AFRO-EUROPE

Italian Documentary: "Creating the Blackness of Africa"

2012-01-26T13:13:00.005+01:00

"Creating the Blackness of Africa" is an Italian documentary on the history of the Blackness, particularly on the European classification of people into different colours (and races) as a European construct. It was screened at the 31st African film festival of Verona in November 2011.
Watch the trailer here.

Miss Belgium 2012 is Black

2012-01-09T14:57:00.011+01:00

Belgium elected its second black miss Belgium. The first was Tatiana Silva, Miss Belgium 2005, who was of Cape Verdean origin. This time its Laura Beyne, a 19 year old girl from Brussels. Her father is Belgian, her mother Congolese. She is perfectly bilingual and thus represents both major linguistic communities of Belgium.

Since 2000 several women of African origin were elected miss in their respective countries. They are nearly all mixed race. Below I will list the ones I know about.

Former Misses of African origin in other European Countries

France
Sonia Rolland, Born on the 11th of February in Kigali, Rwanda, she is a French actress. She was elected Miss France in the year 2000. Her father is French, her mother Rwandan.
Chloé Mortaud (September 19, 1989, born in Lisieux, Calvados) is a French beauty pageant contestant who won Miss France 2009. She represented the Albigeois-Midi-Pyrénées, a southwest region of France, and became the first winner of the Miss France beauty pageant to have dual citizenship, French and American. Mortaud received US citizenship through her mother, an African American who emigrated from Mississippi to France, and has a grandmother who lives in Los Angeles. Her father is French.

Switzerland
Whitney Toyloy (21. Juli 1990 in Zürich) would not always be perceived as black. She is Miss Switzerland 2009 and has a Multi-racial background (her ancestors trace their roots from the United States, China, Panama and Switzerland). I think her father is mixed race African-American and the mother white Swiss. She could pass for black, Latina, white, Arabic, Jewish, South Asian, …

Sweden
Malou Hansson, (born in 1983 in Järfälla, Uppland, Sweden) served as Miss Sweden in 2002. She was the first black woman to hold this beauty pageant title.

England
Although England has a large black community I only know of one Miss England ever, not only very recently but her story has a rather bad ending. Rachel Christie (born c. 1988) is a British beauty pageant contestant and athlete who was briefly Miss England 2009, and the first black mixed race woman to hold the title. Unfortunately in the early hours of 2 November 2009, Christie was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones at a Manchester nightclub. She subsequently announced her withdrawal from the Miss World competition and relinquished her Miss England crown. The crown was passed on to the runner-up in the 2009 pageant, Katrina Hodge.

Norway
Iman Kerigo, crowned Miss Norway in 2011. She was born in Kenia, raised in Norway.

Nederland
Just as Witney Toyloy, Sonja Silva (Rotterdam, 1 februari 1977) has a very international and multiracial appearance. I don’t know what her roots are but as far as I know she is the only Miss Netherlands who has somehow Afro roots. Her name sounds Portuguese and I thus think she may have Cape Verdean roots.

More information on these beauty pageants or other European misses of African descent is more than welcome.

Report: Being Black in Israel

2012-01-06T11:28:00.004+01:00

I visited Israel en Palestine during the Christmas holidays and saw many things I didn’t expect to see. One of these things is the striking presence of black people in urban Israel. They represent a diverse people of whom most are Ethiopian Jews who made aliya (i.e. the migration of the jewish diaspora back to Israel) and settled in Israel in the 80’s and early 90’s. Besides this Israeli group it is striking to see many immigrant workers from Africa and Asia, among them West-Africans, Sudanese and Ethiopians.

The Ethiopian Jews are commonly known by the slightly derogatory term Falasha but the name they chose for themselves is Beta Israel (Hebrew for The House of Israel). They are today virtually no Ethiopian Jews anymore in Ethiopia. Israel organized mass migrations in the late 80’s (Operation Moses). If you want to know more about Operation Moses read this.

Many Ethiopian Jews converted to Christianity at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. They faced discrimination and hardship and chose to become Christians in a predominantly Christian country to make their lives easier. However, today many of the descendants of these converts feel they are still Jews and should also have the right for aliya, i.e. to ‘return’ to Israel. These people are named Falash Mura and after many discussions the Israeli government made them eligible for migration although with many restrictions and limitations. More on this phenomenon here.

An excellent movie on this situation is the 2005 Israeli-French film "Go, Live, and Become" , directed by Romanian-born Radu Mihăileanu. The film tells the story of an Ethiopian Christian child whose mother has him pass as Jewish so he can emigrate to Israel and escape the famine looming in Ethiopia. The film was awarded the 2005 Best Film Award at the Copenhagen International Film Festival. See trailer below:

While Ethiopian Jews face discrimination and had a difficult time integrating in Israeli society things are changing. Through the compulsory military service (3 years for men, 2 years for women) they become more and more part of Israeli society, many today prefer to speak Hebrew than the language of their parents. I saw many blacks in the army forces (the Israeli army is omnipresent in Israel and the Palestinian territories, there are many security checkpoints on the West Bank) and I dare to say that 1 out of 20 soldiers I saw, was black.

Still, black Israeli face discrimination (nearly half of all Israeli employers would rather not hire an Ethiopian Jew) and I saw that all dirty jobs in Israel are done by black people. Virtually all janitors I saw looked like Ethiopians, of course I couldn’t tell if they were black Israeli rather than Ethiopian immigrant workers.

Israel wants to protect its Jewish character. So while a Jew can be blond with blue eyes, a brown skinned South Asian, an Arab looking person or even a black African, if you are not Jewish you can actually not migrate to Israel. The Knesset (the Israeli parliament) recently voted a law limiting the years that an immigrant worker can actually reside in Israel to 5 years. Exceptions are made for diplomats’ personal and for non Jewish spouses of Israeli citizens.

Conversion to Judaism is also possible but extremely difficult as you actually have to study the Jewish Holy Scriptures thoroughly, follow the kosher rules strictly and have an orthodox Jewish lifestyle. During this process you are followed by a Rabbi, who will eventually decide if you are a Jew are not. Of course men have to be circumcised and all have to make the ritual immersion in a bath (mikveh). However, there are also Reformist views on conversion that do not expect converts to do as much, wanting ot be a Jew is often enough. However the State of Israel leans upon the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the supreme religious court for these matters. These institutions are mostly dominated by orthodox rabbis. But it is a complicated issue, very alive in Israeli society. For more info read this.

Blacks in Israel are also African Hebrew Israelites also known as Black Hebrews, who settled in Israel in 1969. They are of black American ancestry and were therefore not recognized as Jews. But after decades they have been granted permanent residency status in 2004 and became eligible for military service since then. In 2006, Eddie Butler, a Black Hebrew, was chosen by the Israeli public to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest. They mainly live in the Negev town of Dimona were they form a community of 3000 people, but other families live in other towns too.

Some famous black Israeli of Ethiopian descent are Hagit Yaso (singer), Shlomo Molla (politican) and Abatte Barihun (jazz musician).

Below a video telling the story of the Ethiopian Jews and their exodus to Israel:

Blogging Break & first black minister to serve in a Dutch cabinet

2011-12-24T16:59:00.010+01:00

I am going to take a blogging break, but it doesn't mean no news will be posted. Sibo is also blogging. But before the break I am going to post some information of an old exhibition of the Dutch Rijksmuseum in 2009.

The highlight of the exhibition was the earliest known photograph from Surinam of a young married couple in 1846. (The picture on the right is their son, the only Surinamese minister to serve in a Dutch cabinet. He also became a Vice Admiral.)

This photo, a so-called daguerreotype, depicts Maria Louisa de Hart, the daughter of a mulatto female slave whose freedom had been purchased, and the Jewish plantation owner Mozes-Meijer de Hart. Her husband was Johannes Ellis, the son of Abraham de Veer, who was a Dutchman and the governor of Elmina in what is now Ghana, and the Ghanaian Fanny Ellis. Their son, Abraham George Ellis (1846-1916) was the first and only Surinamese minister to serve in a Dutch cabinet (1902-1905, Minister of the Navy). Until now, it was not known that any pre-1860 photographs from Surinam existed.

The photo of the young married couple is not exactly a celebration of black Surinamese history. Slavery was abolished in 1863, so this photo of the rich couple was taken during that time.

In 1860 Abraham left Suriname with his parents and four younger sisters and moved to Amsterdam in The Netherlands. His Father had already amassed enough capital to retire at the age of 48, and the family settled at the posh Herengracht in Amsterdam. His father later returned to Suriname.

Ellis is problably the first black minister and Vice admiral in a Western country.

Suriname abolishes Sinterklaas (and Black Pete) again

2011-12-24T16:06:00.012+01:00

Photo: a black man as "Black Pete" ("Zwarte Piet") in Suriname
The Surinamese National Assembly has taken a resolute stance against the embattled Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas, the bearded white man who brings children goodies with the help of his slavish pitch-black helpers. “This celebration has a racist element and doesn’t belong in our community. It should be abolished,” said Ronald Venetiaan, of the New Front/National Party Suriname faction. In an unprecedented show of support, other parties, including the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) parliamentarians all agreed with the former President during the parliamentary meetings on Thursday.

Sinterklaas and his little helper “Zwarte Piet”, literally Black Pete, are a big tradition in Holland. Every year on December 5th, children wake up excited, expecting gifts and pepernoten cookies left in their stockings by the Sint who visits Dutch cities riding high a flashing white steed. The tradition has survived fierce opposition in the Netherlands from the immigrant population, who feel that Sinterklaas has racist undertones. But Dutch people say Sinterklaas should not offend anybody, because the slavish Zwarte Piet is not a black man, but a white helper who got black because he came down the chimney to deliver the children their gifts.

The tradition was left behind as an inheritance in Suriname, even after the country gained independence in 1975. It was actually already abolished in the eighties during military rule. Children’s Day was introduced on December 5th, but Sinterklaas survived obstinately to return full circle in recent years. The bearded white man was a prominent figure luring parents to toy shops a few weeks ago.

Venetiaan lamented the fact that Sinterklaas was even celebrated on the Independence Square, which he considered a slap in the face of the “Black part of Suriname’s community”, considering how hard has been fought all over the world against apartheid. His call for a renewed abolishment got full support from Parliament chairlady Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, who is also the faction leader of the NDP. Geerlings-Simons said that as a start, Sinterklaas should no longer be celebrated at public schools that resort under the Ministry of Education. “What people do in the privacy of their homes we cannot influence,” she said. (Source devsur.com)

New film: Philippe Niang's "Toussaint L'Ouverture"

2011-12-24T13:21:00.008+01:00

Via Shadow and Act
The long overdue film of Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture, directed by Philippe Niang, is produced and will be aired on the network France 2 in February or March 2012.

Jimmy Jean-Louis stars as the title character in what will be a 2-part TV-movie, and he's joined by French actresses Aïssa Maïga (Paris, Je T'Aime, Bamako) as Toussaint's wife, Suzanne, and Sonia Rolland (Moloch Tropical, Midnight In Paris) as Marie-Eugénie Sonthonax, wife of abolitionist L.F. Sonthonax

Kreylicious (the hub for young, upwardly mobile Haitian-Americans) interviewed Haitian born star Jimmy Jean-Louis about the film. Some snippets of the interview.

How did you get involved?
The producers contacted me. You have to understand they have tried to make this movie for the past 20 years. And Danny Glover tried to make this movie for the past 15 years. And many other names have tried to make it. It was a long overdue movie. I was called by the producers to play the role, because they felt I fit the character. I had to do a lot of exercises. I had to learn how to ride a horse. I took lessons for a couple of months. [I had to learn how to] do sword-fighting. I took lessons in California and France.

Why was the movie filmed in Martinique and not in Haiti? A lot of people feel it would have brought a lot of publicity to Haiti, and it only seemed natural that it should be filmed in Haiti and not another island.
Haiti falls short on some requirements. I think the production tried, but it’s difficult to get insurance to insure a place like Haiti right now. From what I’ve been told, that’s one of the reasons why we couldn’t go there and shoot. The structure in Haiti is not the best either. Electricity. The roads are still pretty bad. As a Haitian, I would love to have shot it there.

Check out the full interview at http://kreyolicious.com

The film is produced by the Martinique based production company Eloa Prod

Photo book: Black people in Turky - "Afro Turks"

2011-12-22T23:29:00.012+01:00

In 2010 Dutch-Turkish Photographer Ahmet Polat published his photo book AFRO TURKS. It was the end of a project documenting Turks of African descend, who live in the region of Izmir. He had been working on this project since 2006.

In May this year Ahmet Polat presented his newest publication on the Afro Turkish community at gallery Liefhertje in The Hague.

On his blog he writes: "Together with Erik Vroons, a Dutch visual anthropologist who joined me in 2009, we started a research using archival, private collected images and interviews.

With this work we’ve created an exhibition and an online publication with the aim to create more attention and a better understanding of this ‘forgotten history’. At the same time we hope to give a better insight into the diverse and complex history that resides within the Turkish Republic."

Photo of Ahmet Polat: Melik's father is wrapping the virginity belt on his daughters waist.

Check out some his great photos of Afro-Turkish people.
Afro Turks no 1, Afro Turks no 2, Afro Turks no 3, Afro Turks no 4

A video about Afro-Turks

A video of Afro-Turkish Jazz singer Melis Sökmen

Read the article Afro-Turks

Video: Young black and creative in Australia

2011-12-21T21:48:00.006+01:00

Being black and creative is a new concept in the small black community in Australia, but things are changing.

Gillean Opoku, who was born and raised in Australia, made a video of young African-Australians about their views of an African creative culture emerging in Australia.

Opoku is also the founder of Afroklectic. Which is a platform to promote creativity within the African-Australia community. Share ideas, communicate to a wider audience that Africa is more than what they see in the media. And to communicate to an audience outside Australia that there are Africans living in Australia.

Website: www.afroklectic.com

Also check an interesting story of Gellian Opuku about her experience as black person in Austrialia. And why she tought she was white. Check her story here.

And if you want to keep informed of what is going in the African-Austrialian community tune into web radio SBS African

Video: Bi-racial Children in Ukraine - The adoption issue

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002+01:00

The documentary "Family Portrait in Black & White" about black/bi-racial orphans in the Ukraine triggered many responses on Facebook, blogs and websites.

Many people felt the Ukrainian foster mother should give these children up for adoption instead of keeping them in a post soviet racist environment. In a new video about the documentary (of doctalk) director Julia Invanova talks about this adoption issue.

The documentary is the story of Olga Nenya, a foster mother to sixteen black orphans in the Ukraine – where 99.9% of the population is white and where race does matter. Forced to constantly defend themselves from racist neighbors and skinheads, these children have to be on guard against the world that surrounds them.

I wonder if the Ukrainian foster mother has the legal right to put these children up for adoption. It seems that normally a foster parent doesn't have legal custody of the children; a welfare agency or a body of guardianship holds those rights.

See the previous posting: Bi-racial children in the Ukraine - "Family Portrait in Black and White"

Editor in Chief Jackie resigns over Rihanna nggb*tch controversy

2011-12-20T19:02:00.012+01:00

According to the Dutch magazine Elsevier Eva Hoeke has decided to resign as Chief Editor of the Dutch magazine Jackie after the controversy surrounding the singer Rihanna. In the magazine Rihanna is referred to as a "niggabitch", a statement which infuriated the singer.

In the interest of the magazine and all parties involved she will resign immediately, according to Yves Gijrath, the director of GMG.

Hoeke concludes: "I should have counted to ten before making oversimplified statements via social media channels."

Today Rihanna lashed out to magazine Jackie who described her as a n*gg*b*tch.

To Editor in Chief Eva Hoeke she tweeted "@evajackie I hope u can read english, because your magazine is a poor representation of the evolution of human rights! I find you disrespectful, and rather desperate!! You ran out of legit, civilized information to print! There are 1000's of Dutch girls who would love to be recognized for their contributions to your country, you could have given them an article. Instead, u paid to print one degrading an entire race! That's your contribution to this world! To encourage segregation, to mislead the future leaders to act in the past! You put two words together,

@evajackie with the intent of abasement, that made no sense..."NIGGA BITCH"?!....Well with all respect, on behalf of my race, here are my two words for you...FUCK YOU!!!

Apparently magazine Jacky realised they had gone one step to far. Today Eva Hoeke wrote on twitter they would rectify the story in the next edition.

The first to respond to the story was Dutch black Televion host Zarayda Groenhart. According to the newspaper she was furious.

Chief Editor of Jacky first responded on twitter with: "I think it's more than obvious that it's a joke. Anyone who doesn't see this is extremely sensitive to the topic." Afterwards Eva Hoeke gained some new insights. For her boss that apparently was not enough.

On the picture the staff of Jackie, Chief editor Eva Hoeke is the blond third one from the right. Just to give you an impression of where this story came from.

Dutch Magazine calls singer Rihanna "The Ultimate Niggabitch"

2011-12-19T23:33:00.005+01:00

From Madnews
In an article published in the latest issue of Dutch fashion magazine Jackie, the magazine offers a little advice on how to dress like Rihanna without looking like the “ultimate niggerbitch.” That’s right. No typo there. Check out the full English translation below:

“She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate niggabitch and displays that gladly, and for her that means: what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it. But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican ones, so pick a clothing style in which your daughter can resist minus ten. No to the big sunglasses and the pornheels, and yes to the tiger print, pink shizzle and everything that glitters. Now let’s hope she won’t beat anybody up at daycare.”

Two hours ago, Jackie Editor in Chief Eva Hoeke posted the below apology on the magazine’s Facebook page:

Dear readers,
First: thanks for all your responses. We are of course very fed up over this and especially very shocked. However I’m glad that we’re engaging in a dialogue on this page — not everybody does that. Thanks for this. Other than that I can be brief about this: this should have never happened. Period. While the author meant no harm — the title of the article was intended as a joke — it was a bad joke, to say the least. And that slipped through my, the editor-in-chief’s, fingers. Stupid, painful and sucks for all concerned. The author has been addressed on it, and now I can only ensure that these terms will no longer end up in the magazine. Furthermore I hope that you all believe there was absolutely no racist motive behind the choice of words. It was stupid, it was naive to think that this was an acceptable form of slang — you hear it all the time on tv and radio, then your idea of what is normal apparently shifts — but it was especially misguided: there was no malice behind it. We make our magazine with love, energy and enthusiasm, and it can sometimes happen that someone is out of line. And then you can only do one thing: apologize. And hope that others wish to accept it.

From the bottom of my heart I say it again: we never intended to offend anyone. And I mean that.

Regards,

Eva Hoeke

So, as editor in chief, Hoeke had no idea that this was offensive before running it and actually considered it a joke? In addition to being blatantly racist, calling Rihanna Jamaican (she’s from Barbados) and actually suggesting that mothers should dress their daughters like her, this article is just wrong from every angle.

According to our source in Holland, Jackie is a well known local fashion publication with a circulation of 57,700 copies per month. (Source Parlour website)

I don't think the Editor in Chief Eva Hoeke is really sorry about publishing the story. Being offensive is the Dutch norm these days, so this story was a perfect fit.

Report: Congolese Diaspora Waves the Flemish Flag in Protest

2011-12-19T11:37:00.004+01:00

Congolese Diaspora, in protest against president Kabila and the Belgian political establishment, brandishes Flemish nationalist symbols.

President Kabila was officially re-elected as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Carter Center reported that the presidential elections lack credibility but the ‘international community’ keeps silent.

With war raging for nearly 15 years through the interior of Congo and with a corrupt elite at its head, many Congolese emigrated. They are now everywhere but Belgium, the former colonizer, hosts since a long time a large community.

While protests have been violent in Congo and many people were killed, there is very little information about what’s going on in Congo. The Congolese diaspora is also protesting. There have been protests in Brussels, London, Paris and elsewhere.

The Congolese Belgians protested last Friday in the streets of Brussels. At least they want the Belgian government to give a sign: to condemn the electoral forgery and to reject the election’s results. The Belgian government has long been Congo’s best ally and as economical and political interest have to be protected the Belgian political elite tends to be very mild towards Congolese leaders. Certainly since China started to be an economical competitor in the region, Belgium not only stopped to be critical towards the government, it supports Kabila.

The Congo politics in Belgium have traditionally been dominated by the French-speaking political elite. They were friends with Mobutu and now court Kabila. Only one Belgian foreign minister, Karel De Gucht, officially condemned the corrupt Kabila regime. He was a Flemish minister, known to be outspoken. A few years ago in a bar in Kinshasa there was a picture of him on the wall with below a sign stating ‘Here speaks the truth’. In 2007 Congolese Belgians already expressed their sympathy for the Flemish honest political style in contrast to the French-speaking smoothness (perceived as treacherous).

One year and half ago the N-VA won the parliamentary elections, they came out to be the largest party. The N-VA is a new right wing Flemish nationalist party, compared to the US they are more like Republicans than Democrats (they want less government). In the democratic system in Belgium the winning parties always have to make a coalition government representing the parliamentary majority (it is not the winner takes it all principal as in the US or France). In the past Christian-Democrats, Social Democrats and Liberals formed different governments in different configuration and coalitions having one of the 3 political families always in opposition while the other two are governing (for each political family there are 2 parties, one supporting Flemish interests, the other French-speaking interests).

This time though the biggest party was the new N-VA, for which there is no French speaking equivalent. But after more than a year of negotiating, N-VA couldn’t find the needed political allies to form a majority. So eventually the loosing parties, i.e. Christian-Democrats, Social Democrats and Liberals formed a government together leaving the winning party in opposition together with the far right and green parties.

The leader of N-VA, Bart De Wever is known to be outspoken, clear, honest, intelligent, hard working and undiplomatic. The N-VA represents the hard working no-nonsense Flemish stereotype. But its stubborn position for more Flemish control and power annoys the French-speaking minority in Belgium (who have proportionally more say on the Belgian political scene).

The French-speaking media in Belgium like to portray Bart De Wever as an arrogant far right politician, but he clearly states he’s not. He just wants Flanders to be more under control of its own destiny and he wants French speaking Belgians who settle in Flanders to learn and speak the Dutch language. He therefore is a natural enemy of the French-speaking political elite, who are traditionally friends with the Congolese political elite. Besides many people believe he wants to abolish the Belgian state and aspires for an independent Flemish republic. But just as many people think that this is propaganda to bring N-VA in discredit.

As a result the Congolese protester chose the Flemish flag and the person of Bart De Wever as key symbols in their protest against the Belgian political establishment.
There are three reasons why the Congolese community found solidarity with the Flemish cause. While N-VA won the elections, the political leaders in Belgium stayed more or less the same. N-VA stayed on the side without direct power (For some it is N-VA’s fault, as they didn’t want to make any compromise). Second the Flemish politicians, and certainly N-VA, are known to be outspoken and Flemish politicians often were critical towards the Belgian Congo-policy. N-VA is therefore their ally against Kabila. Third is the following principal: ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’. We could hear Friday Congolese Belgians screaming that next time they will vote for N-VA. This shocks many French-speaking people, but also many Flemish people who see in N-VA a threat for Belgian unity and in the Flemish nationalistic signs a reflection of racism and fascism.

Journalists and politicians in Belgium are completely confused about this spontaneous reaction from the Congolese community.

Video (Dutch)

NB:

Most protests in Brussels resulted into rioting. Why is that? While there were young thugs who mixed into the protest, I think that the police force has a very different reaction confronted with crowds of screaming Africans than with white people. Additionally Congolese are rather ‘loud’ and you may think they have a fight while they are just having a friendly conversation. I believe that this intercultural misunderstanding has quickened the chance for clashes.

Furthermore I know the police reacts totally out of proportion. One anecdote about someone I know may be illustrative. He is from Angolan descent and had nothing to do with the protest. He just works at a theater in the neighborhood where the protesters passed. Because he heard some noise in the streets he took a look at the door (as so many people did). But he is black and immediately the police took him out of the theater’s door gate, dragged him in the street, kicked him and handcuffed him. His (white) colleagues, seeing what went on, ran after him and explained to the police officers that he is an employee of the theater, that he is of Angolan origin, that he has nothing to do with the protest. The police men didn’t listen, asked them to mind their own business and just ignored the colleagues. Once they had him under control and that he didn’t move anymore they let their dogs loose to attack and bite him while he was handcuffed on the floor. Eventually they took him away. He spend 12 hours in jail, bleeding and sour all over his body, they finally released him so that he could be hospitalized. His colleagues were under shock, the theater filed a complaint against the police force.

Closure of the International Year for People of African Descent

2011-12-14T16:39:00.003+01:00

The end of 2011 is coming near. Last week the UN had its closing event for the International Year for People of African Descent. You can check the video webcast here.

Last year I posted the news as the UN launched this special year to draw attention to the situation of black people in the world. I can read the following on the un webpage: The actions carried out along the International Year served to promote greater knowledge and awareness of the challenges faced by people of African descent all over the world; highlight the important contribution of people of African descent in the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and in the advancement and development of their countries in general with a view to foster discussions that generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges.

Honestly, I didn't notice to much of this initiative. I am curious to know about others in the world.

I'd like to conclude with a little note concerning a symbolic and important figure for all People of African Descent: While the year was officially closed on the 6th of december (Sinterklaas "Black Pete Day" in Belgium), it was on the 7th of december 2011 that Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams announced that prosecutors would no longer seek the death penalty for Mumia Abu-Jamal. This after that this year extraordinarily important new evidence established clearly that the prosecutor and the Philadelphia Police Department were engaged in presenting knowingly false testimony.

Prosecutor Williams said that Abu-Jamal will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Nearly exactly 30 years after the murder he has been prosecuted for.

What I think of Zwarte Piet

2011-12-06T11:28:00.007+01:00

Today is the official Sinterklaas Day in Belgium (in Holland it’s on the 5th of Dec). This is a centuries old celebration, especially for children, and it only exists in Holland, Belgium, northern France and certain parts of Germany.

Sinterklaas Day is not an official holiday in Belgium but traditionally primary schools organize an event on the 6th of December and children get a treat (mostly tangerines –mandarin oranges- and speculaas, a typical cinnamon biscuit from this part of Europe). In a former post this blog mentioned the existing discussion on Sinterklaas’s partner(s), Zwarte Piet, translated into English as Black Pete.

Since more than 30 years (Thanks Erik for this info -see comment below) the issue of the black face Zwarte Piet has been raised in Holland. It's only since this year that it dripped down into Belgium. But before 2005 nobody in Belgium was aware of any issue arising of his black face. Even if there were black people living in Belgium, nobody took great offence of this children’s event. It was considered tradition, rather childish, but not rude or meant to hurt anyone.

Things changed. I have friends now who think Zwarte Piet is blatant racism. Influence form the Black American world view has enlightened many European blacks and they don’t want to accept the Black Pete buffoon anymore.

Most white people in Belgium and Holland don’t understand this attitude. Even people who have been fighting racism for more than 10 years are completely shocked by this sudden criticism against Black Pete. They don’t understand that some black people are offended. They weren’t even aware of the fact that it could offend anyone. It’s just Black Pete they say, it’s an innocent character, it’s just for children, it’s like Halloween ...

Many retort to the explanation that Black Pete is black because he is a chimney sweeper. Indeed, the presents Sinterklaas brings for the children are traditionally delivered through the chimney. But that’s a modern day explanation which doesn’t explain the curly hair nor the big red lips. The Black Pete figure was originally a defeated devil and has later been described as a black person of African descent, Sinterklaas’s aid, slave or partner. (For more info check A. Blakely's book 'Blacks in the Dutch World'.)

Zwarte Piet was often also the scary part of the Sinterklaas feast. Only the good children got presents, the bad children had to be punished. And Zwarte Piet was the one who would catch the bad children and punish them. This means that children were supposed to be scared of Zwarte Piet, rather than of Sinterklaas who is more the old and forgiving man.

As a child I experienced this yearly Sinterklaas just like all the other white kids did. I was a good child and so didn’t fear Zwarte Piet. I wasn’t aware of race until I was 11 years old actually. Honestly I always saw Zwarte Piet as a white dude who blackened his skin, not even looking close to what I saw as ‘black people’. Never in Belgium a Zwarte Piet would mimick a 'black' accent, whatver that is. I couldn’t see anything black or African about him, it was just Zwarte Piet.

However, dismissing Zwarte Piet from Sinterklaas Day is not the solution I think. First, Zwarte Piet is a historical symbol of a century old black presence in Europe, eliminating this is ignoring a history that has been too much ignored, a history we have to face so to learn from the past and create a better future. Second, sweeping Zwarte Piet under the carpet is also pretending that stereotypes do not exist. But by deleting Zwarte Piet you do not delete prejudices. Third, most whites are not aware of the racist overtone, blaming them of racism rather than ignorance will not help in making them understand how racism actually works. On the contrary. Again I think we’d rather have to face the issue and change attitude rather than make prohibitions.

I think that rather than excommunicate Zwarte Piet from the Sinterklaas Day we should re-think his presence. A lot has changed since the early 20th century. While he used to be a devilish slave he is more a partner now, nearly equal to Sinterklaas. One day he might replace Sinterklaas. Traditions change over time . Or maybe, more extremely, we can just call the feast Black Pete Day to commemorate all the good things Black people brought to enrich Europe. Black Pete could become a nice and friendly black man who gives presents to the little ones.

As for the black face thing. Continental Europe never had a minstrel tradition like in the US or UK. Besides there was never a dominant black population present within its borders until recently. Therefore the whole sensitive issue of black face in the English-speaking world is of a very different nature in continental Europe. I understand the sensitiveness it has in the States. But while it is nearly non-existent in Europe it only exists in certain traditional holidays (very local). But it’s marginal and people don’t do it to laugh at blacks, they do it to be silly for one day (compare it to Rio Carnival). Let me therefore give another example of a local but strong tradition in Belgium: In the town of Aalst here in Belgium there is also a yearly carnival tradition called ‘De Voile Janetten’ (could be translated as ‘The Dirty Faggots’). In this tradition on the last day of carnival men in Aalst dress up as women, and roam the streets getting drunk . It gives the most hilarious scenes. It is not an anti-gay event, it’s just people being silly for one day.

All this said, I am not here to impose my point of view. I just think it is needed to keep a dialogue. I experienced white people here in Belgium who never ever had met a black person in life and weren’t aware of the sensitiveness of the Dutch word ‘neger’ (which is not the equivalent of nigger, rather of ‘negro’). When I know that a person uses this word out of ignorance rather than to insult me, I don’t think this person is a racist, he or she just uses an old fashioned vocabulary. I just feel it to be my responsibility to explain things to this person and to teach. Attacking Sinterklaas because of Zwarte Piet will only lead to more misunderstandings and hate. Raising the issue and proposing alternatives (like Zwarte Sint & White Pete) could bring more sympathy and understanding, and making people aware rather than angry.

Nevertheless, I was terribly shocked to see the police violence against protesters who were doing nothing more than wearing t-shirts stating ‘Zwarte Piet is Racisme’. This story is not finished yet.

The Invention of the Savage. An Exhibition on Human Zoos at the Quai Branly Museum, Paris

2011-12-01T10:16:00.005+01:00

Just a few generations ago white people only learned about dark skinned people through human exhibitions and pseudo scientific fairs. 19th-century scientists were eager to prove that different races were biologically distinct and whites biologically superior. These practices fueled the tradition of racism and the racist attitudes still existing today. Dark skinned people were de-humanized and so called scientist searched evidence to proof that Africans were actually not really human beings.

Today Lilian Thuram, former international football professional and nowadays head of the French association Education sans Racisme (Education without Racism) is the force behind an exhibit in the Quai Branly Museum, a modern venue right at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The exhibit brings to story of Europe’s perspective of the ‘other’. It brings into display the history of prejudice.

Offensive images are exhibited while visitors are urged to have a closer look and to be shocked. Films from those days are shown, freak show posters, scientific instruments used to measure skulls and noses, sculpted busts to show human differences compared to blacks and apes.

For the Europeans at the time scientific racism was often the only way to discover the world elsewhere. But the visitors were not aware of the fact that these photo’s, films, drawings, scientific exhibitions, etc. were more fabrications of a fantasy world that the actual representation of people from tropical climes.

Most people displayed in those days stay anonymous. An exceptions is South African Saartje Baartman, also known as the Hottentot Venus. She was often displayed in scientific fairs and spectacles alike. Her life is now subject to a French film released this year. Saartje Baartman is also featured in this exhibition (a French film was dedicated to Sarah Baartaman's story).

Other people have also been identified as Christian Karembeu’s (another French international football professional), grandparents are known to have been shipped from New Caledonia to be exhibited in Paris as "cannibals."

The audioguide is recommended to give you the necessary context. The audioguides are available in English, French and German. At the end a video projection offer moments to reflect. The exhibit opened the day before yesterday (29/11/2011) and runs till 3 June 2012.

More info here

Black British theatre company Talawa celebrates its 25th anniversary

2011-11-13T23:52:00.003+01:00

Picture of satire The Colored Museum
Ask Yvonne Brewster how much the theatre industry has changed in 60 years, and the founder of Britain's most high-profile black theatre company says: "Darling, when I started out, people would rub my skin to see if the colour came off."

Rose Bruford, the influential drama tutor, told Brewster (her first black female student) that she should "never expect to work". She did, of course, and in 1972 put on a London production of CLR James's The Black Jacobins, a play about Haiti in the 18th century, only to find her sold-out venue burnt down. [Yvonne Brewster misremembered the play in the venue that burnt down. It was, in fact, a production of Smile Orange.]

Over the next 12 months, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Talawa will be staging George C Wolfe's 1986 political satire The Colored Museum, at the V&A; early next year, a reimagined Waiting for Godot with an all-black cast ("three years in discussion," says Cumper) will premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Meanwhile, the company's annual showcase of new writing, Flipping the Script, has a summer residency at the Young Vic. Reviving a lost classic, reinventing an existing one, looking for the voices of tomorrow: it's a neat illustration of what the company does best.

read the full interview at the Guardian

Talawa Theatre Company at http://www.talawa.com

Afro-French sitcom the "Tchip Show"

2011-11-13T23:50:00.001+01:00

The "Tchip Show" is the first Afro-French sitcom. It started in 2005 as Web TV and is now broadcasted on the French public television network France Ô.

The show is about the lives of Afro-French people from the French Caribbean and Africa living in the Paris region.

See "Le Tchip Show" at www.tchipshow.com

Label Noir - Afro-German theatre company performs "Home Bittersweet Home"

2011-11-13T23:11:00.008+01:00

"Label Noir" is a group of professional black actors, directors and writers who add a new perspective to the dominant white theater landscape in Germany. Moses Leo, a member of the ensemble, explains how political satire, drama, and stage reading unveil a small piece of federal republican reality.

In an interview in Euromight with Moses Leo, one of the actors of Label Noir, he explains the background of the play "Home Bittersweet Home".

Heimat, bittersüsse Heimat (Trailer)

Question: Since the beginning of 2009 you have been performing the play "Home Bittersweet Home". How was the play produced?

Moses Leo: Lara-Sophie Milargo, the head of our ensemble, wrote the script. While studying in London, Lara-Sophie, who is a writer, an actress and a singer, started writing about her experience of everyday racism, which is a collective experience. And we practically took it from there, improvising around the topic. Eventually our first play "Home Bittersweet Home" was created.

Read the full interview on Euromight

See actors Lara-Sophie Milagro and Moses Leo in their demo reels
English demo reel Lara-Sophie Milagro

Moses Leo - Demo reel with English subtitles

See Labal Noir at http://labelnoir.net/

See the posting: Black German theatre group serves up snapshots of German racism

Dutch singer Sabrina Starke - "You Are My Love"

2011-11-13T22:37:00.008+01:00

Award winning Dutch artist Sabrina Starke (of Surinamese origin) performs "You Are My Love", one of the songs of her tour. She is a two time winner of the Edison Award (the Dutch Grammy's) and both of her albums were released on the famous Blue Note Jazz label.

Her musical career started when she won the Amateur Night at Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York in 2006.

"MC" - The black theatre workshop and production company in the Netherlands

2011-11-13T21:45:00.018+01:00

MC is a black/multicultural theatre workshop a production company and a venue for new times in old cities in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Their work involves everything from street culture to classical theater: they produce plays, music, and events for theaters, clubs and festivals at home and abroad.  

Promo for MC's Hollandse Nieuwe (Holland's new), a theatre festival for new playwrights and theatre makers in the Netherlands

About MC
Western Europe today is a multi-etnic and multi-cultural society, and has been increasingly so over the last three decades. This undeniable reality is next to invisible in its cultural institutions. Mainstream art and culture in Europe does not reflect the reality of its streets. Young European artists who have grown up in this new reality are redefining Europe's identity through their work. MC's theater workshop gives them a stage and nurtures their talent. Our productions explore Europe's new identity: its past and its future.  

MC evolved out of Made in da Shade and Cosmic theater. Cosmic theater was Amsterdam's leading multicultural production company. Made in da Shade was the dutch pioneer of urban, multimedia theatre. The strengths of both groups come together in MC - multicultural, multidisciplinary and cutting edge - Masters of Ceremony for the new Europe.  

We are building our own theatre on the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam which opened in the spring of 2010: 2 studios, a theater that seats 200 people, and a place to ha ng out, dine and dance. A place where new stories are told and old stories are reinterpreted. A house for multiple art-forms: music, new media, dance, exhibitions etc, but always with theatre at heart.  

Artistic Director is Marjory Boston

MC plays PUSH at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in South Africa.

See MC at www.mconline.nl

“Miss Charme” election 2011 - The new ambassador of Amsterdam South East

2011-11-13T21:05:00.015+01:00

The Miss Charme election in Amsterdam South East is an annual Dutch election to choose an ambassador to represent the city district for one year.

The new ambassador for Amsterdam South East this year is Nadia Taaza. The 24-year old college student won the election on November 5th. She described herself as "a Moroccan from Limburg”. The choice to move to this neighbourhood she calls "the best decision she has taken so far. Taaza is the first Moroccan to win the contest.

The jury was led by Silvana Simons, a former television host. And host of the evening was Sharlely Becker, who was once a candidate in the election and now the wife of former German tennis star Boris Becker.

See a video of the contest

See website Miss Charme at www.misscharme.nl

French dance company Difekako performs childrens tale "Makak Janbé Croco"

2011-11-13T19:10:00.002+01:00

The French Afro-Caribbean dance company Difekako plays the childrens tale "Makak Janbé Croco". The tale of the monkey and king crocodile performed in dance, theatre, music, percussion and vocals. The play takes us to the heart of an African village where every situation is more funny and outrageous than the last. Choreographer is Chantal Loial.

The French dance company of Martinican-born Chantal Loial draws on the African and Caribbean cultural tradition. The origin of the name Difekako is an expression in the Caribbean, which literally means "something warm". And that's exactly what Loial tries to achieve.

In the video Igo Drané and Rita Ravier talk about the play.

Dance company Difekako at www.difekako.fr

Video: Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer Nnekka in "NNEKA"

2011-11-13T18:49:00.004+01:00

The latest video of the Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer and songwriter Nnekka, directed by andy amadi okoroafor

Meet black Italian visual artist Abiola Wabara

2011-11-13T17:41:00.014+01:00

Abiola Wabara was already well know as a basketball player for the Italian national team, but now she is also making name for herself as a visual artist.

Intro Abiola
Abiola Wabara was born October 23rd 1981 to Nigerian parents in Parma Italy. As a child she always had a great passion for art, going to school in Italy art classes were always part of the curriculum, and she always demonstrated great fervor, and a natural talent for the subject.

Abiola attended Baylor University on a full basketball scholarship where she received a bachelor's degree in Spanish, Spanish literature and Culture. After graduating, she started her career as a professional basketball player in Israel, where she played for 3 seasons, then moved to Ibiza Spain and currently playing in Milan Italy. While in Israel she attended the art workshop of famous Israeli artist Eilat Tzin, and developed her skills further.

Abiola likes to focus her work on the diverse aspects of Black culture and tries to capture the beauty of her people and her culture in the works of Black art she creates. Abiola’s artwork is exciting, bold and expressive. Not only is she fascinated by the human form, but emotions, body language and especially eye expressions. Her style, sense of color is eye catching and being noticed by many.

Abiola work was noticed in Ibiza where she was featured on the local newspaper, Nigeria, where she was published in local magazine “Goldmine” and also was exposed in one of the most prestigious art galleries in Milan Italy “il Borgo”. She only prints small numbered limited editions, in order to value the collector. Abiola will be soon show casing her art work in new locations, follow her to find out….

See website www.artbyabiola.com

Asa - Jailer

2011-11-13T13:32:00.005+01:00

This one of Asa’s first songs, Jailer. Born Bukola Elemide, Asa was born in Paris, France to Nigerian parents. She was two years old when her family returned to live in Nigeria. Asa grew up in Lagos, in the south-western part of Nigeria.

Abiola Wabara - Racism and protest in Italian basketball

2011-11-13T13:31:00.007+01:00

In April this year Italian basketball fans and players were urged to paint their faces black to show solidarity and indignation after black Italian basketball player Abiola Wabara was subjected to racist abuse and spat at during a game. During the game the officials took no action.

According to Eurobasket, the 29-year-old of Nigerian origin, who was born in Parma and played college basketball in America at Baylor, was so shocked by the vitriol directed at her in her native country while playing the game she loves that she said: "I have played in front of 36,000 fans in the USA and I've never experienced something like that."

According to "Life in Italy" in April, Abiola Wabara, a 30-year-old Italian whose parents are Nigerian, suffered the abuse while playing for Bracco Geas of Sesto San Giovanni in a women's top-flight game at Como last Wednesday.

The Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) said the players in the nation's various leagues, starting with the men's top flight, will paint their faces black this weekend and invited fans to do the same.

"The FIP wants to clarify loud and clear that it is against every form of racism,'' read a federation statement announcing the initiative called Vorrei La Pelle Nera (''I'd like to have black skin''), the title of a much-loved Italian pop song.

A video of about protest

Italian film "Bianco e nero" ("Black and White") deals with race and inter-racial relationships

2011-11-13T12:33:00.006+01:00

Black and White (Italian: Bianco e nero) is a 2008 Italian romance film directed by Cristina Comencini. The film deals with race and inter-racial relationships when the married Carlo falls in love with Nadine (Aïssa Maïga), the wife of his own wife's work colleague.

Synopsis
Carlo and Elena have been married six years; they have a daughter and their married life has settled into a rut. Elena is a cultural mediator who manages an association against racism, whereas Carlo is a computer engineer who has little in common with his wife.

Bertrand is Elena’s colleague, and husband to Nadine, with whom he has two children. The events of the film unfold after Carlo meets Nadine, a fascinating and elegant Senegalese, employed in the Senegalese embassy in Rome. The two are swept away by an unexpected complicity which becomes a clandestine relationship.

The expectations and prejudices of their two families come to the fore when their affair is revealed, and the new couple have to make important decisions.

Review
According to the review of film education, the film’s reviews weren’t entirely positive. Some reviewers felt frustration that the film’s premise didn’t allow the shades of grey that were indicated in the trailer, and dealt too simplistically with the issues. Centring the narrative on two wealthy families also received strong criticism, as this representation moves the narrative away from the real world, with the African population of Italy remaining largely working class. According to many, the film would have been more educational if it featured two protagonists from a less privileged social class.

The social divides suggested by the film are far from the Italian reality: today in Italy there are different ethnic minorities that suffer marginalisation, whereas the African community is not ghettoised in Piazza Vittorio, as the film would have us believe.

A last and sadly telling fact of the production is that no Italian sponsor was willing to provide the French actors clothes; this fact confirms that even today, racist attitudes persist in Italian society.

Read the full review in PDF at www.filmeducation.org

Video: Genius Collective - Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse tribute

2011-11-13T11:19:00.004+01:00

The Genius Collective is a seven piece Hip Hop / Soul / Funk band based in Birmingham. Established in 2010, GC offer a Jazzy take on the Hip Hop Band concept.

According to the press release, GC's first release from the E=GC2 EP is the beautifully light and soulful Future (Breaks), a guitar led track featuring the sultry vocals of Genius Collective's leading lady Kezia Johnson, who's sound has been compared to that of Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill & Jill Scott to name but a few. Future fuses guitar, keys, bass and live drums alongside an impressive saxophone harmony providing a backdrop for a story to be told of a love that has come to an end.

Check out their band at http://geniuscollective.wordpress.com/

Radio: Trina Roach interviews three Afro-European women on 15 November 2011

2011-11-12T16:00:00.008+01:00

In the online radio program themed "The Power in Telling Our Own Stories" Trina Roach interviews three black women in Europe on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm CET on Talkshoe.

The roundtable talk with a panel of special guests will showcase positive examples of Women of African descent in Europe taking back control of the public narrative about them and their lives.

Special guests

Sharon Dodua Otoo – A Black British mother based in Germany – who is an activist, author and editor of the forthcoming book series “Witnessed”.

Precious Williams - A UK-based author and journalist of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean descent. She has written for a number of newspapers and magazines including the Guardian, the Telegraph, Elle, Marie Claire, Grazia, Glamour, the New York Post and the Financial Times. Her first book, a memoir called ‘Precious: A True Story’ was published by Bloomsbury in 2010.

Carolyn Vines - Vines is passionate about IDENTITY and INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL and wrote about the intersection of the two in her memoir - black and (A)broad: traveling beyond the limitations of identity.

The online radio program will be hosted by Trina Roach, an executive coach and leadership trainer who has lived in Germany for almost 40 years, and the founder of Uncaged Birds™.

For more details see her website Uncaged Birds

Book: La France noire (Black France)

2011-11-11T23:05:00.007+01:00

A book, an exhibition and three films will tell, from November 3th, the story of "La France noire" ("Black France"): three centuries of blacks in France.

In the light of Black Britain (2007) by Paul Gilroy, "Le Paris noir" (Hazan, 2001) or Black Paris (2007), this book will be a unique reference of three centuries of blacks in France, from all communities and all over the world for three centuries of shared history.

The books is also part a program by the research group ACHAC (Association pour la connaissance de l'histoire de l'Afrique contemporaine), a program which is at the crossroads of several anniversaries: the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the war in Algeria, the 65th anniversary of the departmentalisation of the "old colonies" (Antilles, French Guiana and Réunion), the 80th anniversary of the French Colonial Exhibition (1931) and the 10th anniversary of the law Taubira (2001), a law which recognises slavery as a crime against humanity.

Author: The historian Pascal Blanchard
Publisher: www.editionsladecouverte.fr

Browse in a digital viewing copy of a part of the book at http://en.calameo.com

Read more about the book and the exhibition here

Black in Nazi Germany - Esi Edugyan about her novel "Half-Blood Blues"

2011-11-10T19:38:00.009+01:00

Canadian author Esi Edugyan talks about her new novel Half-Blood Blues. A story about the black experience in Nazi Germany which took the Scotiabank Giller Prize yesterday.

Synopsis
Paris, 1940. A brilliant jazz musician, Hiero, is arrested by the Nazis and never heard from again. He is twenty years old. He is a German citizen. And he is black.

Fifty years later, his friend and fellow musician, Sid, must relive that unforgettable time, revealing the friendships, love affairs and treacheries that sealed Hiero’s fate. From the smoky bars of pre-war Berlin to the salons of Paris – where the legendary Louis Armstrong makes an appearance – Sid, with his distinctive and rhythmic German-American slang, leads the reader through a fascinating world alive with passion, music and the spirit of resistance.

Interview
In an interview with The Mark the Canadian writer of Ghanian descent talks about her book and her experience in Germany and France.

THE MARK: The book offers a deep commentary on conceptions of race. What kind of reflections or questions were you hoping to leave the reader with at the end?

EDUGYAN: One of the fascinating things that emerged from my research was how differently people of the same race could be treated under the Third Reich. In the case of blacks, for example, African diplomats were left mostly unmolested, as were certain other foreigners. Afro-Germans seemed to receive the worst treatment: A plan was actually put in place to sterilize some of the children. And then, of course, there was the treatment of the Jews. I wanted to show the complexity of all these realities. It’s a novel, of course, and not a work of non-fiction, and so whatever the reader is left with should, I hope, arise out of the material, out of empathy with the characters, rather than from some political position.

THE MARK: The book is situated mostly in Berlin and Paris. How do you write so intimately about cities so far from where your life is based? Are the gaps filled in with imagination, or with research?

EDUGYAN: Between the publication of my first novel and this one, I lived in, and traveled widely throughout, Europe. Most of my time was spent in Germany – first a year in the south, in Stuttgart, and, later on, two months in a little northern town. As a black woman living in what is, admittedly, a homogenous society (compared to Canada), I began to wonder about the experience of black people who had lived in Germany in the past, specifically during the Third Reich.

Intimacy is a curious thing, and the imagination has a lot to do with it. It’s possible to inhabit distant cities through the writing alone, though the extensive research required for a historical novel necessarily provides boundaries.

I’m reminded of a recent visit to Paris, where I met a friend who seemed to know all things Parisian and navigated us through the city’s streets effortlessly. I was surprised, as I didn’t think he had been in the city long. It turns out that he’d learned most of what he knew through reading Balzac’s novels.

Video
Esi Edugyan does a reading from her book, Half Blood Blues.

Also read a very good review of the book here.

Video: British artist Michael Kiwanuka "I'm Getting Ready"

2011-11-09T19:29:00.004+01:00

British artist Michael Kiwanuka was born and raised in North London by Ugandan immigrants. Michael's '60s soul and introspective lyrics draw comparisons to Otis Redding, Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye.

The LA Times deemed Michael "underrated," noting: "What grabs you first is that voice, a delicately sandpapered, yearning instrument that recalls Bill Withers over a shuffling, breezy funk rhythm. Once the Afrobeat horns and "What's Going On?"-era strings come in, you're hooked and ready to hear more."

Gang rape duo arrested after bloggers force Nigerian police into action

2011-11-09T13:56:00.039+01:00

Nigerian police have arrested two students in connection with a gang rape after a pair of outraged bloggers forced them into action. Bloggers Linda Ikeji and Sugarbelly garnered online support to identify the rapists.

The Voice reported in September that the two men are thought to have been part of a gang of five men, who brutally raped a young woman in a video that was later posted online.

In the video, thought to be recorded on the Albia State university campus, the women can be heard pleading with her attackers to kill her, according to reports.

It is believed that the perpetrators recorded the attack and then distributed it to other students at the university.

However, police were forced to close the investigation because the victim, who can be identified in the footage, did not come forward.

But bloggers Linda Ikeji and Sugarbelly were so horrified by the decision to close the case that they offered a reward to anyone with information.

Together they garnered such overwhelming support online that members of the Nigerian parliament called for the case to be reopened.

Three days later, the online uproar and clues posted on forums helped Albia State detectives make the arrests.

However, the Nigerian Government and university officials deny the incident took place in University or that anyone involved was a student of the school.

Despite the arrests, activists are using the media attention surrounding this incident to draw attention to what they see as an “under-reported epidemic of rape” in Nigeria, AP reports.

“The woman who wants to report rape does not have the confidence in the justice system in Nigeria," said Akiyode-Afolabi, executive director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre.

Read the full story at The Voice

Linda Ikeji is a Lagos based Nigerian ex-model, entrepreneur and blogger. She is also the author of the book "It takes you". Her blog is at http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com

It's very good that these two bloggers took action. At the same time it's sad to know that every every 1.3 minute a person is raped.

Concha Buika's new album "En Mi Piel"

2011-11-09T00:01:00.011+01:00

In September this year Latin Grammy award winning Spanish artist Concha Buika released her new album "En Mi Piel". In the video Buika is singing "Por el amor de amar" from her new album.

Last year her album "El Ultimo Trago", a collaboration with Chucho Valdes, won her a Latin Grammy music award.

The flamenco fusion vocalist Concha Buika was born in 1972 in Palma de Mallorca in Spain, and she is the daughter of political refugees from the former Spanish Colony Equatorial Guinea. Buika grew up alongside a Gypsy community on Mallorca.

Also check out the "making of" video. The video is made by Pedro Almodóvar, the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker.

The Cuban salsa song in the video is "Se me hizo facil"

"Africa Vive" - Spain's biggest African cultural event

2011-11-07T23:20:00.039+01:00

Africa Vive (Africa Lives) is a cultural initiative in Spain to celebrate Africa Day on May 25th. It’s a full program of activities between April and July and includes cultural, political, economic, social and sporting activities.

Africa Vive is an initiative of the government organisation "Casa Africa", which aims to improve the knowledge of the African continent in Spain.

According to the organisation the goal is to foster the debate on the continent at all levels and always in the hands of Africans themselves and showing Africa in a positive and optimistic way.

Links
Africa Vive at www.africavive.es
Casa Africa at www.casafrica.es

And check out the youTube video channel of Africa Vive here

A video of AFROJAM, an event which was organised by Casa África in 2009.

Brazil travel poster in The Netherlands – No black folks?

2011-11-06T19:29:00.024+01:00

I saw a travel poster of Brazil in Amsterdam today with the slogan "Brazil is calling. Celebrate life here."

But somehow it didn't look Brazilian to me, especially on a cold autumn day. When I think of Brazil I think of Carnival in Rio, samba football and smiling black and white faces. But this poster reminds of Portugal, not Brazil.

Years ago I studied in a book with a small picture of a black person in a business shirt on the cover. Because the book was written in English I assumed it was an American text book, until at the end of the course I suddenly noticed the book was actually from Scotland.

It's not that don't take Scottish Universities seriously, but it was clear that the picture of the black American on the cover was meant to give the book an American look and perhaps some instant credibility.

I am conditioned to see Brazil as a multicultural football team, not as Portugal overseas. So I think they also should have put a black person in the picture, just to give it a more Brazilian look and feel.

Also see the post: Black in Latin America - Brazil a racial Paradise?

Bijlmertalk – Young Black people in Amsterdam South East

2011-11-05T00:29:00.024+01:00

Bijlmertalk is a new web TV show created for and by young black people in the multicultural district Amsterdam South East in The Netherlands.

In the shows experts will be interviewed about various themes, but also politicians, business people and residents will get attention.

In the video the two hosts say: “Here it's going to happened, Bijlmertalk 20. We are going to talk about sports, politics, crime, jobs and income.” Check their website at www.bijlmertalk.nl

Bijlmertalk partnered with the website Bijlmer enZO.nl, a website packed with information for youngsters and children in the district. And it’s also created by the young people of South East. Check their website at http://bijlmerenzo.nl

To see what life is like for these youngster go directly to the photo albums at:
http://bijlmerenzo.nl/showalbums

Video: "Dear Daddy" - The pain of fatherless women

2011-11-03T00:01:00.004+01:00

A very painful documentary about the effects of the absence of a black father in the lives of eight young women. Although it's an African American documentary, the problem of the absentee black father is also an issue in many black European communities.

Dear Daddy is a feature length documentary about the life long effects of fatherlessness on women. The film follows the dramatic journeys of eight young women from the tough city streets of Washington,DC as they struggle to overcome poverty, poor educational systems, no healthcare, and the most difficult life circumstance they have been dealt… the absence of their fathers.

According to the blog of the film, 82.3% is the number of African American children born since 1990 that will not live in the same home as their biological fathers before graduating High School.

Check out the full story at http://whatblackmenthink.com

Needless to say, there are black men who do care for their families.

To end, a video from the UK about Black Fatherhood in the 21st Century

UN launches competition to design memorial to victims of slavery

2011-11-02T17:37:00.008+01:00

30 September 2011 – The committee tasked with building a permanent memorial at the United Nations to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade today launched a global competition for the design of the structure to remind the world that millions of Africans were violently removed from their homelands, abused and robbed of their dignity.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will administer the design competition, Ambassador Raymond Wolfe of Jamaica, the chair of the Permanent Memorial Committee on Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, told a news conference at UN Headquarters.

“As we launch the competition I am pleased to report that all stakeholders including the members of the committee, Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Africa Group which participated in the negotiations are supremely confident that UNESCO will manage a transparent, inclusive and politically impartial selection process,” said Mr. Wolfe.

He urged ministries of foreign affairs and culture of Member States to disseminate information about the design competition so that a “rich and diverse pool of applications can be submitted to UNESCO for consideration.” The deadline for submitting designs to the competition is 19 December 2011.

Philippe Kridelka, the Director of UNESCO’s New York Office and Representative to the UN, noted that the monument will not only be a symbol, but part of an education process in memory of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Some $4.5 million is required to build the monument, and just over $1 million has been raised through donations from States and others sources. Mr. Wolfe encouraged corporations, philanthropists and the private sector to contribute to the project.

Source: UN

(Photo of statue of the Slavery monument in Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania by Eric Lafforgue)

CeCe Winans at Paris Gospel Festival 2011

2011-10-30T01:16:00.005+02:00

Grammy Award winner and Gospel singer CeCe Winans will perform in Paris on 11 and 12 November in a new edition of the Paris Gospel Festival 2011.

Place: Casino de Paris, 16 Rue de Clichy 75009 Paris, France.

Video: Lianne la Havas - "No Room For Doubt"

2011-10-25T00:01:00.002+02:00

Lianne la Havas, the 22 year old singer from South London, is one of the new stars on the UK music scene.

Garnering praise from both the underground music blogs and mainstream media, she achieved the musician's Holy Grail by appearing on the influential Later...with Jools Holland show, wrote Soulbounce

Her musical taste is influenced by her mother and father. In an interview with Ligature magazine she says: " I grew up with my Jamaican side of my family there was a lot of Reggae and my mum was into R’n’B a lot, the more modern stuff from the nineties. She loved Mary J Blige and Jill Scott so I got well into them through my mum.

Then my dad, he didn’t live with me, but when I would visit him he played all kinds of instruments. So I’d see him play the accordion or the guitar. He would show me a few bits on the keyboard or the guitar. And he was into loads of jazz and world music as well, but he loved Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker. “

Book: The sinking of the slave ship Leusden

2011-10-23T20:24:00.018+02:00

The sinking of the Dutch slave ship Leusden may have been the worst catastrophe of its kind in the Atlantic slave trade. Near the coast of Suriname 680 Africans were trapped in the hull and drowened as a result.

In a new book entitled "Het Slavenschip Leusden" ("The Slave ship Leusden") the author and researcher Leo Balai explores this piece of relatively unknown Dutch history. In September the story was also televised in an episode of the Dutch TV series "The Slavery".

Disaster
On January 1, 1738 the greatest disaster occurred in the history of Dutch slavery. 680 Africans were deliberately killed when the slave ship Leusden sank in the mouth of the Maroni River in Suriname.

"An example of exceptional barbarity," called Balai the action of the captain and the crew of Leusden. When it appeared the ship would sink, the prisoners who were on deck at that time for a meal, were ordered to go below deck to the slave hull. The shutters were boarded up to prevent their escape. 16 Africans who were elsewhere survived the disaster.

Box with gold
The report shows that the crew had closed the shutters, because there were afraid that the prisoners would come on deck to murder them. After studying the records Balai didn’t believe it. The West Indian Company (WIC) has never questioned the fact if more prisoners could have been saved. The disaster was dismissed as "a sensitive damage to the company." Most attention was given to whether the crew should receive salvage pay for rescuing a casket of gold.

The tenth and last voyage of the Leusden began on November 19, 1737 from Elmina (Ghana), carrying 700 captured Africans. The intention was to sell these people as slaves in Suriname. The ship was already 19 years old and had served all its life as a slave ship for the WIC. The trips of the Leusden were destined for St. Eustatius, Suriname and Berbice.

Although Leusden was a slave ship, Balai deliberately calls the people prisoners and not slaves. Because they had not yet been in the hands of an owner.

Bombas
Balai encountered during his research that free Africans were employed as supervisors. They were employed by the WIC. It is difficult to determine exactly who these people were, because they were not mentioned by their real names. The deployment of bombas for the supervision of prisoners was only used on Dutch ships, discovered Balai.

No research vessels
The researcher noticed during his study in The Netherlands and abroad, that very little research has been done on slave ships and the conditions on board. He finds it remarkable because without these ships the transatlantic slave trade would have been impossible.

No construction drawings
Too bad, but we will probably never know how Leusden looked like. There are no drawings or models left of Dutch slave ships. There are also no known archaeological finds. To get a picture, the VOC ship Amsterdam (which is docked at the Dutch Maritime Museum) can be used as an example. But beware, says Balai, it probably looked very different.

Proper burial
The way the prisoners were killed is to Balai the most important aspect of the sinking of the Leusden. Not so much that the ship landed on a sand bank and sank. It is certain a difficult job, and yet it is the wish of Balai that the people who were drowned still receive "a proper" funeral.

Leo Balai received his PhD on Friday, October 21 at the University of Amsterdam on the history of “the one and only real slave ship " of the West Indian Company (WIC).

On the photo, Leo Balai near the VOC ship Amsterdam, which is docked at the Dutch Maritime Museum. (Photo by Sam Jones.)

(source: RNW)

The disaster of the Leusen was also mentioned in the book "Dutch in the Atlantic Slave Trade (1990)" and in the Dutch TV series, "The Slavery", which sparked controvery with the video "Slavery the Game". A snippet from the book with pictures of the series.

"On January 1, 1738, however, just a few days before reaching its destination port in Surinam, the ship was caught in a vicious storm that stranded it on rocks near the river Marawin."

On the photo is explained that the Captain of the Leusden made a mistake, he took the wrong river mouth.

"According to the reports of surviving officers, as the storm raged, the ship began to tilt to one side and take on water, making rescue of the human cargo impossible. In order to avoid a scramble for the lifeboats, the crew closed the hatches and locked the slaves below decks, where they all drowned or suffocated before the storm ended a few days later.

Because of the enormous financial loss, West India Company directors were keenly interested in the disaster and ordered all officers of the ship to make depositions. The officers claimed that if they had released the slaves, a fight over the few lifeboats would most likely have killed everyone."

On the photo, the coast the of Maroni River in Suriname where the slave ship sank. The exact place is still not discovered.

Meet Dutch DJ Afrojack - Number 7 of world's best DJs

2011-10-22T14:15:00.041+02:00

Since Thursday DJ Afro-Jack is listed as number 7 on DJ Mags top 100 DJs of 2011, according to Hollywood reporter.

Grammy Award winner Afrojack, aka Nick van de Wall, is a 24-year-old Dutch mixmaster and producer best known for his dancefloor hit "Take Over Control," (ft Eva Simons) plus his work on Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" and Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls).

This year the DJ, who was born in the Dutch city of Spijkenisse to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese father, won a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording for a remix of the song from Madonna Revolver, which he made with the number one DJ David Guetta.

The video "The Way We See the World" of Afrojack and other DJs. The scene is the Dance festival Tomorrowland in Belgium.

An interview on Spin

Nick van de Wall attributes his success to his mother, who taught him the value of hard work. His mother owns the biggest fitness gym in his home town.

Side Bar

Afrojack produced the dance hit "Take Over Control," featuring Eva Simons. Simons is a dance artist who was born in Amsterdam to a Surinamese mother and Dutch father. She was also featured on Chris Brown's track "Pass Out". Eva's mother is singer Ingrid Simons.

The problems of black or mixed race children in Italy

2011-10-21T00:01:00.005+02:00

To be black and Italian at the same time is a new reality the Italian society is still struggling to accept.

Adoption and increase in the number of mixed marriages between Italians and Africans are gradually leading to an increase in the number of Black Italian children, the so-called Afro-Italians.

But the Italian society seems unprepared to cater for the social and educational needs of these children.

In an exclusive interview with Africa News, Sabrina Jacobucci, aka Flora NW, President of the Association of Afro-Italian Children, reveals the reasons that led to the foundation of the Association, the problems biracial children face in the country, and suggests what should be done to make the education system more responsive to the needs of mixed heritage children.

A snippet from the interview

Afro-Italians is quite a new concept in this country. How do people react to it?

I think the very concept is disturbing to some people. Even the word Afro-Italian. I remember when I started posting on a (all-white) parents’ forum using the word Afro-Italian as a nick name, a lot of people reacted badly to my comments judging the nickname “aggressive”.

I think people in Italy are afraid of someone defining him/herself Afro and Italian at the same time because in the collective consciousness you can be Italian only if you are white. This is demonstrated also by the treatment given to the famous black Italian footballer Mario Balotelli – what racist hooligans sing is that there is no such a thing as a black Italian. Celebrating our children’s dual identities, black and Italian at the same time, has a symbolic aspect which is disruptive to some people.

From your experience, in Italy, are mixed heritage children facing different problems from those of other children?

Mixed race children often face the same issues black mono-heritage children face. No matter their skin tone, they are seen as black and therefore it is healthier and more empowering for them to identify as such, without denying their dual heritage at the same time. A racist is not going to ask them whether they are mixed-race. And yes, black and mixed race children definitely face different problems from those of white children.

What are the main problems?

Problems such as name-calling: on the first day of primary school, one of our mixed-race girls went home to her mum and asked: What does “negra” mean? A child in class told me today “Don’t sit next to me, negra!”; refusal by classmates to hold the black child’s hand at playtime in nursery (an experience that another of our black girls, aged four or five, had). In both these episodes unfortunately what emerged was the lack of action by the teacher. Teachers all too often do not have any training in multicultural education, and therefore when faced with episodes of racism or pre-racism by children, they do not know how to react and tend to minimise, even telling the victim to look the other way, or calling the victims oversensitive if they report a racist incident and expect justice. This is very serious because with racism, any action is better than no action at all. The victim should be comforted and the perpetrator reprimanded, always.

Read the full story at http://www.africa-news.eu

Website of Association of Afro-Italian Children
http://afroitaliani.splinder.com

See also on Afro-Europe:
The challenges of biracial children in Russia
Bi-racial children in the Ukraine - "Family Portrait in Black and White"

Side bar

A news item reported that a “Racist” couple was barred from adopting children in Italy.

An Italian couple’s adoption bid was denied after they said in their application that they did not want “dark-skinned” children.

An appeal court in Sicily ruled that the couple were unfit to adopt children of any description, local media reported.

A child protection agency took the couple to court after they submitted an application in Catania, in eastern Sicily, saying they were “prepared to take in up to two children… regardless of sex or religion, but… not with dark skin.”

The court ordered a magistrate who reviews adoption requests to ignore such specifications, then took things a step further, ruling that any such “racist” couple should not be allowed to adopt at all.

Video: Skunk Anansie "God Loves Only You" - live in Amsterdam

2011-10-19T00:01:00.014+02:00

On 26th June the English rock band Skunk Anansie played an exclusive show on the building site of the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.

See a recent interview with 'Skin' (Deborah Anne Dyer) at The Space

Video: CNBC MEETS: Naomi Campbell

2011-10-18T00:01:00.005+02:00

Naomi Campbell knew she was the first black model on the cover of the big fashion magazines, but in an interview with CNBC Meets she said: "I didn't know the depth about the whole history of how women of colour were treated."

In an exclusive interview with CNBC guest presenter Tania Bryer, Naomi Campbell speaks about her childhood, her early breakthrough into modelling and how her lifestyle caused her to take time out from the industry, confront her demons and consider her future.

Naomi speaks openly about how her early years impacted her life and about how she is now able to use her position to give back via her numerous charitable activities.

Wanted: Writers who want to write about the Black experience in Germany

2011-10-17T00:01:00.006+02:00

Via Black German Cultural Society, NJ
Sharon Dodua Otoo is looking for Black authors who want to write about the Black experience in Germany. The project is called "Witnessed" and is a book series written in English by Black authors, who live or have lived in Germany. It is edited by Sharon Dodua Otoo.

On the website she writes: "The idea for the series came to me one day as I thought about how little people know about life in Germany as a Black person - or how dated this knowledge is.

Even within Germany, discourse around ethnicity and diversity goes something like this: "if the foreigners learn German, they will integrate then there will be no problems".

And yet, Black people have lived in Germany for over 300 years. Black Germans can be found in all fields from science to art, from education to sport, from music to entrepreneurship. Where there are problems, these rarely have to do with lack of proficiency in the German language.

It is also incredible how little voice Black people within Germany have, despite decades of activism, academic research, creative publications and performances.

So I thought - fine! If we don't find recognition within Germany, we surely can on an international stage.

The Witnessed book series aims to enable English-speaking readers to access literature by Black authors who live (or have lived) in Germany and are from (or residing in) English-speaking countries, which bear witness to the experience of being Black in Germany."

Witnessed will be launched in Autumn 2012.

More authors

Philipp Khabo Köpsell. Check out his very interesting blog
"Die Akte James Knopf" . He also wrote the book "Die Akte James Knopf: Afrodeutsche Wort- und Streitkunst"

Joshua Kwesi Aikins

Mirjam Nünning

Rosemarie Pena about herself and Germany's "Brown Babies"

2011-10-14T00:01:00.014+02:00

She was born in Germany. Adopted by an African-American family. And discovered later on in life her biological mother was a Holocaust survivor in post-war Germany. Meet Rosemarie Pena, the President of the Black German Cultural Society, NJ.

By Erik Kambel

An interview with Rosemarie Pena about Germany's "brown babies", her personal history and about the convention of Black Germans in Washington, DC, which she organised this year.

To start, who are the "brown babies" of Germany?
This is just one of the pejorative terms used after World War II to describe the children of white German mothers and African American and Moroccan Soldiers, who where stationed in Germany during and after the war.

What is the difference between the so called Rhineland babies or Rhineland bastards as the Germans called them and the German brown babies?
The children you are referring to here were born after War I to German mothers and "Africans" serving as French colonial troops occupying the Rhineland.

Why were the "brown babies" given up for adoption. And why to African-American families?
Of course there is a plurality in terms of individual circumstances. However according Yara Collette Lemke Muniz de Faria, the scholar most noted for her research on the Afro-German children born during this time, many believed that it would be better for these children to be raised in the land of their fathers where it was believed at the time to be more tolerant towards Blacks. This assumption is one that was highly controversial then and remains today.

You were also adopted.
Yes, I was adopted when I was about two years old and brought to the United States and raised by a loving and devoted African American military couple. Given the circumstances of my birth, I was extremely fortunate. Although this was not the case for everyone who was adopted, I could not have asked for a better upbringing and family life.

What did it do to your identity to find out that you where born in Germany and that you were bi-racial or dual rooted?
I always knew that I was born in Germany and discovering my true identity and the facts surrounding my birth confirmed suspicions I had had since I was a child. I can say that since learning the truth, I have been more firmly grounded and self confident. No longer was I the subject of the whispers of others (usually my parent’s relatives) who knew more about me than I knew myself. Prior to this, I found their comments to be emotionally disturbing and very painful. The knowledge of my personal history and identity therefore allowed for much needed emotional healing.

Your adoption mother waited until you were 38 to tell you that were adopted. Why did she waited so long?
Since I was very close to my adoptive parents in terms of complexion, my un-relatedness was not visibly noticeable. It was also very common in those days to hide adoption when possible, believing it was in the best interest of the child. In later discussions with my adoptive parents, they shared with me that they had always loved me as their own and avoided even admitting to themselves that I was not their biological child. They thought they were being protective; doing the right thing in not telling me. They also believed that the knowledge that I had been abandoned would be unnecessarily painful for me.

Did you find your biological parents?
In the mid 1990’s found and spent a brief time with my biological mother prior to her death in 2002. While I was happy to have the opportunity to get to know her and as a result, more about my heritage, it was difficult to form a lasting relationship. Essentially, we were strangers and there was no semblance of a familial bond between us. Unfortunately we were estranged from each other when she passed away. She was unable to give me any details about my biological father and I have not attempted to do any research for any further information about him to their date.

You are now the President of The Black German Cultural Society, NJ. What does the organisation do?
Our organisation documents and promotes the activities of Black Germans and the Black presence in Germany as reflected in past and present times, particularly, but not limited to, the areas of the creative arts and humanities. As an academic organisation, we take an active role in researching and recording the history of Blacks in Germany. We are committed to strengthening relationships among all who identify as Black Germans and Black persons who have a connection to Germany. We also endeavour to promote the inclusion of Black German history and experience in the curriculum of both German and Diaspora Studies, and encourage bilateral Student Exchange opportunities.

Is your organisation only for post-war adoptees?
Emphatically No! Our organisation is totally inclusive, in that it concerns itself with the interests of all Black people in, from or otherwise interested in or connected to Germany in the past or present.

You visited the annual meeting of the Afro-Germans in Germany, the Bundesstreffen. How did you experienced it?
I attended the 2008 Bundestreffen upon the invitation of my dear friend Noah Sow, whom I had only known briefly through the internet at that time. It was a moving, memorable and life altering experience for me. I look forward to the opportunity to attend the meeting again in the not so distant future.

You also contributed a letter to the book "Briefe Bewegen die Welt" (Letters Move the World). What did write in the letter?
This letter was a personal one, written to Noah Sow upon my return home from my first trip back to Germany since I left as a young child. It was a thank you letter, expressing my appreciation to her for her kindness and hospitality. Her monumental gesture was the beginning of a very special friendship and I will always be grateful to Noah.

In August this year you organised the convention of Black Germans.
Our inaugural convention was held in August at the German Historical Institute-DC. The event was far more successful than any of us could have possibly imagined. It was truly an international experience as our guests represented many different countries. Among others, there were participants and guests from all over the US, Canada, Germany, South Africa and Luxembourg. It was an historic event as this was the first of its kind to be held in the United States. Additionally, a delegation of Black Germans was invited to Capital Hill to discuss their most significant concerns. I would invite your readers to our convention website to view the remarks from Congressman Alcee Hastings of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and Ambassador Peter Ammon of the German Embassy in DC. In addition, there are many photos memorialising the event, as well as audio and video media from the convention opening, including the presentation of the “Champion of the Humanities Award” by the Humanities Council of DC. to Mr. Hans J. Massaquoi, Jr. on behalf of his father, Hans J. Massaquoi Sr., and the extraordinarily powerful keynote lecture delivered by Noah Sow which I have watched and listened to myself more than a dozen times since the occasion, see http://blackgermans.us/convention2011

What are your hopes for the black community in Germany and in the US?
First let me say that I look forward to next year’s convention with great anticipation and and for many more in the years to come. I hope that we will continue to nurture the invaluable relationships that exist currently while establishing new ones; continue to share our stories and concerns with one another; work together to increase our collective visibility; ensuring that our voices are heard and our history and achievements are known all over the world. This is especially important as a legacy for our children, their children, and their children’s children and so on.

(Photo of Rosemarie Pena, by Sarah Glover)

Some links
- Staatenlos - a personal story of Rosmarie Pena
- Meet Rosemarie Pena, child of the Holocaust
- The Difficult Identities of Post-War Black Children of GIs

Magazine: Transition 106 - 50 Years of debate about the black world

2011-10-13T00:01:00.003+02:00

Transition 106, forthcoming this fall, is our 50th Anniversary Issue. We celebrate Transition's storied history and our founding in Uganda in 1961 by Rajat Neogy, joyfully invoking familiar names: Wole Soyinka, Paul Theroux, Ali Mazrui, F. Abiola Irele, Ilan Stavans, and Michael Vazquez.

But the purpose of this special issue is not to tell a seamless story about Transition's journey from Africa to the Diaspora. On the contrary, we are especially interested in the moments when the seams rip and the patterns change. It is in these gaps that we find the unresolved questions that continue to drive the magazine today, and that necessitate further exploration. Contemporary writing, photography and artwork from Uganda are also featured, with a foreword by Elizabeth Palchik Allen.

For more information and some free articles go to
http://dubois.fas.harvard.edu/transition-magazine

Video: The night of the French overseas territories

2011-10-12T00:01:00.003+02:00

Photo: Colonel Reyel
On 8 October almost 17000 people were present at the big music festival at the 'Palais Omnisport' in Paris Bercy for the 'La nuit de l’outre-mer' (The night of the French overseas territories).

The rhythms of the four departments vibrated for five hours with French stars as Colonel Reyel, Fanny J, Admiral T and many other artists. See photos of the event here.

UK theatre: "Blood of a Nation"

2011-10-11T18:17:00.007+02:00

The play "Blood of a nation" is the latest production of R.O.T.A Entertainment (Revolutionaries of the Arts) in the UK.

The video of the play is a short version of the script which is performed as a reading in front of a live audience) that speaks on the 1960 Congo crisis and assassination of Patrice Lumumba from the viewpoint of two young men.

For more information: www.rotaentertainment.com

UK interview with former Black panther Emory Douglas

2011-10-11T15:11:00.011+02:00

Diane Ifode interviews Emory Douglas where he speaks on Huey Newton and the other Black panthers. "This is a behind the scenes look for our documentary on police violence on Black people in the US and UK."

Douglas worked as the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until the Party disbanded in the 1980s.

Diane Ifode is the founder of ROTA Entertainment in the UK

Also see a report of VOXAFRICA about their play "Once Upon A Time In The 90s".

Jessie J won four MOBO Awards

2011-10-11T14:17:00.018+02:00

Jesse J won four awards at the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards in Glasgow, Scotland on October 5th. But there is some black critisism.

In the show's 16th year, the Best Newcomer also took home Awards for Best Album (Who You Are), Best Song ("Do It Like a Dude") and Best U.K. Act.

Other winners included Rihanna for Best International Act and Adele for Best R&B/Soul Act. Amy Winehouse was honored in a special tribute that featured her goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, singing "Love Is a Losing Game."

But according to the black newspaper The Voice, the MOBOs are criticised over Jessie J sweep. The biggest outrage came from supporters of UK rapper, Wretch 32 who believed the Tracktor star, who was nominated for four categories at the Glasgow ceremony and didn't win one, should've at least scooped Best Newcomer.

Fellow rapper, Chipmunk, tweeted: "Conspiracy"

While Choice FM presenter, Kojo, wrote: "All Im saying is CRAIG DAVID all over again," in reference to the infamous 2001 BRIT awards, where the singer was denied all SIX gongs he was nominated for.

Back in July, Voice reporter, Janice Brown asked whether the Mobos were "doing a disservice to black artists" by using white singers to promote the awards.

She wrote: "I certainly don’t subscribe to the thinking that black people should always ‘help their own’, regardless of whether those seeking help deserve it or not. But if organisations like MOBO – and The Voice – that seek to promote black culture, choose to push white talents over black, can we really expect any more from the mainstream?"

MOBO founder, Kanya King said after the awards: "The awards reflect what is happening in the UK music scene right now."

Marie NDiaye and her novel "Three Strong Women"

2011-10-10T10:52:00.006+02:00

In 2009 Marie NDiaye won France's top literary prize, Le Pirx Goncourt, for her latest novel “Three Strong Women”. This year the Dutch translation came out and she also won the new Nederlands Literatuurprijs (Dutch Literary Price).

NDiaye is 44 and published her first novel at the age of 18. Her father is Senegalese and her mother French. She was born in France only went to Senegal once, more than 20 years ago.

"Three Strong Women" is a moving tale of the struggles of black women in Europe and Africa. 3 main characters (Norah, Fanta and Kahdi) are fighting to "preserve their dignity in the face of humiliations that life has inflicted," according to her publisher Gallimard.

Although the situations these women have face are very difficult, each story is a story of hope. The three characters are very different from each other representing black women from Africa to Europe: Norah is a French lawyer of West-African descent; Fanta is a Senegalese woman living in France; and Khadi is a young Senegalese woman trying to migrate illegally to Europe.

Marie NDiaye has been critical of the French government and Sarkozy and currently lives in Berlin with her husband and children. However she always stays positive about the future.

Below an interview with her in French, several interview can be found on line on youtube.com and dailymotion.com

Book: "The Black History of the White House"

2011-10-07T17:04:00.009+02:00

Via Angela Davis
Official histories of the United States have ignored the fact that 25 percent of all U.S. presidents were slaveholders, and that black people were held in bondage in the White House itself.

And while the nation was born under the banner of "freedom and justice for all," many colonists risked rebelling against England in order to protect their lucrative slave business from the growing threat of British abolitionism.

These historical facts, commonly excluded from schoolbooks and popular versions of American history, have profoundly shaped the course of race relations in the United States.

In this unprecedented work, Clarence Lusane presents a comprehensive history of the White House from an African American perspective, illuminating the central role it has played in advancing, thwarting or simply ignoring efforts to achieve equal rights for all.

Here are the stories of those who were forced to work on the construction of the mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the determined leaders who pressured U.S. presidents to outlaw slavery, White House slaves and servants who went on to write books, Secret Service agents harassed by racist peers, Washington insiders who rose to the highest levels of power, the black artists and intellectuals invited to the White House, community leaders who waged presidential campaigns, and many others.

Juxtaposing significant events in White House history with the ongoing struggle for civil rights, Clarence Lusane makes plain that the White House has always been a prism through which to view the social struggles and progress of black Americans.

Read full story at www.speakoutnow.org

Video: "This Is Black History"

2011-10-04T22:18:00.004+02:00

UK's top MC's in the video "This Is Black History". Featuring Jody McIntyre, Logic, Big Ben, Jaja Soze, bigCAKES, Genesis Elijah, MC D, Cerose, Big Frizzle, Wordplay, Haze, USG, Rodney P, Akala. Produced by Last Resort.

Report: First World Summit of Afro-Descendants in Honduras

2011-10-04T00:01:00.003+02:00

© Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
In August (17-21, 2011), La Ceiba, Honduras, hosted the first ever World Summit of Afro-Descendants—a gathering of over 1,000 people from 44 countries in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The Organización de Desarrollo Étnico Comunitario and the International Civil Society Committee organized the event to commemorate the United Nations and Organization of American States’ International Year for People of African Descent.

The cultural and institutional invisibility of the Afro-Descendant population in the Americas was an overarching theme of the summit. This is a particular challenge in countries where black identity does not form part of the collective national identity. If a state does not know how many, where, and in what condition Afro-Descendants live, how can it formulate a public policy agenda to serve these communities?

The violence against women was also adressed. Afro-Descendant women face unequal access to health care, employment and education. For example, Afro-Descendant women in Brazil are given less anesthesia during childbirth, compared to non-black Brazilians. This, they argue, constitutes a form of violence against women: a systematic denial of equal opportunity and access to state resources and services.

Read full story: Afro-Descendants Deserve to Be Counted

See photos of the event at www.flickr.com

The group The Lo Frequency made some footage and interviews from the opening ceremony of the World Summit of African Descendants. The interviews are with the Carifuna people.

Because Carifuna people are in the previous video, this video will explain some of the images and signs.

And a video about the 'Primere cumbra mundial de afrodescendiente'

Women for Africa presents ‘The Women For Africa Awards UK 2012’

2011-10-03T21:40:00.005+02:00

For the 1st time ever! Women from Africa will be celebrated in London, at the first ever Women for Africa awards 2012.

Women for Africa, is open to those who want to join us as we celebrate some of Africa’s unsung heroines.

Nominations are now open for UK-based women of African origin to be nominated in one of the twenty-one categories with two categories opened up to non UK-based African women. It will seek to honour and celebrate a number of women who deserve to be recognised and celebrated.

Check out the 21 categories, start nominating now!!

www.women4africa.com

The world will remember Troy Davis

2011-10-02T19:45:00.011+02:00

Saterday thousands of mourners at funeral for Troy Davis remembered executed convict as 'martyr' and pledged to fight death penalty

A convicted murderer given the lethal injection despite emotional pleas worldwide for his life is being remembered this weekend as a gentle man who faced his execution with grace and dignity.

Sent to death row 20 years ago, Troy Davis was celebrated as 'martyr and foot soldier' by more than 1,000 people who packed the pews at his funeral on Saturday and pledged to fight the death penalty.

Davis, 42, was executed last month in Georgia for the slaying of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989, insisting his innocence and asking forgiveness for his accusers and executioners.

Troy's last words that night were he told us to keep fighting until his name is cleared in Georgia,' Mr Jealous said at the funeral on Saturday at Jonesville Church in Savannah, Georgia.

'But most important, keep fighting until the death penalty is abolished and this can never be done to anyone else.'http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk

See the statement of the NAACP: The world will remember Troy's name

Long time civil rights activist, Dick Gregory, speaks a memorial on Saterday, to remember recently executed inmate Troy Davis.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Dutch singer Glennis Grace is named Best Singer of The Netherlands

2011-10-01T12:55:00.026+02:00

Glennis Grace is named Best Singer of The Netherlands. The Dutch public voted for her second time in a row. Grace, who was born to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese father, was named Best Singer on September 29 during the presentation of the Buma NL Awards. The prizes are awarded since last year in collaboration with Dutch broadcaster TROS and Buma Cultuur to promote Dutch music culture.

“When you sleep”, a love song about her son.

Glennis is very pleased and hounered to receive the prize: "Because this Buma NL Award is a public Award my appreciation is even greater. Besides, this is the best compliment you can get from your fans and gives me more motivation for the upcoming period. "

The year 2011 can be descibed as golden year for the singer. She received a Golden record for her number one hit “Afscheid” ("Goodbye"), and her new album One Night Only has almost reached platinum.

“Afscheid” ("Goodbye")

Trivia. Glennis Grace (33), real name Glenda Batta, represented The Netherlands in the European Song Contest in 2005. She is married to a Moroccon-Dutch boxer.

Levi Roots - Reggae Sauce man from the UK

2011-09-30T19:41:00.021+02:00

Having already carved out a successful career in music, Reggae star Levi Roots had a dream to combine his passion for music with his love of food. Armed with his grandmother's secret recipe sauce, and a catchy tune to promote it, Levi was grilled in front of the panel of venture capitalists of BBC Dragons Den and came away with the funding and contacts to turn his sauce business into a commercial hit. See a video interview with Levi Roots here.

But more importantly, watch him cook!

Black History Live at Wembley Stadium in London

2011-09-30T19:04:00.006+02:00

Black History Live will launch the start of Black History Month 2011 at the iconic Wembley Stadium on the 1st and 2nd of October 2011. BHM is celebrated in the UK in October.

It will be a fun-packed day for all the family with...the kidszone, bookzone, cultural workshops & seminars, live acts, shows & entertainment plus a special appearance from Levi Roots...there’s just so much to see and do.

Bookzone Visit Centerprise Bookstores and meet their amazing speakers.

Kidzone Fantastic workshops for young people including the art of storytelling and arts and crafts with Tokunbo Ifaturoti, the force behind childrens TV programme ‘Time Out With AuntieToks!’.

Cultural Workshops and Seminars Running throughout the day including; 'Cracking the Kora' with Tunde Jegede, A talk by Former Black Panther Robert King who spent 29 years in solitary confinement in America for a crime he didn't commit. Film: 'Tales from the Front Room' A screening of the BBC4 documentary. Director Dr Michael McMillan, Editor of 'The Front Room: Migrant Asthetics in the Home' will be available for discussion afterwards. Bring items from your front rooms and share your stories.

Special appearance by Levi Roots Britain's favourite entrepreneur and Caribbean chef will be on hand to sign books and chat to all day

Plus LIVE on stage: Canton Jones US Grammy Award Nominee

London Community Gospel Choir

Faith Child African Music Award & Gospel Music Award (GMA) Recipient, and 2010 MOBO Award Nominee

Rachel Kerr Britain's New Singing Sensation

Admission: Adults £6, Children under 14 go FREE when accompanied by an adult

For info & tickets visit: www.blackhistorylive.com

Browse Afro-Europe blog in Dynamic Views!

2011-09-29T19:14:00.015+02:00

Blogger now offers you the ability to present our information in new ways. It's called Dynamic Views. So click on the picture of the right of the blog and get the full Afro-European perspective.

"Racial issues in the UK are disgusting," says US singer Kelis

2011-09-23T23:11:00.015+02:00

Via Deeper than Twitter
US singer and Grammy nominee Kelis landed in the UK on September 12 and had a memorable, and quite racist immigration experience with her son. She took it to twitter.

“We just landed and I had the midget with me. We get in the passport control line and apparently pissed this one man off cause he thought I cut the line. Which wouldn’t be far fetched of me but this time I actually didn’t (not entirely anyway) well the point is from 0 to 60 this fat red faced sweaty “man” (I use the word man loosely here) started calling me a slave and told me to call him sir and how I was probably a disgusting nigerian. He called me kunta kinte and ranted and raved some more.

The man behind the passport desk laughed, shook his head in agreement I guess, and said “kunta kinte”. All the while the entire line full of people I just sat on a plane with for almost 3hours, over 50 people said nothing. I mean literally nothing. Didn’t flinch.

We all no I’m no saint, so I retaliated. Not the way I wanted to or how that pig deserved. But #1 my gorgeous baby boy was literally sitting on my hip and #2 I’m a believer. And we are better.

Sposed to be anyway, it made me think. This person was aprox a 50 year old english man. I didn’t say anything at the time of the riots in London for a lot of reasons. But I am in london all the time and today I’m gonna say that the racial issues in the uk are disgusting. Its racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug. People don’t talk about it. People don’t fight about it. Not mentioning a problem doesn’t make it go away.

I bring it up now because as an american it is abundantly clear that my country has a smorgas board (spelling?) Of disgusting racial problems. We are the poster child for racial inequality even still with a black president. But its NO SECRET! And that I can fight against. I can try to prepare and teach my son. Because its out there. But you can’t fight for or against something no one is willing to talk about or even admit exist. Everyone wants to be politically correct. But who really cares? And what does that help. I could go on and on. I won’t. But maybe someone will start to talk about it from here.”

The Mayor of London has written an open letter to Border Agency staff after American singer Kelis alleged she was subjected to racial abuse while travelling through a London airport.

Boris Johnson said he was 'appalled' by the star's claims that she was called a 'slave' and 'kunta kinte' by a white member of the public, comments which she says made a passport control officer laugh.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Update: Kelis has revealed that her recent racist attack did not happen in the UK, but in Spain. In a response she says : "I landed in Spain and that's when the fat pink faced British guy who was on the plane with me called me a slave and (told me) to call him sir. It was at passport control. I didn't think to make that clear at the time because I was shaken and furious. Now you know." Check out the full story here.

Global impact of racial stereotypes in American films and TV programs

2011-09-21T22:44:00.013+02:00

Ad of the image of black women
via AfroGermans
To cut it short. In the story "The global impact of racial stereotypes" the author write about audiences overseas who absorb white American images Her conclusion, "To judge by the shelves of skin whiteners, they watch these shows, and they will identify with the white lead characters. And if those characters don’t look like them, then they’ll do their best to look like those characters, lest they be excluded from America and the privileges of being white." A fast conclusion of a not so strong story.

But in the article the author refers to two two sociologists who write about social constructs. In a very interesting video the authors give an example how black civil right protesters challenged the social image of black people. And they explain why it is important to understand the concept of social construction.

On their website they also write the controversial German ad. The text reads: “The only reason to choose Black. Time for Green.” Okay, so we have a history of the hypersexualization and exploitation of black women by white people. We fetishize their butts as symbolic of their (supposed) hypersexuality. And then this ad comes along and asserts that the only thing worthwhile about Black people is their ass and, by extension, their sexual availability. “ Also see their their story on the "The naked black female body, a recurring theme"

So my first question was: can you change it. In the interesting video the two sociologists say, that social constructs are often contested. But is there is hope? It appears that blue wasn't always the colour for boys, it was pink in the fifties. But today blue is the standard colour for boys and pink the colour for girls. So the image of black people can change.

'Surprising Europe', An Interesting Series on Al-Jazeera

2011-09-19T11:04:00.007+02:00

'Surprising Europe' is an intersting series of documentaries exploring the realities of life in Europe for African migrants. To anyone interested in the subject I invite you to check this out.
Trailer
Website
And one of the series below on African identity in Europe:

You can find all documentaries that already were on air via Youtube.

“Dutch Queen must remove slavery painting of Golden Carriage”

2011-09-17T12:23:00.027+02:00

Dutch Queen Beatrix must remove an offensive slavery painting on the side of the Golden Coach, wrote two Dutch MPs in an opinion piece yesterday. They have a “great aversion” to the drawing of half naked Black men and women who offer their goods to the royal family. It's the image called "Tribute of the Colonies”.

The coach was made in the late nineteenth century. "In the colonial era and the aftermath of slavery it seemed like a very common picture. Now it reminds us of a horrible period in Dutch history, " says Harry van Bommel of the Socialist party and Mariko Peters of left-wing green party GroenLinks.

The letter was also signed by the Chairman of the National Platform Slavery Barryl Biekman and the Chairman of the Committee Dutch honour debt (Indonesia) of Jeffrey M. Pondaag. They argue that The Netherlands should apologise for slavery and colonialism and the violence that arose there after.

The letter writers point out that Australia and the United States have already done so. This could possibly cause damage claims, but this way The Netherlands could come to terms with the past. The panel containing the illustration should be given a place in the National Museum, "where it belongs," write the signatories of the letter.

Dutch Prime Minister Rutte said in response that the image will not be removed. “We will not rewrite history by destroying the Golden Coach. It's bizar”

Every year on the third Tuesday in September, at the opening of parliament, the 113 year-old - grand horse-drawn carriage rides through the city of The Hague. The Coach is also used for royal weddings.

Video of news item

Pondaag, the Javanese man, says that the people of The Netherlands should realise that the wealth didn't come naturally, but that it cost many human lives.

In the video slavery images are shown. The voice over says; "But not these kind of images are on it, these images show how horrible slavery was."

Dutch historian Gert Oostindie says the coach was made 35 years after the abolition of slavery, “so we are not looking at slaves”.

“Case Depart” French Star Thomas Ngijol Says… “African Americans Have No Fight Anymore”

2011-09-17T10:29:00.010+02:00

Via Shadow And Act
”When I see some black Americans I see the end of the world. Lil Wayne is a sign of the end of the world to me. Blacks here started as slaves, move to independence and success but now you’ve crossed the line. Obama killed rap. You don’t have a cause anymore. African Americans have no fight anymore. In the music videos, all you do is party. Everyone says they’re rich, in the club poppin’ bottles.”

That’s what writer and star Thomas Ngijol of the controversial French comedy Case Depart, a film we’ve covered extensively here on S&A, said to Chloe Hilliard for Loop21.com when asked what he thought of African Americans during an interview to promote the movie. The flick transports two modern day, half brothers back to the slave era. Fabrice Eboué , who co-stars as Ngijol’s brother, co-wrote the script as well.

Grossing more than $15 million already, it’s the number one comedy flick in France. Ngijol, who’s been a stand-up comedian and actor for the last ten years, makes it clear what the film is about saying it isn’t about slavery…”It’s about not very intelligent people with an identity problem. Black men who blame the system.”

Of course, it was only a matter of time that Ngijol made a request to clarify his above quote which I’m sure was due to all the backlash he received. He later stated…”First, I respect and love African-Americans. They inspire me in my work and I have nothing but love for people who fight for their rights.. I respect black culture but it’s just funny to see the evolution from slave to bling bling. Second, I love hip-hop and Lil Wayne but it’s just sad that the industry doesn’t have a lot of other alternatives in the spotlight. I came in peace so please spread that to your reader. Thanks.”

Read the full interview at loop21.com

I think Thomas Ngijol conclusions are right if he only consumes the daily images of African Americans you see on TV in Europe. On the TV, Black America is Hip Hop, basketball and crime mixed with urban culture. But as a Black man he knows that Black people are often misrepresented, so the only thing I can hold against him is that he should have been more reserved in his opinion.

See post on Afro-Europe: French comedy about slavery - “Case Départ” (“Where it begins”)

Blackface Obama Billboard Sparks Outrage (From TheLocal.de)

2011-09-16T14:15:00.007+02:00

Just read this article on TheLocal.de and I just had to post it here. Again, humor in Europe has clearly other limits than in the US ...

Author:Moises Mendoza

German comedian Martin Sonneborn is well-known for jokes bordering on the tasteless. But a satirical political billboard of him posing in blackface makeup as US President Barack Obama is sparking outrage.

“Ick bin ein Obama (I am an Obama),” reads the poster at Berlin’s central Ernst Reuter Platz square, in an apparent play on John F. Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. On the poster, a "black" Sonneborn smiles as he raises his arm in the air.

The billboard is the latest in Sonneborn’s campaign for his satirical political party Die Partei ahead of state elections in Berlin this Sunday. It’s meant to make fun of the entire German political establishment and go up to the edge of propriety – another poster is entitled “MILFS against Merkel” and the campaign has also mocked the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party.

But the latest one is upsetting to some because of the racial connotations of blackface theatre, which was widespread in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Based on ugly stereotypes, blackface consisted of white performers painting themselves black for degrading minstrel shows. It it quickly died out in the United States after the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

In an interview with The Local on Thursday, Sonneborn, staying in character as the leader of Die Partei, said his billboard wasn’t racist.

He said he was “Germany’s Obama” and added he was mocking the “hype” surrounding the US president. Sonneborn, formerly editor-in-chief of the German satire magazine Titanic, said he wasn’t aware of the history of blackface and didn’t care if anyone was upset.

“No, I didn’t know that,” he told The Local. “If Americans associate it with that, then I’m sorry, but I’m not going to take it down.”

But Tahir Della a spokesman for the Initiative for Black Germans (ISD), which tries to represent the interests of the black community in Germany, called the billboard "unbelievably hurtful."

"This is 2011 and not 1950," he said. "I find it racist through and through."

Quaide Williams, the vice chair of the German chapter of Democrats Abroad, also said the poster was insensitive, although he emphasized that he was speaking for himself and not the organization.

“Do I think that racism is a problem in Germany? Yes I do. I think this shows how insensitive people are to this topic,” Williams told The Local. “It’s kind of interesting to look at how little they recognize racism in their own politics.”

There have been several incidents in recent years involving Obama that have led to charges of racial insensitivity by Germans.

In 2009, a frozen food company released Obama chicken fingers but later said it wasn’t aware some might see overtones of stereotyping blacks with the product’s name. That same year, Dresden’s Zoo renamed a mandrill – a monkey-like primate – it had called Obama after an unfortunate attempt to "honour" the US leader.

The gaffes have not been confined to one side of the Atlantic, however. After Obama’s election as president, the New York Post got in trouble for a political cartoon showing police officers shooting a chimpanzee while saying: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

But the blackface billboard incident comes on the heels of an open letter by the US Ambassador to Germany, Philip Murphy, lamenting racism in the country after one of his black staffers had to endure abuse following a football game in Berlin.

The US Embassy said it had no immediate comment on the Obama billboard.

Moises Mendoza
moises.mendoza@thelocal.de
twitter.com/moisesdmendoza

Dominik Coco - Artist of the year - Trophée des Arts Afro-Caribéens

2011-09-14T00:01:00.002+02:00

Dominik Coco, the Akoustic Ka musician from Guadeloupe, wins the French Afro Caribbean Arts Awards (Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens) in the category artist of the year. The ceremony was held monday 12 September in Paris France.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta - The African Princess in Brighton

2011-09-13T10:45:00.009+02:00

Author: Toyin Ashiru

Miss Sarah Forbes Bonetta, was a West African Egbado Omoba of royal blood, who was orphaned in a brutal massacre in her home country at the age of eight.

She was captured and later given to Queen Victoria by Captain Fredrick. E. Forbes of the Royal Navy who received Sarah as a gift from King Ghezo of Dahomey. Mr Forbes then gave her to Queen Victoria as a present "She would be a present from the King of the blacks to the Queen of the Whites, he later wrote in his journal.

The Queen was immediately impressed by the girl's natural regal manner, exceptional intelligence and gift for academic studies, literature, art and music that she gave her an allowance for her welfare with Sarah becoming a regular visitor to Windsor Castle. Sarah's genius became admired throughout the royal court and she continued to outshine her tutors with her advanced abilities in all studies spending her life between the royal household and Sierra Leone where she was educated.

Sarah was raised as Queen Victoria’s goddaughter in the British middle class and went to the Church Missionary Society to be educated, she also attended the Female Institution in Freetown, Sierra Leone. When she was 12 years old, Queen Victoria commanded that Sarah return to England, where she was placed under the charge of Mr and Mrs Schon at Chatham.

Sarah would later gain a long lasting cough that was caused by the climate transferring from Africa to Great Britain which would later prove to be fatal.

In August 1862 Sarah was sanctioned by Queen Victoria to marry James Pinson Labulo Davies at Nicholas Church in Brighton . Davies was a Yoruba businessman of considerable wealth for the period. The wedding party, was an extravgent affair and Sarah arrived from West Hill Lodge, Brighton in ten carriages and pairs of grays. There were sixteen bridesmaids and the wedding was made up of white ladies with African gentlemen, and African ladies with white gentlemen the couple later moved back to their native Africa after their wedding and Sarah was baptised at a church in the town of Badagry, a former slave port.

Shortly after her marriage, Sarah gave birth to a daughter and was granted permission by the Queen to name the child Victoria - the Queen also became her Godmother.

Sarah visited the Queen in 1867 with her daughter and then returned to Lagos where she had two more children.

James Davies later became very concerned about Sarah having a bad cough that would not go away, and she was later diagnosed with tuberculosis dying at the age of 37 in 1880 she was buried in Funchal Madiera.

Later, upon Sarah's death the Queen wrote in her diary: "Saw poor Victoria Davies, my black godchild, who learnt this morning of the death of her dear mother". So proud was Queen Victoria of Sarah's daughter, that when she passed her music examination, teachers and children had one day holiday.

Her daughter Victoria was given an annuity by the Queen and she continued to visit the royal household throughout her life.

In his journal Captain Forbes gave an account of his mission with relation to Miss Bonetta.

I have only to add a few particulars about my extraordinary present The African child” in a former portion of these journal I have mentioned the Okeadon war; one of the captives of this dreadful slave-hunt was this interesting girl.

It is usual to reserve the best born for the high behest of royalty and the immolation on the tombs of the diseased nobility . For one of these ends she had been detained at court for two years: proving, by her not having been sold to slave dealer, that she was of a good family.

So extraordinary a present would have been at least burden, had I not the conviction that, in consideration of the nature of the service I had performed, the government would consider her as the property of the crown.

To refuse, would have been to have signed her death warrant: which, probably, would have been carried into execution forthwith. Immediately on arriving…
Of her own history she was only a confused idea. Her parents were decapitated; her brother and sisters she knows not what their fate might have been .
For her age supposed to be eight years. She is a perfect genius; she now speaks English well, and have and great talent for music. She has won the affections, with but few exceptions, of all who have known her, she is far in advance of any white child of her age, in aptness of learning, and strength of mind and affection: and with her, been an excellent specimens of the Negro race.

Toyin Ashiru

How to rise above the culture of low expectations - Kemi Adegoke's TEDxEuston Talk

2011-09-13T00:01:00.007+02:00

Kemi Adegoke describes the complex issues of what she describes as "The culture of low expectations" in inner city British schools. I said I wanted to be doctor, but they said: "Have you considered nursing?"

She says she went into politics because she was angry. Angry about education and angry about international development.

Adegoke was born in Wimbledon although lived in Nigeria until she was 16, she now lives in Herne Hill ward within the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.

In her talk she takes us through her amazing forray into politics and how she suddenly became one of the leaders of policy formulation on Africa in the British Conservative Party.

Read the full story on http://tedxeuston.blogspot.com

Film "Le bonheur D'Elza" - Afro-Caribbean Arts Awards Nominee on 12 Sept 2011

2011-09-11T22:33:00.020+02:00

Photo: Stana Roumillac and Vincent Byrd Le Sage
The French film Le bonheur D'Elza, directed by Mariette Monpierre, is nominated for the French "Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens (FAAC) 2011" ("Afro-Caribbean Arts Awards") in the category Cinema.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris France on September 12.

Synopsis
A single mother in Paris, Bernadette tried hard to give her daughters everything. She is thrilled when her eldest, Elza, the first college graduate in the family, completes her master's degree summa cum laude. But, Elza breaks her mother's heart by running away to their native Guadeloupe in search of a distant childhood memory: the father she barely remembers.

This feature debut by writer/director Mariette Monpierre offers an unusual insider's view of lush island culture as she captures the passion and contradictions of this family.

Website film at www.lebonheurdelza-lefilm.com

Website Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens (FAAC) at www.lestaac.com

Black in Norway

2011-09-10T23:30:00.001+02:00

Of the 69 people killed in the July 22 rampage on Utoya island, at least nine of the victims were people of colour [EPA]
"Black in Norway. In the wake of the Norway massacre, we should focus our attention on the role racist ideologies have played there."

Black in Norway is an interesting essay of Dr Felice Blake about racism and multiculturalism in Norway.

In her essay she writes. Ingerid S. Straume, vice president of Attac Norge (an independent organisation that seeks to reveal the relationship between global capital and local experiences), argued in a July 29, 2011 column of the newspaper Class Struggle that Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik "did not attack Muslims; he attacked politics. He had a self-proclaimed intention to frighten away young people from participating in political life".

Breivik is the accused perpetrator of the July 22, 2011 massacre in Oslo, Norway that left eight people dead after a bombing outside government offices, and 69 dead after a shooting rampage at the Labour Party's summer youth camp on Utøya, an island in the Oslo fjord. At least nine of the shooting victims were people of colour. Straume might deny the connection to race and Islamophobia, but Breivik himself acknowledged the connection between Western politics and race.

In his 1,500-page "manifesto" he writes: "Don't let multiculturalists define what racism is or isn't. Keeping an African against his [sic] will in your basement as a slave is racism. Loving your extended family/your ethnic group and fighting for ethnic and/or indigenous rights does not make you a racist; quite the opposite in fact. It makes you a civil rights activist." Read the full story on http://english.aljazeera.net

Afrikan History Week in Oslo Norway - 15-18 Sept 2011 (with Omar Sosa)

2011-09-09T23:15:00.005+02:00

Afrikan History Week Norway 2011 is taking place 15 - 18 September at Riksscenen (Schous Plass) in Oslo.

The festival is a Pan-Afrikan celebration of Afrika, Afrikan history and the Afrikan Community in Norway. This year the festival celebrates its’ 7th consecutive year!

Afrikan History Week includes cultural events, concerts, films, seminars, workshops, debates and more. Special guest this year is Latin Jazz pianist and Grammy nominee Omar Sosa.

Program

Thursday 15 September
Film and discussion. A roundtable discussion with four speakers presenting their perspectives on the uprising in the light of global events over the past year: From Karthoum via London to Oslo.

Friday 16 september
Indaba Seminar Theme: Perspectives on gender and multiculturalism (full day academic conference), with Lecturer: Prof. Obioma Nnaemeka, an international expert in gender and women's studies

Friday 16 september
Street Prophets
(Hip-Hop og poesi) (Hip-Hop and poetry). The "Street Prophets" event is a vibrant meeting with new poetic expression from the streets of Oslo. Five hip-hop artists are challenged to perform, rhymes, songs and rap lyrics accompanied by percussion, guitar and turntables. With Norway's most popular Hip Hop group Danny & Pumba.

Saturday 17 september
Africa Live with Omar Sosa. Latin Grammy and Grammy nominee Omar Sosa is known to cross boundaries in different genres and compose music with elements ranging from African traditional music, Latin rhythms and electronica with African-Cuban jazz in the bottom!

Sunday 18 september
Prince & Princess (kids party)

Place: Schous Kulturbryggeri bygg J/K, Trondheimsveien 2, Grünerløkka, Oslo Norway

Website: http://www.afrikanhistoryweek.com/

Some vids of the artists in the Afrikan History week 2011

Danny & Pumba - Dagdrømmer - Norwegian Hip Hop

Omar Sosa - Light In The Sky

Norwegian slam poetry artist Sarah Ramin Osmundsen - Spoken Word Poetry: "Sound is Power", Emmanuel jal concert Oslo, Cosmopolite.

Bonus

Omar Sosa - "Ternura" from album his "Mulatos". The album was recorded in Paris in 2004 and combines elements of Middle Eastern, North African, and Indian music.

MOBO Awards 2011 nominations

2011-09-08T12:01:00.001+02:00

The nominations have been announced for the 16th annual MOBO Awards, with the ceremony taking place in Glasgow, Scotland this year on October 5. With performances from Jessie J, Katy B and Alexis Jordan, alongside the host and performer Jason Derulo

List of nominees

BEST UK ACT in association with Capital FM
Adele
Chase & Status
Chipmunk
Example
Jessie J
Katy B
N-Dubz
Wretch 32
The Streets
Tinie Tempah

BEST NEWCOMER association with Lebara Mobile – voted for by Facebook
Alex Clare
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sande
Jamie Woon
Jessie J
Loick Essien
Maverick Sabre
Rizzle Kicks
Yasmin
Wretch 32

BEST UK HIP HOP/GRIME ACT
Giggs
Rizzle Kicks
Tinie Tempah
Wiley
Wretch 32

BEST VIDEO
Chipmunk ft. Chris Brown – Champion
Jessie J – Do It Like A Dude
Rizzle Kicks – Down With The Trumpets
Tinchy Stryder ft. Dappy – Spaceship
Wiley – Numbers In Action

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Alexis Jordan
Aloe Blacc
Beyonce
Bruno Mars
Cee Lo Green
Jason Derulo
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Snoop Dogg
Wiz Khalifa

BEST SONG in association with PRS for Music
Adele – Someone Like You
Chase & Status ft. Tinie Tempah – Hitz
Jessie J – Do It Like A Dude
Tinie Tempah – Wonderman
Wretch 32 – Traktor

BEST ALBUM
Adele – 21
Chase & Status – No More Idols
Jessie J – Who You Are
Katy B – On A Mission
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy

BEST REGGAE
Alborosie
Damian Marley & Nas
Jah Cure
Khago
Mavado

BEST JAZZ ACT
Denys Baptiste
Gwilym Simcock
Karios 4tet
Matthew Halsall
Usonic

BEST AFRICAN ACT
Cheikh Lo
D’Banj
Fatoumata Diawara
Liquideep
Owiny Sigoma Band
Seun Kuti
Smod
Spoek Mathambo
Viewux Farka Toure
Wizkid

BEST GOSPEL ACT
Bobby Bovell
Four Kornerz
Jayess
Junior Garr
Triple O

BEST UK R&B/SOUL ACT
Adele
Dionne Bromfield
Marsha Ambrosius
Mike Hough
Omar

"Slavery - The game" is a PR stunt: official statement Dutch public broadcaster NTR

2011-09-07T21:45:00.009+02:00

Hilversum, September 7, 2011 – It turns out that the highly controversial game trailer ‘Slavery – The Game’, that was launched September 1st, is in fact a viral.

The trailer shows how gamers may trade slaves, conquer countries and even choose their means of torture and their personal burning marks. It was revealed today that the notorious trailer is fictional. The purpose of the trailer is firstly to confront people with an important, but often-neglected part of history. Secondly, the trailer aims to increase awareness about the existence of present-day slavery.

From Sunday September 18 onwards, Dutch public broadcaster NTR brings a TV series called ‘De Slavernij’ (‘Slavery’ in Dutch). This explicit TV series shows both the obscure past as well as the present situation considering slavery.

Indignation and Discussion
The fictional trailer is a creation of Javelin Reds, which is an anagram for ‘De Slavernij’, Dutch for ‘slavery’. The trailer shows how players could ‘get to work’. It shows scenes from the illusory game, in which players could choose weapons to torture their slaves, burning marks to brand them, and how they could trade their slaves internationally. "It was by no means our intention to hurt people with the trailer. We chose this approach to create maximum awareness for slavery in general. Not just for the history of slavery, but also for slavery that still exists today", states Carla Boos, editor in chief of public broadcaster NTR.

Many people from around the world reacted with vigorous indignation to the game trailer and the short film spurred spirited discussions on online platforms. Right from the moment of its seeding on September 1st, the trailer spread like wild fire across the Internet; social media, blogs, websites…it was even mentioned on international radio and television. The video has been watched for over 400.000 times on YouTube and hundreds of websites and blogs wrote about the disputable topic. “It is a good thing to see a trailer like this leads to this amount of controversy. It really shows how people are still truly concerned about slavery”, states Carla Boos.

Street interviews show that the Dutch are not fully aware of their national history considering slavery. Also, they lack of knowledge about the current worldwide status quo on the topic. Therefore the aim of the viral was to call attention to the European share in the worldwide history of slavery. Secondly, to emphasize that slavery still exists today. Around the world, about 27 million people are exploited as slaves. Even in countries like The Netherlands modern slavery still subsists.

The television series: ‘De Slavernij’
NTR’s ‘De Slavernij’ is a historical TV series that shows perhaps the most obscure and concealed part of history: the European and Dutch involvement in trans-Atlantic slavery. In five episodes, Dutch presenters Daphne Bunskoek and Roué Verveer guide the viewer through dark past (and present) times. Bunskoek draws the greater international picture on slavery, while Verveer (of Surinam origin himself) tells a very personal tale. He even goes after his own roots in connection to slavery. The TV series depict slavery from the standpoint of ordinary people. It builds on personal records, diaries, past documents and conversations with survivors. ‘De Slavernij’ is aired every Sunday from September 18th onwards, on Nederland 2 (Dutch national TV) at 20.10h, local time.

Alongside these series, a ‘children’s version’ of the historical series will be aired: ‘De Slavernij Junior’ is presented by Lisa Wade. The children’s series show the past and present of slavery, child labour in present-day slavery as it still exists in for example Benin or Bangladesh. ‘De Slavernij Junior’ airs every Sunday from September 18th, on Dutch childrenchannel Z@PP, 18.15h local time. On www.deslavernij.nl children can partake in an educational game in which they can learn about contemporary slavery.

NTR is a public broadcaster that focuses on information, culture and education.

See press release:
http://www.perspagina.nl/de-slavernij/trailer-slavery-a-the-game-is-viral-to-raise-awareness-for-slavery

Typical Dutch, the more offense the better.

On 'Alleen Maar Nette Mensen' from Robert Vuijsje

2011-09-06T16:18:00.006+02:00

Following the post on this book and the post on the making of a film based on it I wanted to give my view of things. I do not want everybody to agree with what I write here, but I thought it to be important to share my opinion on this book. The book has already been translated in Turkish and considering its huge success in the Dutch speaking world I am convinced it will soon be translated in English too. I actually advise you to read it so that you can form your own opinion.

In 2009 Robert Vuijsje won the prestigious Golden Owl (Gouden Uil) literary price for his book Alleen Maar Nette Mensen. I read the book before that and although the book shocked me several times, I actually thought of it as a good book. Still, I realized that the reasons why the jury chose him were very different to my reasons to like the reading. When I heard the comment of the jury on the news I was much more shocked than by the book itself. The jury’s president (Guy Mortier, famous and well respected Belgian journalist) felt the need to be ‘creative’ when describing Vuijsje’s novel as the winner. But he just demonstrated how unconsciously racist even a Belgian self proclaimed anti-racist intellectual can be. Moreover the jury only saw one aspect of the book. That same aspect that scandalized so many black people, amused the jury. Guy Mortier said the novel was:

“(…) a burning fresco that swings like an African tit, with a rhythm tighter than a black ass in too tiny leopard leggings (…) The main character’s search for love, sex and intellectual negro women makes a gruesome authentic impression” Read in Dutch here

For me Guy Mortier didn’t understand this book. He misread it, just understood what he wanted to understand and even worse, it confirmed his unconscious stereotypes on black people. The worst is that with white people, when you try to explain this they just ask you to stop whining.

However, I believe in the freedom of art, even when it’s art I don’t like. When Erykah Badu got critique for her Window Seat video she replied with following words:

"You can criticize it, you can disagree with it, you can make your own video, but you cannot censor art in any kind of way" Source

You might think I am a radical, but I agree 100% with this statement. Erykah Badu may change her opinion once she reads Robert Vuijsje’s novel, but I hope she won’t. I don’t believe in censorship, it scares me. I believe you can make people aware though and change things by other means. This blog is a way to show how certain things are sensitive for us, while the majority things it’s hilarious. This freedom of speech is important.

Vuijsje wrote fiction, literature, ... he didn't write a social analysis of Dutch society. Although he was inspired by it and that critics give it more sociological importance than it deserves. Furthermore Robert Vuijsje didn't spare anyone. David (the main character) is disgusted by anyone except blacks but for the wrong reasons. He is very confused, just like Dutch society is. I see it as an allegory, not as a description of how things are.

However, this book is not only a caricature of blacks. I would say it entails a raw critique of Dutch society as a whole. Vuijsje is hard on Jews, Muslims, white Dutch people, Latino's, blacks, ... you name it and they are stereotyped in this book. I sense that Vuijsje got the hardest on blacks (but that’s certainly because I am black, while Vuijsje himself is convinced he was the hardest with the Jewish elite), and in particular on black women. Well, I guess that’s because they are the easiest and most vulnerable target. This doesn’t excuse the author, on the contrary it shows how lazy and safe he plays his game. Doing the same with Muslims could have brought him a fatwa. He is a Jew himself, he can be hard on Jews. And the Dutch/Whites, well, whatever, they have the power, so criticizing them is harmless. The book is well written though and I invite everyone to read it, not as an assault against black people, but as a critical description of multicultural Holland (where for decades everybody thought being in the most tolerant country in the world, nobody dared to say what they thought about other communities and today racism bursts out like a neglected infection full of puss – well it’s not just a Dutch thing though, I see the same happening in Belgium, France, Germany and the UK).

To me although he stereotyped black people awfully, when I finished the book I thought I got his point. And his point is that there is a huge problem and that communities are more and more alienated from each other and that our perspective of the other and ourselves is self destructive. Well, at least that was what this book taught me whatever the author’s reasons.

Additionally I want to say that the way Vuijsje describes 'black males' is also really nothing to be proud of. It is sad. But sad because in a way I recognized a lot of it. Not how most black guys are, but how the media is projecting an identity that blacks are internalizing. That identity discourse is totally self destructive for blacks because it gives us a scary reference point of authenticity , i.e. what it means to be ‘a real black’ guy, and not a ‘bounty’ or ‘oreo’. I guess you all know what I mean. Vuijsje succeeds to play with these images and tell a crazy story.
While this book was 'funny', it was terribly sad at the same time. While I laughed, I was at the same time ashamed to be amused about this cruel description of Western urban life. David, the main character, is a tragic figure.

Therefore I was not amused with the jury's comment when he won the Golden Owl more than 2 years ago. In my opinion they didn't understand. They thought it was a well told story about real stuff. I think it is a well told sarcastic story in which the black image is abused, like always, but in which the whole society as a whole is being put under critical light.

However, every reader makes her/his own interpretation, and that's our right. That’s what being free means. It’s up to us now, to write a book as hilarious and as painful. But where blacks don’t have to be at the center of the polemic or the easiest punch ball for all ills in society (and then I think about French humorist Dieudonné, who tried to laugh with Jews and Israeli’s and got lynched by the French media. Once a star he is virtually dead now. That won’t happen to Vuijsje, he got awards). Moreover, if I, a black man, would write a book in which I am as harsh with white people in stereotyping them, I’m sure I wouldn’t even be able to find a publisher …

Wiggaz and Dirty Dreads. On How Race Still Matters

2011-09-06T11:40:00.004+02:00

For centuries black people tried to look as white as possible, they often still do. Many use skin clearing creams, relax their hair so to have straight hair, favorite mixed-race looking people in the media, etc. Since the 90’s we can see another phenomenon, white people who want to be black, or at least who adopt symbols and styles that are perceived as black in the Western world.

Some white people adopted e.g. what they think is hip hop culture and with it adopted styles considered African-American. Certain haircuts, clothing and accessories such as jewelry are all part of a style that many consider first as black. Some other white people try to have dreadlocks even if their soft, thin and straight hair makes it hardly impossible to have knots in their hair (other whites with curly hair can have neat dreads though). Some white people love reggae music and styles and are therefore also wearing the symbols of the Rastafarian movement and sport the Pan-African colours.

The sight of such a white man adopting black style looks to many as ridiculous, just as ridiculous as a black man sporting a goth style. My opinion on this was at first that it actually is a positive sign. It means that black and white cultural manifestations are mixing and that you don’t have to act or look this or that way because of your race. Be goth, be rasta, no matter the colour of your skin. However, there is much more … which still makes this phenomenon rather problematic. Let me explain this below.

When black people adopt white styles, it’s because they want to fit in. They don’t want to offend the majority, they don’t want to be perceived as different, they want to be normal and thus want to be conform to the norm. A girl with relaxed hair is actually something positive from a conformist perspective (and I don’t say ‘a white perspective’, because in many African societies black styles are not considered ‘good’ either. African societies often internalized white perspectives on blackness).

On the contrary, when white people adopt black styles they do this to be non-conformists. Their motivation is to be different, to be anti-establishment, to be special, to even be perceived as some kind of outlaws. Some have dreadlocks but have dirty hair. In their rasta style they are actually emphasizing stereotypes, prejudices and myths and are interpreting rasta as a bump style. Others might have big golden chains and diamond earrings but they interpret hip hop culture also in a stereotype way, ignoring the political and social conscious elements of hip hop and openly focus on the bling bling elements. They try to actually overcompensate their whiteness by stressing on a black myth, which makes them look ridiculous.

In this sense being black still means that you are by definition not normal, that you might be some kind of outlaw. Because of your physical appearance you are automatically set outside conformity and you should do some effort to fit in. Speaking the language and adapting to the local culture is not enough, you have to change the black body. Black styles and cultures will not help you to be considered normal you should adopt white styles, i.e. relax you hair, clear your skin and do not wear too flashy clothes. You even have to overcompensate your race by being cleaner and smarter than your white counterparts. The blacker you are, the more you should work on that.

On the other hand, whites who want to be outside society just have to mimic black stereotypes, to mimic a black myth that isn’t even real but fits the prejudices. These white people are not even being like blacks, but they are making a buffoon version of blacks, exaggerate the difference by being dirty or overtly superficial and materialistic. Although most of white people who do imitate that style think of themselves as anti-racists, they are (mostly unconsciously) accentuating racism and keeping race as a social marker alive.

Julie Dexter at Jazz Cafe London - Sun Oct 2nd 2011

2011-09-06T00:01:00.000+02:00

On Oct 2nd Julie Dexter returns to Jazz Cafe in London with her first album in 6 years. The former Soul II Soul frontlady has become a main artist on the USA Nu Soul scene since relocating to Atlanta some years ago.

She will be performing her critically acclaimed new album “New Again” for the first time in Europe.

Also on the night our taste maker new acts to watch, the freshest the UKSoul scene has to offer live. At the end of the night the stage is opened up to the public for an Open Mic Jam – previous guests include Amy Winehouse, Marsha Ambrosius, Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar

Julie Dexter is a world renowned, award winning, British vocalist, who is born and raised in Birmingham, England

Snippets from the new album "New Again"

For more details about the event check out KEEP THE FAITH Events – SOUL Events in London: http://www.keepthefaithful.com

"Slavery The Game" - Is it really a game?

2011-09-05T00:01:00.006+02:00

Via Madnews
Slave - The Game promises to be a new upcoming "game" in 2012, according to the website and the video trailer. And it seems to be internet hit already judging by the comments and the views.

Goal of the game is to become the most powerful slave trader. The teaser states, "Go back to 17the century when Europe ruled the world. Make a tremendous fortune. Buy slaves. Discipline them. Exploit them."

But some doubt if slavery is really a game. The game website joystiq wrote. "We do wonder, if Slavery the Game isn't a game (and it's not; notice the lack of italics here), does it have a larger goal, or is this it; a mysterious website with a gruesome reminder that society can be a more powerful force than individual morality? We thought we already had one of those."

Needless to say, it’s sick.

Meet the Adebanjo’s - The story of a UK sitcom

2011-09-04T11:37:00.011+02:00

Meet the Adebanjo’s is a brand new independent UK sitcom released this summer about a Black British family living in Peckham.

Our story

The story of Meet the Adebanjo’s began over 30 years ago when two men met on the plane from Nigeria to the UK. They just happened to sit next each other but over the 7 hour plane journey they developed a friendship that would last till today. They both only planned to stay in the country for a few years to study but one thing lead to another – they got married, children were born and they both ended up settling in Peckham, London.

Debra Odutuyo – the creator of Meet the Adebanjo’s was the daughter of one of the friends. She had grown up in a loving family full of fun and laughs and as a producer wondered why this was not represented on UK TV. She wanted to do a sitcom which promoted family values, allowed people to laugh and which gave people an insight into her British African culture. She then spent a few years developing the concept and pitching it to major TV Networks.

Not deterred by their constant refusal, in 2009 she sold her car, moved out of her flat to raise the money to produce the series herself. It was just enough for one pilot but her determination and vision impressed a long childhood friend – the son of her Dad’s longtime friend who decided to set up a Production Company – MTA Productions LTD, to make her vision a reality. Within a few months they were able to raise the investment needed to produce a full season independently and the rest they say is the Meet the Adebanjo's you are watching today.

Debra's plan is to create a whole new industry in the UK where more quality programs such as Meet the Adebanjo's that reflect a culture not shown on UK TV can be made and shown around the world.

Meet The Adebanjos - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!!!

See website: http://meettheadebanjos.com

To fund this new industry 8 episodes of Meet the Adebanjo’s have been released as a Special Edition DVD Boxset for £19.99 in UK and Europe. http://shop.meettheadebanjos.com/

MOMENTS at MADE Berlin with Erykah Badu and Jaybo & Miki´s String Quintet

2011-09-03T00:23:00.003+02:00

Creative moments is the driving force behind MADE. Singer Erykah Badu, composer Miki and Painter Jaybo set out on a journey of creative reinvention. Each artist was inspired by the other to step out of their respective artistic comfort zones.

Erykah Badu - Other Side Of The Game

Stories of young black and white media makers at the European Culture Congress in Poland

2011-09-02T19:01:00.009+02:00

The Doc Next Network, an organisation who captures the views of young European media-makers, will have screenings of selected films from their media collection at the European Culture Congress in Poland on 8 + 11 September.

Doc Next Network is collecting videos, stories, photos and other media art productions of all sorts of young people. With the focus on young, emerging documentary-makers and opinion-formers, the Network is building up a broad collection of (alternative) documentaries.

The collection includes short, experimental productions, including videos, blogs, audio reportage and short films, represented on Vimeo and on the respective channels (on-line) of the members of the network. It provides a unique reflection on what living in Europe really means.

There are many interesting videos, so I picked a few.

This film was made by Tony Longe (17 years old, United Kingdom) in 2009 during a workshop by ACAVA for StrangerFestival. This video was selected for the long list of the Youth & Media Programme in 2010.

Silence is a crime, a film was made by Marie-Jo Cima from France.

"There Are Two of Them" is a video of French Hadjara Karamoko-Mercy about her mother and her new mother.

Also intersting is the Portugese video Saudade. It was made by Wilson Teixeira 'ICHA' from Portugal for the ‘Chez Nous’ programme. The title means 'Transition'. The video is about a black neighbourhood in Portugal.

Website Doc Next Network: www.docnextnetwork.org
Website: European Culture Congress www.culturecongress.eu

Black women stereotyped in Dutch film “Only decent people”

2011-09-01T21:53:00.030+02:00

On the photo Geza Weisz and Imanuelle Grives
The feature film “Alleen maar nette Mensen” (“Only decent people”), based on the Dutch controversial novel of Robert Vuijsje, will be in cinema in March 2012. The book sparked a lot of controversy in The Netherlands and was called racist. The film and the book is about a middle class Jewish man, who is searching for an intelligent voluptuous real “negro” woman.

The story is about 21-year-old David Samuels who is Jewish, but has the appearance of an Arabic looking Moroccan. He is a typical rich kid who was educated at the Barleaus Gymnasium, an the elite grammar school in Amsterdam. His mother is a lawyer and his father is a well known television presenter.

He has a girlfriend named Naomi and they both live in the posh district Amsterdam South, where 'only decent people' live. The word 'decent people', which is also the title of the novel, refers to people who are not 'allochtonen' and especially not Moroccans. ‘Allochtonen’ is the Dutch word for non-western foreigners.

But, as IDTV wrote in the synopsis, " David discovers he has a craving for black beauties with huge boobs and bum from the suburbs. He dumps his girlfriend and sets out on a quest for his dream, drops out of college and woman. An apolitical and irreligious film about the clash between social and cultural classes, based on the novel by Robert Vuijsje."

In a column Anousha Nzume wrote about some of the offensive passages in the novel. "Main character David believes there are two types of 'negro' women. The Sherida chain; black as coal, wears at least size 46. Cup size 95 F. Not taller then 1.65. At least one of her tiny garments has leopard print. She does it with every man. Breezer desirable but not essential. Available in the “negro women disco".

Then there is the “bounty” (black from the outside, white from the inside), highly educated with dreadlocks. Only does it with white men, in the absence of negroes of a certain level. She is boring, unsociable and mainly dressed in batik. You can find her at a slavery debate."

To add some Dutch context. The name Sherida refers to a popular Surinamese name, but it refers to a name of ‘working class’ black Surinamese women. The sentence “Breezer desirable but not essential”, refers to the light alcoholic drink Breezer and to the Dutch word “Breezer slut”, meaning a girl who sleeps with a man for a Breezer. The ‘black’ setting of the book and the film is the Bijlmer, which is considered a poor black neighbourhood in the district Amsterdam South-East.

The book also sparked controversy within the Black community in The Netherlands. Some people felt that the book cheapened black women and interracial relationships, but others felt that a lot of black women fit the profile and should therefore not complain about the stereotypes in the book.

In the film the Jewish character David is played by Geza Weisz and the black female character is played by Imanuelle Grive (who is of Surinamese descent). Shooting of the film will be from 4 September till half October and the film is planned to be in Cinema on the 1ste of March next year, distributor Wild Bunch reported Thursday

A video of a debate (in Dutch) about the book in 2009 with author Robert Vuijsje.

Trivia, the author had a black girlfriend when the book was published. See a Dutch colomn about the author "Why I am not a racist" here

Because most people don't understand Dutch, a short translation.

The first woman in the video is documentary maker Mildred Roethof, she feels the book is oke, she says that the book is telling the untold story of underclass black women. She loves the book

The woman in red says that the book is painting a one-sided picture. She is Elvira Sweet, the former chairman of the city district of Amsterdam South East.

The white woman refers to a research which shows that the stories and images of men are overrepresented in the media. Which means that women are far less represented in the media. And that it applies to black women even more.

The author Vuisje replies that 1 out 50 people in the Netherlands if of Surinamese origin and that Surinamese people are overrepresented in the public debate.

The big man is radio host Guilly Koster. He says that he had interviewed him before and he says "your naive as hell man. You sit behind that table talking about black people as if I am not there. That hurts man.”

The woman with the Rasta is youth activist Hady Jane Guds, she says that he should bring with him the intellectual black woman he is looking for every time he talks about the subject in a program. So black women can give their own opinion.

Vuistjes replies that they are putting themselves in an inferior position.

The woman with the white sweater, says that she was almost family with the author because a cousin of her dated him. She says she had only white heroes because there weren't any black heroes around. She dated white boys, went to a white school and went to ballet. But at her media jobs people still treated her as a cliché black woman. She says he can write about black women what he wants, because black women also talk that way about each other. She wants a black role model that she can look up to. When that's accomplished then there is room for these kind of books.

The woman in black is theatre maker Anousha Nzume, she says she is tired of the black stereotypes. She ask what effect this book will have on people who don't understand what he wrote in his book

Also see the post on Afro-Europe - Dutch novel reinforces sexual stereotypes of black women

Interview: Dutch Middle East correspondent Nicole Le Fever is back

2011-08-29T00:01:00.001+02:00

Dutch news correspondent Nicole Le Fever (46) returned to The Netherlands after a five-year stay in the Middle East. Le Fever, who is born to a Dutch father and a Surinamese mother, is a prime time news reporter for the Dutch public Broadcasting service the NOS. In a recent interview with the VARA she talked about her experiences in the Middle East and how it had changed her. Some snippets from the interview.

Your back for three weeks now, how does it feel?
It’s good to see friends and family again. I am still busy landing. There needs to be done a lot. I am running from one place to the other for stamps and insurances. It’s all very well organised in the Netherlands. If you have forgotten a document in the Middle East, you say you forgot to apply for it. Than everyone understands and everything will be fine.

Was it difficult to leave?
In fact I would have returned in December, so I think it’s great I stayed a half year longer to be able to report about the Arab spring. I leave a world behind of people who I have come to love. I have cried when we said goodbye to our friends and their children, so yes I left with pain in my heart.

The Arab spring now has a setback. Were we to positive when we thought the revolution was irreversible?
Yes, we, the West, saw the young people on the Tahir Square and thought oh, so great, those people want to be just like us. They want democracy modelled after the West. For us self-actualization, individualism and freedom of speech are very important. But during the Egyptian revolution people fought for basic rights such as justice, respect and dignity. Religion and family play a bigger part than in the West, also for the protesters in jeans. Everyone is part of a larger part, of a family who has always taken care of you. Which the State doesn’t. They now fight for a job on the basis of quality in stead on the basis of having the right connections. That your sick child gets the same treatment as the child of the President.

Is it possible to overthrow regimes?
You can always send a dictator away, but the system sits between the ears of people. The hierarchal thinking is very deep ingrained in the mind. Even at the football club or a human rights organisation there is often a leader, who as he speaks silence the rest and dictates everything. It takes time to break trough that. Just like the corruption and de connection-culture. If I have a good job somewhere and you are my sister I will try to arrange a job for you, because else your children won’t have any food.

What was your most touching moment of the Arab spring?
There were so much beautiful moments. Louba, a young activist of the first our, told me when soldier stood next to her that the army carried out very humiliating "virginity tests" on female protesters. I asked her if we shouldn’t stand somewhere else. She said: “No, what can he do to me?” She said that she would go on fighting, that she had just started. She Western dressed, her friend dressed in a niqab. I don’t know if she and all the others are going to make it, but they are going somewhere. Many people have lost their fear en have gained more dignity. Maybe it will take a long time until the system has changed, but they have changed most certainly.

The years you have been gone the fear of Islam has grown with some people in The Netherlands. Some doubted the existence of moderate Muslims.
The moderate Muslim? What nonsense. We don’t talk about moderate Christians. I absolutely don’t share the fear of Islam. I have lived there five years and saw how people practice their faith totally different. Some people went to the mosque five times a day, others didn’t go at all. No one tried to convert me.

On the internet people call you a liberal journalist.
My father is from the Dutch province of Zealand and my mother is born in Suriname, so I am product of two cultures. From that perspective I see the world, not with a liberal or a conservative view. My father was completely colour blind, he always has been, but he voted conservative and read a the conservative Dutch paper “De Telegraaf”. He believed in the equality of races, religions, and sexes.

How do you see woman rights in Islamic countries.
There are big differences between all these countries. But generally women have a weaker position when it comes to legal issues as custody and divorce. But still the image of the poor suppressed woman in the Middle East is not correct. There are big problems, but you come across more powerful and courageous woman than here.

Have you changed by living in the Middle East
You should ask my friends and relatives. But I fitted in the Middle East, I think. I was always close with my family and I am not so individualistic. Also not so rude en direct. You see the directness in your own country much better and also your own rudeness. I know that individualism is very important, but I also see that being part of larger group can also be valuable.

You are very positive about the Middle East, but is everything is that great?
I began loving the people, not the systems. Of course it’s difficult to live in a dictatorship. The fear is the worst. I have met people who were to afraid to open their mouths and only trusted their own family. People who are open to the camera you sometimes need to protect, because there is an embassy in The Netherlands and my items are also on the internet. I will use that information, but I don’t show from who it’s from.

As a general reporter you will also have go back to typical Dutch items. They will be silly items compared with those in the Middle East.
Of course it’s giant step from the Tahir Square to the Dutch tulip exhibition. But I have done a lot of general reporting, which was often very interesting. People are awesomely interesting. Their dreams, their wishes and what they fight for and the things they love. Those stories I want to tell.

UNHCR concerned as sub-Saharan Africans targeted in Libya

2011-08-27T00:24:00.015+02:00

© BBC BBC footage of a group of Africans from sub-Saharan countries being rounded up in Tripoli. News Stories, 26 August 2011

GENEVA, August 26 (UNHCR) – UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has issued a strong call for sub-Saharan Africans to be protected in Libya as reports emerge from Tripoli of people being targeted because of their colour as the city fell to rebel forces.

UNHCR spoke by phone on Friday to one scared African, Ahmed, a Somali who has been living in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and teaching at the university there, since 2007. He has stayed on in the city since anti-government protests in the North African country turned violent in February, leading to all-out war between the Muammar Gaddafi regime and rebel forces.

Ahmed said he did not feel directly threatened. But now, as rebels take over the city, he wants to leave. Since most neighbourhoods in Tripoli fell to rebels earlier this week, sub-Saharan Africans like Ahmed are again being singled out.

"If they see you are African, that you are black, they will target you," said Ahmed, reached in his home. He said local residents, many of whom are armed, are in the streets, setting up roadblocks. "The situation is very difficult here," he told UNHCR. "You can't leave your home even for water."

As a result, he and other Somalis in the community with whom they are in contact are running out of vital supplies. One group of Somalis was attacked when they tried to leave their apartment in another part of the city, he said, leaving one man injured. "It's really very desperate."

Sub-Saharan Africans, especially those from Niger, Chad and Sudan, have been targeted by both sides after it became known that some sub-Saharan Africans had worked as mercenaries for the Gaddafi regime. Many migrants fled to neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia. But several hundred did not.

They are trapped in the capital as, once again, people with black skin are being accused of siding with the dictator. "Anyone who is black, they say they are against them," said Ahmed, who has family in the United States and a visa awaiting him in Tunis, if he can reach there safely.

The High Commissioner has urged restraint from rebel forces and Libyan civilians. "We have seen at earlier stages in this crisis that such people, Africans especially, can be particularly vulnerable to hostility or acts of vengeance," he said.

"It is crucial that humanitarian law prevails through these climactic moments and that foreigners – including refugees and migrant workers – are being fully and properly protected from harm," he stressed. ---

I am happy for the rebels that they have got rid of a dictator and that they have chance to build a new society with more equality. But I hope the same rebels don't want to go down in history as fanatic racist Arabs, who are lawlessly killing “people of African Descent”. Because that's exactly how it looks on TV.

I use the word "people of African descent", because this year is the international year of people of African Descent. And as Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it: “This International Year offers a unique opportunity to redouble our efforts to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect people of African descent everywhere.”

The UN couldn’t have picked a better year.

Meet UK's media pioneer Jamal Edwards

2011-08-24T12:00:00.004+02:00

Jamal Edwards, founder of popular online broadcaster SBTV, today announced via Twitter that Channel 4 who earlier this year aired a one off documentary titled Inside SBTV, now want to turn it in to a series.

But who is Jamal Edwards? Jamal Edwards is the black CEO and founder of SBTV – UK’s largest youth media channel, which he started at the age of just 16. Now 20, Jamal has continued to push the boundaries and has come a long way.

In the past few months he has been profiled in The Guardian, been tipped as one of the UK’s top young entrepreneurs by Richard Branson, signed a label deal with Sony RCA, announced as the face of New Era’s first European campaign and now he has been made the face of the new Google Chrome advert.

Video: Melissa NKonda, VV Brown - "J'Ai Fait Tout Ca Pour Vous" - French FAAC nominee

2011-08-23T22:23:00.003+02:00

French singer Melissa NKonda is nominated for the French "Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens (FAAC)" ("Afro-Caribbean Arts Awards") in the category Best Newcomer of the year 2011. Nkonda’s debut album is "Noveaux Horizons", which is an homage to her Algerian and Cameroonian roots. One of the tracks is "J'Ai Fait Tout Ca Pour Vous", which she recorded with English singer VV Brown (Vanessa Brown).

The awards ceremony will be held on September 12, 2011 in Paris France. You can vote for your favorite artist at the website of France Ô at http://participer.franceo.fr/lestaac/

National memorial ceremony Norway - Sunday 21 August

2011-08-21T13:40:00.011+02:00

photo of Modupe Ellen Awoyemi
The Government of Norway holds a national memorial ceremony in the wake of the attacks 22 July on the Government buildings and on Utøya.

The ceremony takes place in Oslo Spektrum on Sunday 21 August at 3 pm.
Bereaved families, survivors and others directly affected by the attacks will be invited, along with rescuers, health workers and other contributors, as well as representatives from the official Norway.

We also remember the 15-year-old the Nigerian girl Modupe Ellen Awoyemi, who was killed in Utoya Norway. She was the daughter of the city council politician Lola Awoyemi. Described as a kind and open girl, who was active in AUF discussions.

The song "Never Would Have Made It" of Marvin Sap was also dedicated to remember the four young girls who lost their lives in the 1963 racist bombing attack in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963

Anders Behring Breivik has admitted killing 77 people last month when he first detonated a truck bomb outside government offices in Oslo, and then went on a meticulously planned shooting spree at a youth camp on the island of Utoya, some 25 miles (40 kilometres) away.

Race: Are We So Different? - An American exhibit

2011-08-20T00:01:00.003+02:00

The project "Race: Are We So Different?" is an American exhibit that helps people to understand what race is and what it is not.

About the exhibit: We all know that people look different. Throughout history, those differences have been a source of strength, community and personal identity. They have also been the basis for discrimination and oppression.

And while those differences are socially and culturally real, contemporary scientific understanding of race and human variation is complex and may challenge how we think about it. RACE: Are We So Different? helps visitors understand what race is and what it is not. It gives them the tools to recognize racial ideas and practices in contemporary American life.

The exhibit explores three themes: the everyday experience of race, the contemporary science that is challenging common ideas about race, and the history of this idea in the United States.

Everyday Experience of Race
Race is embedded in virtually all aspects of American life. Explore social and personal experiences of race in familiar settings such as home and neighborhood, health and medicine, and education and schools. Discover that race and racism is not inside our heads, but in fact is built into our laws, traditions, and institutions.

The Science of Human Variation
Racial and ethnic categories, which have changed over time, are human-made. We now know that human beings are more alike genetically than any other living species. Scientifically, no one gene, or any set of genes, can support the idea of race. This section focuses on what current science knows about human variation and our species' history.

History of the Idea of Race
Race has not always existed. Sorting people by physical differences is a recent invention, only a few hundred years old. Discover how the development of the idea of race is closely linked to the early development of the United States.

Check the website at www.understandingrace.org

They should bring this exhibit to Europe.

London: Black Musical Adaptation of "A Clockwork Orange"

2011-08-19T19:02:00.009+02:00

Anthony Burgess’ cult novel A Clockwork Orange is re-imagined for London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East stage on the eve of its 50th anniversary. This reworked production will be performed from Saturday 3 September – Saturday 1 October 2011 at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm.

In this new adaptation, New York writers Ed DuRanté (words) and Fred Carl (music) return to the original source of Anthony Burgess’ book and importantly, his last chapter of redemption and hope. This iconic story influenced and inspired music stars and artists including Gnarls Barkley, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Andy Warhol and, of course, Stanley Kubrick, who made the famous film.

When super-intelligent Alex’s ultra-violent lifestyle catches up with him, he is imprisoned and entered into a government experiment called The Technique, aimed at ending all crime. He quickly finds himself in an unexpected and life-altering personal horror show. The piece has a contemporary score that draws from groove-based styles like blues, r&b, rap, neo-soul and jazz, this promises to bring fresh resonance to a modern classic.

Fred Carl says ‘The last chapter of A Clockwork Orange, which was omitted from the first American editions of the novel and does not appear in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, was an important reason why we accepted the commission from Theatre Royal Stratford East. It’s exciting to work with the venue on this piece.’

Ed DuRanté says ‘A Clockwork Orange has given us the opportunity to explore a classic piece of literature and use it to comment on the challenges that are faced by the Black community, but at the same time speaks to the broader society about every person’s responsibility for their own actions.’

Ed DuRanté is a playwright and filmmaker. His work has been produced by Theatre for the New City, Talking Drum Theatre Co., and Playwrights Horizons. He was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Filmmaking. Presently, he is in post-production with his first feature film, the Black black comedy Jake Gets Paid. He is a graduate of the NYU/Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film Program, the NYU/Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and Yale University. Recently, Fred Carl and he worked on their adaptation of “A Clockwork Orange” as the inaugural writers at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Next, he is directing the film Clay Feet starring Terrance Howard and Anthony Mackie. Developed from his own script, the film examines the early friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.

Fred Carl’s extensive career includes musical directing Kirsten Childs’s The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin where Fred received the 2000 Audelco Award for Best Musical Direction. He composed and musical directed Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze at Lincoln Centre and has a long association with Theatre Royal Stratford East starting in 1999. He designed and co-led (with Robert Lee) the musical theatre-writing workshop which featured in Channel Four’s Rappin' at the Royal and is Artistic Associate of the theatre. He is a graduate of the New York University/Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and currently an Associate Arts Professor of the Program.

A Clockwork Orange is directed by Dawn Reid, Associate Director of the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Her numerous directing credits for the theatre includes Funny Black Women on the Edge and Ade Ikoli’s Diary of a Single Man. She is the Co-Director of The Harder They Come(Barbican, West End, Toronto and Miami); Mad Blud; and Rikki Beadle Blair’s Family Man. Other theatre credits include Associate Director on Avenue Q (Noël Coward Theatre) and the recipient of a Carlton Multicultural Achievement Award for Performing Arts.

Jonzi D is the Movement Director of the piece. He is Associate of Sadlers Wells, his production Aeroplane Man was a sell out success and screened on Channel 4. The cast features Ashley Hunter as Alex, Darren Hart as Pete, Susan Lawson Reynolds, Richard Lloyd-King, Sonny Muslim as Georgie, Marcus Powell, Kirris Riviere, Raphael Sowole and Vanessa Sylvester.
Theatre Royal Stratford East has a reputation for developing and staging new musicals including The Big Life - the first Black British musical in the West End; The Harder They Come - currently in pre-production for its second international tour after successful runs at Barbican and in the West End;Come Dancing winner of a What’s On Stage Best Off-West End Production Award and Britain’s Got Bhangra - winner of an Off West End Award for The People's Favourite Musical. This famous producing theatre prides itself on reflecting the concerns and hopes of the people of East London. The venue inspires and is inspired by its vibrant, young and diverse community in a continuous loop that draws from and engages with audiences.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:
A Clockwork Orange will be performed from Saturday 3 September – Saturday 1 October 2011.
Tickets: £20 / £15 and £10 concessions (Tues – Thursday until 22 Sept); £22 / £17 concessions (Fri and Sat eves & last week of run); Evening performances are at 7.30pm, matinees are 2.30pm, there will be Saturday matinees on 24 September and 1 October. Box office 020 8534 0310 www.stratfordeast.com
BSL interpreted Tuesday 27 September 7.30pm
Captioned Friday 30 September 7.30pm
Audio-described Saturday 1 October 2.30pm

Pay what you want Saturday 17 September 2.30pm. Available to Newham residents who have never been to see a show at Theatre Royal Stratford East before. Call 020 8534 0310 and quote Pay what you want when booking – tickets must be booked in advance and proof of residence must be shown on collection of tickets.

Bloggers Preview: Saturday 3 September, 7.30pm
Press Night: Tuesday 13 September, 7.30pm

For interviews, tickets and images please contact Kim Morgan PR on 020 8279 1120, 07939 591 403 email kim@kimmorgan-pr.com

Tweet Zone and Bloggers Preview

Theatre Royal Stratford East is breaking all the rules of British theatregoing and embracing the digital age by inviting people to get out their smartphones and tweet during performances. There is a designated Tweet Zone fully equipped with WiFi available for every main stage performance and there’ll be no shushing from the ushers. Audience members are free to update their online communities with their thoughts on the show and the experience at the theatre whenever they want. Bloggers Previews is an opportunity for Theatre Royal Stratford East to encourage further online engagement and commentary about its work it by inviting writers from all parts of the blogosphere to attend a show before its official press night so that they can get online and express their views freely.

Film "Tula The Revolt" opens Dutch colonial wounds

2011-08-18T22:58:00.017+02:00

Repeating Islands wrote that without hitting the theaters yet, forthcoming Dutch Caribbean film "Tula The Revolt" is proving to be quite controversial [see New Film: Jeroen Leinders’ “Tula, the Revolt”].

Jermain Ostiana has written a response to pre-production reviews on the film website; he sees the film, directed by Jeroen Leinders, as an exploitation of Tula, the liberation warrior who sought abolition of slavery in Curaçao. See excerpts with a link to the full post below:

[. . .] As United Nations declared 2011 the year of Afro descendants how in nomber di Dios (for heaven’s sake) can you green light a project of 2 Dutch European filmmakers who came up on this insensitive idea to do a movie about our recently declared freedom fighting national hero Tula? With the help from two Afro-Americans: a screenplay writer Curtis Hawkins and Warrington Hudlin a pioneering black filmmaker, activist and advocate for independent black film movement, who should’ve know better [than] to participate in the exploitation of Tula.

On the website www.tulathemovie.nl they are talking about: “A story representing centuries of conflicted relations between black and white the effects of which still haunt us today.” And it does, as the two Dutch white privileged filmmakers cold heartedly or extreme naively kidnap the opportunity of Afro Curaçaoans or at least Curaçaoans to tell the tales of freedom fighting Tula. [. . .] Was the announcement of this project lucid? No, there has been no transparency whatsoever of the commission in approving the making of ‘Tula The Revolt’. No one knows the criteria, no national hero law has been made public if there is such a law, we the people sure didn’t have democratic participation in it and therefore no one can scrutinize to see if the right procedures are just and were used which resulted in an approval.

A few lines from their summary: “As many slaves were transported and traded through Caribbean transit harbors like the one in Curaçao, this story belongs to them and their descendants it deserves to be told, for it is an important part of history, identity and in the end of our society today.” So they understand the story of Tula is ours, but morals and respect for our own emancipatory path that we as descendants have to walk fade away for a $25 million Hollywood adventure?

[. . .] In 2005 I wrote a poem called: ‘F..k Tula’ because obviously just like now only a small group is genuinely interested in uplifting this heroic character. Every year on August 17, no media will even live transmit or dedicate afterwards a full spread to the commemoration in Holland or in Curaçao; it has no cultural priority at all. The first monument made was in 1963 the second one in 1998 at Rif far away from the public eye, unlike Louis Brion, a Venezuelan national hero who occupies our biggest square in the heart of Otrobanda; sad but true: it took us to overcome an identity crisis of 48 years to proclaim him as a national hero.

[. . .] The re-enslavement of Tula, the greatest fighting spirit of our times, for commercial glory, international fame, is an act of neo-colonial villainy. A regime of critical thinkers and activists who sleep on this will have to deal with this when their ancestors lace them with the consequences. Everyone involved can still correct this injustice.

For full review, see http://triunfodisablika.wordpress.com

Multicultural web TV in Italy

2011-08-17T00:01:00.000+02:00

Two web TV channels are proving there’s something missing from mainstream media for Italy’s young multiethnic society.

The face and faces of modern-day Italy have changed considerably over the past 30 years. From a country of emigrants, Italy has become a country of immigrants. This is the Italy you meet in the streets, on the trains, at the supermarket…but not on the television, unless you’re watching the crime news.

That’s the view shared by the staff of Crossing TV and Lookout TV, two web television channels that reflect a growing dissatisfaction with what’s on offer on national television stations. While Italy’s ethnic minorities get a bad press, so too does its youth, according to Crossing TV’s founder, Silvia Storelli. “They aren’t painted in a very good light by Italian mass media: drugs, binge drinking, reckless driving after nights out clubbing, social problems. They never talk about young people’s passions, their creativity, things like that. It’s simply missing.”

The Bolognese filmmaker, who set up the web channel in her home town in February 2008, proudly describes it as the first cross-generational and cross-cultural channel in Italy. She says the two go hand-in-hand since Italy’s youth is now full of diversity. “National channels just don’t cater for them. You can’t fail to notice young people’s decreasing interest in what’s on offer, and their growing preference for the computer screen over the television screen.” Read the full story at
Doha Centre

Video Crossing TV
The well known Senegalese documentary and filmmaker Fatou Kande Senghor was invited to Bologna to give a workshop (in July) at the Italian theatre company "ITC Teatro di San Lazzaro".

Crossing TV, the video channel of the "Nuove Generazioni", interviewed her at the grand finale of the workshop and also made a small impression of the food and the African sounds.

Lookout TV

An interview in Italian with three writers. Writer Igiaba Scego, Brazilian born writer Claudiléia Lemes Dias and Amara Lakhous. Lakhous was born in Algiers and lives in Rome. He wrote the novel
Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio and he is winner of Italy’s prestigious Flaiano prize.

Italian writer Igiaba Scego interviewed by Vogue Black

2011-08-16T20:35:00.002+02:00

Igiaba Scego was born in Rome in 1974 to Somali parents. She writes for l’Unità, “Internazionale” and many other magazines that talk about migrations and African cultures, such as “Nigrizia”. Among her books: Pecore nere (Laterza 2005), Oltre Babilonia (Donzelli 2008) and La mia casa è dove sono (Rizzoli 2010) winner of the Mondello award.

In the interview she talks about what she loves and what she hates.

Her advice from the summer. "Read (lots and lots), love others, eat healthy and believe in a world where violence has no place."

Read the full interview on http://www.vogue.it
Photos of Scego at http://speranzacasillo.com

Video: TLF Feat Corneille "Le Meilleur Du Monde" - French FAAC nominee

2011-08-14T00:34:00.005+02:00

The clip "Le Meilleur Du Monde" of French rapper TLF and French R&B singer Corneille is nominated for the French "Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens (FAAC)" ("Afro-Caribbean Arts Awards") in the category Clip of the Year 2011.

The awards ceremony will be held on September 12, 2011 in Paris France. You can vote for your favorite artist at the website of France Ô at http://participer.franceo.fr/lestaac/

Video: "Black culture turned whites into looters," says British historian

2011-08-13T15:37:00.010+02:00

The Voice reports that well know British historian and broadcaster David Starkey has been blasted for his comments on BBC TV where he blamed ‘black culture’ for turning white youngsters into looters.

In a discussion on BBC2's Newsnight show, Starkey said he had been re-reading racist MP Enough Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech.

Starkey claimed: "His prophesy was absolutely right in one sense. The Tiber did not foam with blood but flames lambent, they wrapped around Tottenham and wrapped around Clapham," he said.

“The whites have become black. A particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic, gangster culture has become the fashion. And black and white, boy and girl, operate in this language together, this language which is wholly false, which is this Jamaican patois that’s been intruded in England, and this is why so many of us have this sense of literally a foreign country.” He added.

To further outrage, the historian went on to say: “Listen to David Lammy (MP), an archetypical successful black man,” he said. “If you turned the screen off so you were listening to him on radio you’d think he was white.”

The association being that those who speak like a ‘white person’ are civilised and those who speak with “Jamaican patois’ are criminals.

Writer and education adviser Dreda Say Mitchell, a fellow guest on the show, was clearly annoyed with Starkey’s comments.

She said to Starkey: “You said David Lammy when you heard him sounded white and what you meant by that is that white people equals respectable.”

She added: "You keep talking about black culture. Black communities are not homogenous. So there are black cultures. Lots of different black cultures. What we need to be doing is ... thinking about ourselves not as individual communities ... as one community. We need to stop talking about them and us."

HIT BACK:Dreda Say Mitchel

Read it on The Voice here

"UK and London riots: Let’s hear the voice of the youth," says Lola Adesioye

2011-08-13T01:09:00.014+02:00

CNN interview: Social commentator Lola Adesioye says a widening gap between haves and have-nots spawned the UK riots.

Writer-activist Lola Adesioye was born and raised in South London. On her blog she writes." Watching what has been taking place over the past week got my blood boiling in a way that I was even surprised by…I’m more upset because I think that what’s happened was predictable and obvious to anyone who would take the time to look.

That the politicians and even some people living in the country didn’t see it shows just how out of touch they are with what’s going on under their noses. What leadership can a leader provide when he is out of touch with ALL of his constituents?

...

To start off, here’s a video that is very telling. Rarely during this whole sorry mess has anyone heard from the young people even though it seemed to be mostly young people and/or young adults involved in the violence.

The attitude seems to be that they don’t have anything intelligent to say, or anything that’s worth listening to. It’s that snobbish attitude that is also partly what created this mess in the first place – when people are not heard, they will act out. In any case, they are the ones that we most need to hear from.

This video below was filmed two weeks before the riots…. The kids predicted this would happen."

Read the full story on her blog http://lolaadesioye.com

Her articles appeared in The Guardian, The Economist, CNN.com, The Washington Post’sTheRoot.com, CNN, BBC, BET, Channel 4, MSNBC and The Huffington Post.

Images of the Afro-German community gathering "ISD-Bundestreffen 2011"

2011-08-12T23:50:00.002+02:00

Via: Black Germans
Every year the black community in Germany organises a special community gathering called the "Bundestreffen". This year the gathering was held 4-7 August in Helmarshausen Germany.

Also see the story on Afro-Europe: 25 Years of ISD: Initiative Black People in Germany

Report & Videos: The Sad Truth Behind The UK Riots

2011-08-11T13:13:00.006+02:00

Not much can be said about the ongoing rioting in the UK. But as cuts in social and cultural budgets got worse in the last years, youth in the UK's poorest neigbourhoods passed a summer without open air activities nor social safety net. This is no excuse but the unrest was predicted and sooner or later this would have happened. Read this article below and check the two video's I posted, I think they give a very interesting insight.

The Sad Truth Behind London Riot
From worldblog.msnbc By Martin Fletcher, NBC News correspondent

LONDON -- As political and social protests grip the Middle East, are growing in Europe and a riot exploded in north London this weekend, here's a sad truth, expressed by a Londoner when asked by a television reporter: Is rioting the correct way to express your discontent?

"Yes," said the young man. "You wouldn't be talking to me now if we didn't riot, would you?"

The TV reporter from Britain's ITV had no response. So the young man pressed his advantage. "Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2,000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you."

Eavesdropping from among the onlookers, I looked around. A dozen TV crews and newspaper reporters interviewing the young men everywhere.

The truth is that discontent has been simmering among Britain's urban poor for years, and few have paid attention. Social activists say one out of two children in Tottenham live in poverty. It's one of the poorest areas of Britain. Britain's worst riots in decades took place here in 1985. A policeman was hacked to death. After these riots, the same young man pointed out, "They built us a swimming pool."

Poverty, joblessness cycle
Police and local leaders in Tottenham made real progress in improving community relations in the intervening years and that's true about all of Britain. The best way to prevent crime, the theory goes, is to improve the lot of the people, then they won't need to commit crimes. But caught in a poverty and joblessness cycle, young people in many British urban areas have little hope of a better life.

So when a local 29-year-old father, described by police as a gangster, was shot dead by an officer, the response came quickly.

Mark Duggan was killed Thursday. On Saturday night about 50 relatives and friends protested outside the Tottenham police station.

Local young men, almost all with their heads covered by hoods -- known here as "hoodies" -- took advantage to indulge themselves in a favorite sport: cursing the police. This quickly escalated into a night of hurling rocks, bottles (Jack Daniels, one young man told me -- "we broke into the liquor store, drank the Jack Daniels and threw the bottles at the cops"), burning two patrol cars, torching buildings, smashing shop windows and carting off hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of phones, cameras and clothes.

The looting and rioting had nothing at all to do with the killing of Mark Duggan. That was the spark. The bonfire had been prepared by years of neglect, fueled by the anger of young men with no stake in the system, angry at everybody and quick to exploit fury at the killing of a local man, even if he did allegedly fire at the police officer first.

So now the question people in Tottenham are asking is: Will the government pay attention to the social issues underlying the anger?

And a wider question is: Would anyone care at all if there had not been violence?

end of post from Martin Fletcher, NBC News correspondent

Below a video, the first part is the most interesting with a local explaining why these riots happened. Nobody condones it, it's awful, but there is an underlying cause which should be known by all: