located in the heart of Paris, near les Halles. " During 3 hours, a constant parade of supporters came to buy their copy of the book, sometimes two or three, from a big brother and a world icon against the oppression of afro-descendants and campaigning for the sovereignty of Africa. In the greatest calm and respect, the session was punctuated by embraces and words of encouragement, in order to provide practical support to the activist and author Kemi Seba. In two hours, more than 500 books were sold.

Keep reading below for our review of Kemi Seba's book

The book

"L'Afrique Libre ou la Mort" awakens us to the resurgence of a pan-African movement in the 21st century embodied by Kemi Seba. This fight is part of the continuity of the mission of our ancestors who fought for the sovereignty of Africa in order to, as will tell the author, "regain our former nobility".

The resonance of the title to the slogan of Thomas Sankara, Pan-African resistance icon of the 1980s "La Patrie ou la Mort, nous vaincrons - the fatherland or death, we will overcome" and the choice of the cover of the book in front of the tomb of the latter in the cemetery of Dagnoen in Burkina Faso are full of symbolism and bearers of hope.

The Pan-African mission for the liberation and self-determination of our people is still to be written and its enemies since the pseudo-independances of Africa, especially in the francophone zone,  have since sophisticated their systems of impoverishment of Africa and its people all over the world.

"A Free Africa or death", therefore, retraces the geopolitical struggle of Kemi Seba and his NGO "Urgences Panafricanistes" and their legitimacy and relevance in an era where neocolonialism has transferred to ultraliberal globalism. As a result, Kemi Seba has surrounded himself with many like-minded international figures who, like him, oppose predatory exogenous forces of the 21st century, including seven men that he carefully selected to preface his book, namely:

Biram Dah Abeid, the Mauritanian politician, anti-slavery leading figure in Mauritania and in the Arab world. Jailed several times, he received in 2013 the Human Rights Prize of the United Nations.

Alexandre Douguine, Russian geopolitician, philosopher, anti-imperialist, strategic advisor of the Duma (Russian Parliament) and the Military Academy in Moscow. He is considered the most influential Russian ideologue.

Elie Domota, Guadeloupean revolutionary, trade unionist, independence activist, spokesman for the LKP (Liyannaj Kont Pwofitasyon, meaning together against the Protifasion in French and general Secretary of the UGTG (General Union of the workers of Guadeloupe).

Pedro Biscay, Argentinian lawyer who specializes in economic crime. Peronist activist advocating the Tricontinental alliance, he was for many years the Director of the Central Bank of Argentina. He is the founder of the Centre for research and prevention of economic crime.

Djimon Hounsou, Hollywood Beninese actor, known for his roles, such as in Gladiator, Amistad, Blood Diamond. He is about to release a film about King Behanzin, and a documentary about Vodoun.

Ganiou Soglo, Minister of Culture in Benin from 2008 to 2011 and son of the former President of the Republic of Benin, Nicéphore Soglo. He is considered to be the pygmalion of Beninese cultural life.

Nicolas Anelka, non-conformist and icon in the French suburbs, international footballer and manager who played for PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Continue to read the review of the book below and access the links to order your copy of the book online (your English copy will be available in the next coming months):

In this work, succeeding 3 essays on neocolonialism (Supra Négritude in 2013, Black Nihilism in 2014 and Obscure Epoque in 2016), Kemi Seba provides a framework and reading grid for young Africans and afro-descendants, as well as to future generations, in a plain language to allow them to decrypt the systemic oppression they face and to encourage them to active citizenship, true to his slogan "what African elites do not do for the people, the people will do it themselves".

Kemi Seba's experience on the ground as the president of the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes allowed him to theorize a struggle that is adapted to the realities of this century and which can serve as a guide to any Pan-African resistance movement. According to Kemi Seba, where the African intelligentsia has missed the boat in theorizing in the comfort of their office, formatted in the schools of colonists and failing to link the practice to the theory, " A free Africa or death is in no doubt, the  most important book of their political journey and especially a reflective guide for the new generation of Pan-Africanists, far from the theorists who have never experienced the struggle they champion from their keyboards". "L'Afrique libre ou la mort" is published by New African Cultures Editions and for sale on Amazon, Price Minister and FIAT LUX EDITIONS.

See the links below to order your copy of the book and to follow Kemi Seba on social networks: