Tonight at 6pm, the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture will be hosting the Half and Half Panel discussion on exploring Dominican and Haitian identities. The discussion sounds like it will be pretty interesting and it will bring up some fiery topics that exist between the two nationalities. Race, economics, politics and colonial legacy will all be on the agenda. It’s a free event so if you can make it out.
I definitely have to give credit where it’s due. CCCADI continues to put together some great events. Tonight, they’re set to launch their truly unique art exhibition for Women’s History Month. Check out the details below…
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) is pleased to present “Wearing Spirit: Aesthetically Personifying the Feminine in African Sacred Traditions” a multi-media exhibition of paintings, sculpture, photography, textile art, video and installations honoring the power of the Feminine present in African Sacred Traditions.
While African Sacred Traditions exist within a context of gender duality of masculine/feminine, this exhibition specifically explores the complex fabric of female personalities in indigenous African spirituality. Work in the exhibition captures the essence and power of the female deities, priestesses, and prophets that have served as instruments of balance and grounding within indigenous African spiritual systems and their derivatives.
Artists attempt to answer such questions as: Who are the gatekeepers of the spirit and physical realms? Who are the most prominent female divinities? What are the roles of female priestesses and prophets in a contemporary context? How is feminine energy shaping the future of these traditions?
This show is an awe-inspiring reflection of the universal essence that is cosmically feminine. It also highlights the traditional West African systems of Akan, Vodun and Yoruba and their Diasporan counteparts along with other rituals and rites-of-passage ceremonies.
In 2010, people are still being persecuted for their devotion to these indigineous belief systems. Most recently, there are reports of Haitian earthquake survivors being denied food and assistance as well as having their temples and altars desecrated and destroyed by evangelical Christians, simply for their practice of Vodun. Additionally, there needs to be a resurgence of earth-based practices during times of environmental disintegration. These traditions must be preserved and celebrated and this exhibition further educates the general masses to the cosmic energy that is Feminine and Sacred.
Check out a full listing of the artists involved and a video interview with Imo Nse Imeh, Ph.D as he discusses his piece “Mechanisms in Uyai,” after the jump…
It’s that time again. First Fridays at the Bronx Museum with Asho, celebrating Women’s History Month. Check out the details below…
First Fridays! At The Bronx Museum Presents:
KALALU Femme Edition: A lyrical stew for wordsmiths of all walks
Celebrating Women’s History Month
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
South Building – Lower Gallery
Admission: Free!!! No Cover!!!
Back by popular demand and following the success of last year’s all
female line-up performances, First Fridays! will celebrate Women’s
History Month with a program fully composed of words and sounds by and
for women.
KALALU is a signature event of The Zol Lab, a creative laboratory
where arts and media meet social justice.
Curated and Hosted by The Zol Lab.
Performances by Aracelis Girmay, Atiyya, Lah Tere, Lorelei Williams & Alkebulan Aya.
Beats By DJ Laylo
Live Painting by Crystal Chaparro.
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street • Bronx, NY 10456
Or visit www.bronxmuseum.org.
Subway Directions: Take the “D” or “B” to the 167 Street/Grand Concourse station. Exit at rear of station, walk south along Grand Concourse two blocks. Or take the “4” to the 161 Street/Yankee Stadium station. Walk east three blocks to the Grand Concourse, then walk north four blocks along Grand Concourse to 165th Street. Via Bus: Take the Bx1, Bx2, or BxM4 Express to 165th St. and Grand Concourse
SHOW TIMELINE
6:00 pm Doors Open/ DJ Laylo Spins on the 1’s & 2’s
7:30PM Opening Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab
7:35 PM Performance by Lorelei Williams
7:55 PM Mari Intro/Aracelis Girmay
8:20 PM Marinieves Alba announces Crystal’s Work in Progress/Atiyya Intro
8:25 PM Performance by Atiyya
8:50 PM Performance by Lah Tere
9:15 PM Performance by Alkebulan Aya
9:40 PM Closing Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab
For more info on everything, check out The Bronx Museum’s official site.
Just wanted to give folks the heads up that the legendary Gil Scott-Heron will be bring his live show to New York’s fabled Blue Note Jazz Club next week.
Gil will play a two-night engagement as celebration of the release of his new album I’m New Here , which Dom detailed a couple of weeks back.
I caught the promo for Rise up, a documentary about Reggae music on Large up. The screening of the documentary will take place at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center on February 25th. Below is the trailer for the movie.
Homeboy Sandman is still at it again - and going off in a way that only he can. This is just a snippet of what’s to come off of the next 2 Hungry Bros mixtape, check back for updates on that.
Sand Luc Picard
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DJ Spinna’s always been one of my favorite producers, and to see him working with one of my favorite MCs, Homeboy Sandman, is something really special to me.
Check out his video for “Get On Down,” which also features Fresh Daily and P.So (Formerly P.CASSO) below…
This coming weekend at The Bronx Museum will host a special tribute to the late, legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla as part of their monthly First Fridays series. As usual, everything is curated by out peoples, Asho. Check out the info below…
First Fridays! @ The Bronx Museum presents:
Looking for the Perfect Beat: A Tribute to J Dilla
Celebrating Black History Month.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Free!!! (No Cover)
Hosted by Black45 from MTP Jersey
Music by DJ Meltplus
& Sucio Smash.
Performances by
John Robinson,
El Da Sensei, Illmind,
Daniel Joseph
Yahzeed + DJ Preservation ( Mos Def’s DJ)
+ Many More Special Guests.
Co-presented by:
MTP Jersey: myspace.com/mtpjersey
Brooklyn Bodega : www.brooklynbodega.com
Fat Beats: www.fatbeats.com
High Water Music: www.highwaterismusic.com
J Dilla Portrait Courtesy of Vanessa Chakour www.vanessachakour.com
About J Dilla:
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American Grammy Nominated record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. According to his obituary at NPR.org, he “was one of the music industry’s most influential hip-hop artists, working for big-name acts like De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Common.” Yancey’s career began slowly. He has now become highly regarded, most notably for the production of critically acclaimed albums by Common, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Pharcyde. He was a member of Slum Village for their acclaimed debut album Fantastic, Vol. 2. In the early 2000s, Yancey’s career as a solo artist began to improve; A solo album Welcome 2 Detroit was followed by a collaborative album with California producer Madlib, Champion Sound, which catalyzed the careers of both artists. Just as his music was becoming increasingly popular, Yancey died in 2006 of the blood disease TTP.
About MTP (Meet The Producers)
MTP (Meet The Producers) is a monthly beat battle held in Newark, New Jersey. It was established in March 2005. MTP (Meet The Producers) was created for the sole purpose to showcase men and women creative ability’s behind the art of music productions and beat making. MTP (Meet The Producers) was created by Black45, DJ Max Jerome, and DJ Priority, with the departure of Max Jerome in 2006, Black45 and DJ Priority have strength their business chemistry and push the movement of the MTP (Meet The Producers) to the next level.
Also, if you’re in the mood for more Dilla, be sure to make it out to the 4th-Annual Donuts Are Forever party in BK on Saturday. Click the image below for more info on everything….
Joell Ortiz spits a quick history lesson on Haiti over the instrumental of the moment nowadays, Jay Electronica’s “Exhibit C”. Check out the audio below…
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A few of our friends are putting together a charity event going towards the relief efforts in Haiti tomorrow night. For more info on the event, click here.
