Tuesday, 7 March 2006
Saturday, 4 March 2006
.jpg)
Ghanaians
On the weekend of Ghanaian Independence we have prepared a small peice on two influential Ghanaians who were key in the changes in the politics and life of Ghanaians.
Nkrumah, Kwame (1909-1972)
Kwame Nkrumah became the first prime and later president of Ghana. He was born on September 21, 1909, at Nkroful in what was then the British-ruled Gold Coast, the son of a goldsmith. Trained as a teacher, he went to the United States in 1935 for advanced studies and continued his schooling in England, where he helped organize the Pan-African Congress in 1945. He returned to Ghana in 1947 and became general secretary of the newly founded United Gold Coast Convention but split from it in 1949 to form the Convention People's party(CPP). After his 'positive action' campaign created disturbances in 1950, Nkrumah was jailed, but when the CPP swept the 1951 elections, he was freed to form a government, and he led the colony to independence as Ghana in 1957. A firm believer in African liberation, Nkrumah pursued a radical pan-African policy, playing a key role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963. As head of government, he was less successful however, and as time passed he was accused of forming a dictatorship. In 1964 he formed a one-party state, with himself as president for life, and was accused of actively promoting a cult of his own personality. Overthrown by the military in 1966, with the help of western backing, he spent his last years in exile, dying in Bucharest, Romania, on April 27, 1972. His legacy and dream of a "United States of African" still remains a goal among many.
Nkrumah was the motivating force behind the movement for independence of Ghana, then British West Africa, and its first president when it became independent in 1957. His 1965 work Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism, shares with Che Guevara the credit for introducing the concept of “neocolonialism.”Further Reading:Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism, 1965
Yaa Asantewaa: see below
Yaa Asantewaa
Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840-1921) was appointed Queen Mother of Edweso, a state in the Asante union in Ghana, by her brother, Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese.During her brother's reign, Yaa Asantewwa saw the Ashanti Kingdom fall into a terrible spell. King Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese wanted to expand the Ashanti Confederacy into an empire as great as that of Ghana Empire and the Europeans. Thus war was declared on the Fante and Ga, and new alliances were formed with the Dutch and then with the British, which resulted in the loss of the Dutch alliance. To obtain firearms, the King sold his own people as slaves; he also used slaves to build his palace. Many died under his reign. Upset and distressed by her brother's deeds, Yaa Asantewwa rebelled. Yaa Asantewwa's rebellion was a major blow to her brother's plans, because she had the support of the people of Edweso, as well as the Fante people situated in near and around Kumasi. When her brother died in about 1894, Yaa Asantewaa used her prerogative as Queen Mother to nominate her own grandson as King of Edweso. When her grandson was sent into exile in 1896, Yaa Asantewwa became regent. After the British deported the King of the Asante, she became leader in the war of resistance in 1900, supported by some male leaders.Eyewitness accounts from Edweso indicate that Yaa Asantewaa herself did not physically take up arms to fight. Rather, she was a tactician, strategist, and inspirational leader. She visited the soldiers in the battlefield to ascertain how they were faring. She also gave directions and advice and supplied gunpowder. Eventually, Queen Yaa Asantewaa was captured, but by whom remains a mystery, as does her ultimate fate. Some say she was sent to the Seychelles islands off Africa's east coast, and others say she was turned over to the King and secretly killed, which was the fate of most chiefs who became prisoners of war.Yaa Asantewaa remains a much-loved figure in Asante history for the courage she showed in confronting injustice and the colonialism of the British.Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa
Wednesday, 1 March 2006
Thursday, 23 February 2006
Tuesday, 21 February 2006
Saturday, 18 February 2006
kano at astoria
KANO LIVE AT THE LONDON ASTORIA. SATURDAY 04.02.06
“BY NEXT YEAR I MIGHT HAVE A MOVIE IN THE STORES” -
from "get set - 679 recordings"
When news of Kano’s concert being cancelled reached the street level immediately there were parallels drawn between the way in which So Solid were locked down in their hey day. The surprise, which was most peoples reaction was due to the fact that Kano has never been at the center of a public scandal of the same nature of those from So Solid.
At the beginning of the performance Kano did talk about the previous concert that did not happen and sounded hurt at the cancellation, he also mentioned the significance of the night. As he was not being paid it was “all love”.
Nevertheless Kano returned with a next date early this month to give the fan what they had been waiting for. The venue was London Astoria, a significant venue for many reasons. The night proved that the scene has lot riding for it and that it can be the forefront a musical revolution. The crowd was very mixed and was probably what Kano has become used to after doing a nationwide tour.
Kano performed a good few tracks from the album “home sweet home”, those who are familiar will know Ps and Qs, typical me and the current track, brown eyes. Then the usual stage show ensued, with a performance from former members of his old crew in the style of a dj set from sidewinder. It seemed some of the crowd was not familiar with this format, in my opinion this is the most important part of being a UK artist: staying true to your roots, the same ethos held Hip Hop legends that made their scene what it is today.
Unfortunately the night seemed half finished when the curtains were called at 9.30. I feel this was not what the crowd were looking for and that particular move made the “concert” seem as if it was not on a par with other shows.
www.ka-no.com
p.s. watch out for www.rollinwiththenines.com
“BY NEXT YEAR I MIGHT HAVE A MOVIE IN THE STORES” -
from "get set - 679 recordings"
When news of Kano’s concert being cancelled reached the street level immediately there were parallels drawn between the way in which So Solid were locked down in their hey day. The surprise, which was most peoples reaction was due to the fact that Kano has never been at the center of a public scandal of the same nature of those from So Solid.
At the beginning of the performance Kano did talk about the previous concert that did not happen and sounded hurt at the cancellation, he also mentioned the significance of the night. As he was not being paid it was “all love”.
Nevertheless Kano returned with a next date early this month to give the fan what they had been waiting for. The venue was London Astoria, a significant venue for many reasons. The night proved that the scene has lot riding for it and that it can be the forefront a musical revolution. The crowd was very mixed and was probably what Kano has become used to after doing a nationwide tour.
Kano performed a good few tracks from the album “home sweet home”, those who are familiar will know Ps and Qs, typical me and the current track, brown eyes. Then the usual stage show ensued, with a performance from former members of his old crew in the style of a dj set from sidewinder. It seemed some of the crowd was not familiar with this format, in my opinion this is the most important part of being a UK artist: staying true to your roots, the same ethos held Hip Hop legends that made their scene what it is today.
Unfortunately the night seemed half finished when the curtains were called at 9.30. I feel this was not what the crowd were looking for and that particular move made the “concert” seem as if it was not on a par with other shows.
www.ka-no.com
p.s. watch out for www.rollinwiththenines.com
BUFF FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE
Its’ been 2 months since its’ high profile launch at ITV and already, organisers of the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) have had to extend the deadline for entries ahead of announcing their shortlist later next month. BUFF has been billed as the UK’s biggest competitive festival of its’ kind, creating 3 competition categories: (Best) Feature, (Best) Short Film & (Best) Music Video.In addition, there will be a showcase of selected films & music videos for broadcast on-line and on-air as well as behind-the-scenes programming chronicling the festival, filmmakers & independent cinema. Sources at BUFF Enterprises have confirmed that they’re currently accepting submissions through until Tuesday February 21 in the aforementioned 
categories.Selected films will be judged by a panel of industry professionals and will compete for a ‘buffy’ award, voted for by the general public. All winners will be announced at ‘The Buffies’ awards ceremony, the climax to the British Urban Film Festival in late Spring 2006.The 8 day event also includes first-run features, documentaries & short films from the UK and abroad. In addition to the screenings, a distribution arm will be set up to license all nominated films under the umbrella of BUFF Enterprises, attracting buyers for UK and international film/TV markets.For full details about how to enter films, log on to the festival website: http://www.buff.uk.net/
One Samurai - more A to Z
More street than the A to Z presented by one SamuraiDJ Samurai is a hip-hop producer from the UK who also ghost writers (weak rhymers apply here), spits, and DJ’s. Recently he has turned his hands to the camera.
The product that landed on the streets was a take on the legendary A-Z maps that tell you everything about how to get to where you are going. The analogy is quite obvious. If you want to know about the scene then get this in your DVD collect.
The highlights are the news and views from the artists that have been coming up on the streets last year. Kila Kela features, as does Lethal, Jammer and Skepta. Fire camp, Kalashnekoff, Sway and Aftershock also represent the hustlers ethic that runs through the UK Street Scene.
Thee quality of the edit lets the DVD down, but this is made up for by the amount of exclusive skits, freestyles and interviews. Watch out for the next instalment coming very soon. Also check out the trailer for a big UK produced feature called “rollin with the nines”, Winner of the Raindance award in 2005.
Links
http://www.onesamurai.com/
http://onesamurai.extremedev.net/video_morestreetthantheaztrailer.htmlhttp://www.rollinwiththenines.com/
Tuesday, 14 February 2006
out of bethnal
event
Out of Bethnal
date
friday 17th of feb
location
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Old+Street,+London,++
nuff said
so get your skins down there. SEEN!
Friday, 10 February 2006
Thursday, 9 February 2006
shebu gets loved up
Valentines Soiree @ SHEBU
Address: 184 Uxbridge Road, London W12 7JP
Date: 14th February 2006
Time: 7pm till late
Entry: £5 before 9pm £7 thereafter
Music by: Dj. Baby Blu & Mikey
Host: Peaches (Deal Real Records)
Dancers: Bam Bam Boogies
BV's: Andrea.G & Sumaia
Tell a friend.
Info: 07831 434 210 / 020 8222 6597 / 07904735545
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)