UK film: Freestyle - Official Trailer - In cinemas Feb 26

UK film Freestyle in cinemas Feb 26.

Synopsis
Ondene (Lucy Konadu) is beautiful, talented, and destined to study law at Oxford if she gets the required A-Levels. Nothing less will satisfy her domineering mother, Hyacynth (Suzann McLean). When a basketball court is set up near her private school, Ondene is charmed by a charismatic, good-looking freestyle basketball player, Leon (Arinze Kene), and they decide to enter a competition.

From a deprived background, Leon dreams of going to university and needs to win to pay his way. Ondene deceives her mother to be with him, and romance blossoms, only to be crushed when Hyacynth finds out. Balancing her future prospects and her newfound passion, Ondene has to make tough decisions about her family, education, and the man she loves.



Website Freestylemovie

See the interesting pre-review of this film on Shadow and Act: Love And Basketball, London Style

I spotted the film on Madnews, who called the film "Cheesy".
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Harry Belafonte talks about racism in Germany

Copyright Brothers Keepers: QuietStorm, Harry Belafonte, Tyron Ricketts, Adé Bantu

The artist and UNICEF ambassador Harry Belafonte visited the Amadeu Antonio Foundation in Berlin to discuss right-wing extremism and racism in Germany. And to inform himself of the situation of victims of right-wing violence. He emphasized the responsibility of artists and musicians of organising themselves against racism and other forms of oppression. The visit was on February 1st.

The Amadeu Antonio Foundation, is an German organisation that has been working in numerous ways to strengthen a democratic civil society. The aim is to resist neo-Nazi violence, racism and anti-Semitism

In the conference room of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, he met with Brother Keepers frontman and singer Ade Bantu, filmmaker Tyron Ricketts, rapper Quiet Storm, and many others. Brothers Keepers is a German-based transnational anti-racism project, bringing together hip hop, reggae and soul musicians.

Belafonte had many questions: why is racism is so prevalent in Germany and who is doing what about it? With what is Amadeu Antonio Foundation successful?

He made it clear that he sees racism as a global problem, also in Africa or the USA. He was shocked about the fact that there are "no-go areas" for blacks and other people who do not fit into the worldview of Nazis, and that politicians don’t action against. Or that black in big cities are often seen as drugs dealers by the police.

His visit to Germany and the Amadeu Antonio Foundation is part of his project to learn more about racism in the different countries. After Berlin he will travel to London and Paris. He will accompanied by camera team. Read full story here (German)

See also the post the German anti-racist organisation Brothers Keepers Meeting with Harry Belafonte

Website Brothers Keepers

See also Afro-Europe: Adé Bantu: rapping about the Afro-German identity
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Craig David ft. Lynnsha - "Walking Away" (French version)

"Walking Away" is a song by British singer Craig David from his debut album Born to Do It (2000). The popular song was re-recorded for David's Greatest Hits compilation, released in November 2008 in the United Kingdom. The song was released in different versions, one of them was the French version with R&B and Zouk singer Lynnsha.
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"Un Geste pour Haite" - A Gesture for Haiti

Remember the earthquake in Haiti? It seems like old news. On January 22 French celebrities recorded the clip "Un Geste pour Haite" (A Gesture for Haiti).The clip was made to support the people of Haiti. All profits of the entire project are donated to the Red Cross to support its actions in Haiti

Un geste pour Haïti

French celebraties in the clip:
Anthony Kavanagh (former comedian, and television host)
Lynnsha (singer)
Lilian Thuram (former football player, and activist)
Harry Roselmack (news anchor)
Noémie Lenoir (model and actress)
Zazie (singer)
Gregory (singer)
Micheal Drucker (Journalist)
Daan junior (singer)
Thierry Cham (singer)
Alibi Montana (rapper)
Erik (singer)
Sonja Rolland (actress and former Miss France)
Sarah Riani (singer)
Pit Baccardi (rapper)
Ophélie Winter (singer)
Cesária Évora (Folk singer)
Perle Lama (Zouk singer)
Mr Toma (singer)
Stomy Bugsy (rapper)
Charles Aznavour (singer)
Jacki (singer)
Passi (singer)
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ISD-Bundestreffen 2010 - Annual German Black community weekend

Photo and copyright Tina Bach: Group photo ISD-Bundestreffen 2008
The Black German organisation ‘Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland’ (ISD) or Initiative of Black People in Germany will organise its annual Federal meeting, the “Bundestreffen”, on August 12-15 2010 in Helmarshausen.

In November 1985 for the first time Black women and men in Germany called for a nationwide meeting in Wiesbaden, to step out of the at that time experienced isolation in a white society. Many followed this call. It was the start of a nationwide (at the time the time being the old West Germany) movement of black people in Germany. A novelty in a Germany after the Nazi period.

An interview with an African-American exchange student at the ISD-Bundestreffen 2008


But much has changed since those early days. From a manageable number of contacts it grew to a broad and divers network. Black people work on topics with each other to create discussion forums, create knowledge, make their private and public space. There are workshops, lectures, discussions, exchanges, information stands, children's program, and there is lots of room to self initiative.


In the evening there's pure culture, e.g. Films, performance / reading, DJ and live music. And of course you can dance on regga, soul, Soukouss, hip hop, and everything else is that is fun to dance on.

Themes at the federal meetings are black history, black people in education and employment, blacks networks, Black Identities in Germany, empowerment of children and young people, assertiveness in everyday life, and much more ... (Source: website ISD.)

Information about ISD-Bundestreffen 2010
Blog with pictures and posts of the "ISD-Bundestreffen 2008"
Blog of ISD Hamburg

An interview with ISD chairman Tahir Della (German)

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UK film 'Shank' - In cinemas march 26

Shank. If your not one of us, you're a victim

“An action film for the youth generation, set in a decaying future London. A gang set out on a chase to avenge the murder of one of their own. “ I wonder if there is also a European release of this flick.

On madnews I read that UK rapper Bashy and Kidulthood/Adulthood star Adam Deacon are some of ‘Shank’ stars.

http://www.shankthefilm.com/

You can also read an interesting review on the film blog Shadow and act

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MIZIK'ART presents Sango (France)

Tony Chasseur ft Sango, 13th February 2010, 12 rue Cantagrel - Paris 13ème M Bibliothèque F. Mitterand, in France.

MIZIK'ART is a musical event where an artist with a recording career sponsors an artist with a similar music style. Zouk singer Tony Chasseur will kick off the initiative by sponsoring singer-songwriter Sango. Sango will be on stage for an hour and a half and will be joined by Tony Chasseur and Lary La Nouvelle Star.

Although Sango will release his first single in the upcoming days, he is a successful musician in the music industry. He worked with numerous artists including Noel Ekouabi, Ophelia and Michael Winter, Nathalie Cardone, Les Nubians, Raul Paz, Princess Erika, David Charvet, and Ayo.

He’s now preparing his first new album which will be a mixture of afro, soul, pop, rythmn & blues. His first single will be released shortly before his concert.

IZIK'ART will also exhibit the work of Hatian painter Gary Legrand

Sango on Myspace.
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British Acid Jazz band Incognito - Nights over Egypt

I've heard that the London Acid Jazz band Incognito is coming to the Netherlands. Incognito is one of UK’s famous Acid Jazz bands. I've never seen them live. But there's one song I want to see and hear them play, Nights over Egypt. Because I never bought that Fender Rhodes stage piano, this song will always haunt me. The song is from The Jones Girls (1982).

I have also found a very good American live version from a singer named Maysa.



An update. I didn’t recognise her, but this is Maysa Leak, the former lead singer of Incognito! Check out the website of Maysa Leak
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Ethnic minority staff paid 10% less than white workers at Trevor Phillips’ equality watchdog (UK)

On the blog Madnews I read that the Government’s controversial equality watchdog was accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ for flouting its own policies on fair pay. The chairman is black politician, journalist and writer Trevor Phillips.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has angered business leaders by ordering a crackdown on hard-pressed companies that fail to pay the same rates to employees doing similar work.

But official figures show that more than two years after it was set up to stamp out discrimination, the commission is paying its own ethnic minority workers almost ten per cent less than white staff – an embarrassment for its black chairman Trevor Phillips. Read full story

Trevor Phillips is controversial. Everyone agrees that he's great communicator, but critics say his management style is his biggest problem. Read: Trevor Phillips: a career in crisis
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Exhibition: Afro Modern - Journeys through the Black Atlantic (Liverpool)

Renee Cox: River Queen, from Queen Nanny of the Maroons 2004
Afro Modern: Journeys through the Black Atlantic: Friday, 29th January 2010 - Sunday, 25th April 2010 in Liverpool UK.

This major exhibition, inspired by Paul Gilroy's seminal book The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (1993), identifies a hybrid culture that spans the Atlantic, connecting Africa, North and South America, The Caribbean and Europe. The exhibition is the first to trace in depth the impact of Black Atlantic culture on Modernism and will reveal how black artists and intellectuals have played a central role in the formation of Modernism from the early twentieth century to today.

From the influences of African art on the Modernist forms of artists like Picasso, to the work of contemporary artists such as Kara Walker, Ellen Gallagher and Chris Ofili, the exhibition will map out visual and cultural hybridity in modern and contemporary art that has arisen from the journeys made by people of Black African descent.

Divided into seven chronological chapters, from early twentieth century avant-garde movements such as the Harlem Renaissance to current debates around 'Post-Black' art, this exhibition opens up an alternative transatlantic reading of Modernism and its impact on contemporary culture for a new generation.

One of the most controversial artist at the exibition is photographer mixed-media artist Renee Cox. She is known for her remake of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper with a nude Cox sitting in for Jesus Christ, surrounded by all black disciples, except for Judas who was white. See, Yo Mama's Last Supper. In 2001 some Roman Catholics and former mayor Rudy Giuliani were not amused.
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Africans, Violence and Exploitation in Southern Italy

Before the end of this month we need to report the issue of African immigrant workers in Southern Italy. Early this month riots occured in Rosarno, Calabria sparked by shootings against Africans. These kind of shootings are not uncommon.

According to Saviano, author of Gomorrah, there are several hundreds of thousand African immigrant workers caught up in a brutal cheap-labor system ran by the Maffia. The Maffia organizes the immigration of Africans to the extensive vegetable and fruit farms of Southern Italy. These immigrants have to live in terrible conditions earning less than 3 euros per day for 10 to 14 hour working days. Thanks to them we can by cheap tomatoes, egg plants, zucchinis, olives, lemons .etc.. in our North European supermarkets.

These Africans live in tents, shacks and abandoned buildings on the margin of society. Repeated assault by locals against African immigrants have been reported in the last years. Unfortunately the local police is not sympathetic to the living conditions of the African workers. Disappearences are frequent and immigrants who object to low wages and poor working conditions are simply eliminated.

The Rosarno riots were reportedly sparked by local youth who fired air rifles at African immigrants. Unfortunately these kinds of shooting are not uncommon. In December 2008 a man shot without apparent reason two Africans who were sleeping in their shack, one got severely injured. Following this event the workers took to the street peacefully asking for protection. Approx. 2500 to 5000 Aficans live in the Rosarno valley. This is a huge number compared to a total of 15000 inhabitants.

After the second attack early this January several hundreds of workers went into the town of Rosarno and burned cars and smashed shop windows. Several locals replied with a severe attack on the African settlements.

It was the fourth outbreak of intercommunal violence in recent years resulting in the resettlement of about 1000 Africans in detention centers. Two years ago six Africans died in such a fighting in the coastal town of Castel Volturno, although these killings should be seen in relation to the drug activities of a local Maffia clan and Nigerian immigrants. Generally the European media is not too much vocal about these violent events.
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Black History Month 2010 in Hamburg (Germany)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2010 in Hamburg is about to start this Saturday 30.01. - 22.00 h with a grand OPENING PARTY !

We have a big program of more than 25 single events during the next weeks.
Live music, lectures, poetry, films, youth program and more.

Check out the details at www.BHMhamburg.de

We hope you will find it interesting and look forward to seeing you all again. Of course we would like to see new face aswell. ;-)

But while we are celebrating Black culture, looking at history and empowering the community, we will also think of our brothers and sisters suffering in Haiti right now. Throughout BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2010 we will be asking for donations towards the cause and contributions will also be made from the entree fees. That's why we need you to help us get as many people as possible to come to the events.

Here are 3 things that would have a great effect on the turnout :

- Call up a couple of people who probably don't know about BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- Remind or tell your friends about the OPENING PARTY this Saturday and bring them along with you
- Forward the mail to people who could be interested

Check out the program immediately here

Check out the party scene in this video

Black History Month 2010 Opening party in Hamburg (Germany)
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