The Times Posted some nice shots from the Labor Day Parade. So I thought I would share for those that didn’t make it out to the parkway.

It’s been a minute since I posted one of these. Chcek out the latest version of their weekly mix below….

#73 INCLUDES…

Mavado - On The Go (DJ Rush Remix)
Hate Me Now Remixes
Kardinal Offishall - Throw Ya Rag
Lil Kim, Wyclef & Mavado-Caribbean Connection
Busy Signal - Tic Toc
Mr. Evil - Coconuts
Pull Up Riddim (Jam 2)
Bounty Killer - They Don’t Know
Bounty Killer - War Bridge

and many more….

Carifesta - the Caribbean Festival of Arts was first hosted by Guyana back in 1972. Over the years it was held sporadically but now its held on a biennial basis. After 36 years it was held again in Guyana. Some of the events centered around Calyspo, Visual Arts, Film, Performing Arts and more.

Here are a couple of highlights of the festival that took place from August 22 - 31.

To find out more about Carifesta click here.

Busy Signal covers the newest issue of the music mag, The FADER. They seem to have a bit of a Caribbean jones going on lately, which I can’t even be mad at. Check out more info on that, and a download of the issue, here.

Also, if you’re in NYC, check out the info for the issue’s release event, featuring Rodriguez & DJ Michina, after the jump…

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Labor day weekend is here, and along with it comes a plethora of different happenings in and around NYC, culminating with the big (huge) West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway this Monday.

If you’re in the area, here’s a short synopsis of some of the good thing’s going on. I tried to fit as most as I could in here, but of course, I can’t get it all. Check it all out…you might run into us at some of these….

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When the new Nas album first dropped I was listening to the song “We are not alone” and this line caught my attention:

I used to worship a certain Queens police murderer
‘Til I read the words of Ivan van Sertima
He inserted something in me
That made me feel worthier
Now I spit revolution
I’m his hood interpreter

That line hit me in the head and made me wonder, who was Nas talking about?
So I did some research and as it turns out Ivan van Sertima is a Guyanese historian, linguist and anthropologist at Rutgers University. He also has some interesting studies on the achievements of Africans in science and wrote They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America. I like what he

I got schooled by Nas so now I’m schoolin you to it… Check out some of his discussions to learn more.

Afrikans in Science: Ancient and Modern
They came before Columbus

My man Larry posted this video on the Maroons in Colombia yesterday on his blog. I felt like I’d give it some more shine.

For those who don’t know who the Maroons are, definitely check out the video below, or click here. This is the first five minutes of the 1992 Documentary Palenque: Un Canto. Check out a description below…

1992 documentary on the Caribbean Colombian Maroon Community of San Basilio Palenque located near Cartagena in the department of Bolivar.The focus is on present day descendants of African maroons who resisted against the Spaniards and claimed their liberty early during the colonial era with the escape of slavery and establishment of free communities termed palenques also known as maroon communities in English. This particular community was founded by the maroon leader Benkos Bioho, which is a hero to many Colombians of African heritage…

To view the film in full, click here.

More video on the Colombian Maroons, via CNN, is after the jump…

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I had actually mean to post this before the day of, but you can check out info on BIG BAMBOO’s last party of the summer on the flyer above. Check out the info below as well. I’ll be there, hope to see you there too…

———
LAST PARTY OF THE SUMMER!

LinYee + Queen Majesty invite you to celebrate the summer with

Queen Majesty + VERY Special Guests

BIG BAMBOO! TUESDAYS
a weekly rotation of special guests selecting
Jamaican Ska, Rock Steady, and Rub a Dub and more!

Every Tuesday, 8PM-Midnite!
No Malice Palace and Garden
197 East 3rd Street between Avenue A and B

No Cover.Backyard.DancingMood.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

I saw this over on the Caribbean Free Radio Blog and felt it worthy of a post.

Georgia Popplewell, editor of the blog, tells the story of Trinidadian photographer Jeffrey Chock…

…I learned a few days ago that Trinidadian photographer Jeffrey Chock has fallen seriously ill on a trip to Canada, and is in urgent need of surgery….Jeffrey Chock and I are not close friends, but I’ve known him for years and have the deepest admiration for his work (which I once photographed him doing). As dancer Dave Williams said to me recently, “The man understands dance. I doh let anybody else photograph my shows!” And I know you’d hear local maspeople, thespians and pannists express similar sentiments…

His surgery costs are estimated at around TT$300,000 or US$48,000. For more info, and to make a donation, click here.

Below are some photos from Chock’s book, which can be purchased here. More photos are after the jump…

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