Sara Tavares's European tour

Portuguese singer Sara Tavares tours Europe from April 24th till september 24th 2009. The tour starts in London and ends in Leipzig Germany.

In her home country Portugal, Sara Tavares (1978) is seen as one of the best singers. She sang Portugal to the eighth place in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, and her album Mi Ma Bo won gold. As a child of Cape Verdian immigrants Sara Tavares grew up in Lisbon.

Both cultures have influenced her music, she mixes Cape Verdean rhythms and melodies and Portuguese fado with a western pop flavour. She admires the Brazilian and Afro-American musicians, who developed a new style without forgetting their roots




Translated lyrics of Sara Tavares

Before Sara Tavares retreats to the studio to record her new album (that is expected in the spring of 2009), she'll do six live shows in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany.

Sara Tavares: "Afro-European music is the style of a new generation Afro-Europeans. "I don't fit into one music genre of world music, I am no typical Cape Verdian musician. I'd rather stand at the beginning of a new tradition of music of the diaspora, of young African immigrants in Europe who don't only look back."

Official site
Sara Tavares on Myspace

Yinka Shonibare – Modern African art from the UK

British-born Nigerian textile Artist, Yinka Sonibare is an internationally recognized contemporary artist. He has gained international attention by exploring issues of race and class through a range of media that includes sculpture, painting, photography, and installation art. One of his creations are classic Victorian costumes in African style. But he discovered something about the African clothing style that most people don't know.

He discovered that the 'Dutch wax' fabrics he chose to use in his art pieces was originally manufactured in Holland by the Dutch as they were trying to copy Indonesian Batik designs. The Dutch industrially had produced the fabrics for sale in the Indonesian market. The mass produced fabrics failed to appeal to the Indonesians as they did not like the industrially produced versions and so the Dutch merchants began selling the fabrics in West Africa. The English also started to manufacture the fabric in Manchester. Many people think this are authentic 'African fabrics' and he likes the 'fakeness' of that. Today in West Africa, and in many parts of the African continent, the patterned fabric is now an important and distinctive element of the African culture and symbolic of African identity.

On the photo: Scramble for Africa, 2003, 14 figures, 14 chairs and table " a recreation of the Berlin conference in the 19th century...It was when Africa was being divided up. It was in Europe. They had this conference in Berlin. And the conference was called Scramble for Africa. So on the table there's a map of Africa drawn.

Read: Yinka Shonibare - The African Textile artist

The blog: SAHARAN VIBE - a blog with photo's and news from Cairo to Cape of Good Hope

International art in Amsterdam Bijlmer

Her Majesty the Queen opens on Saturday 9the of May 2009 the first international art manifestation in the public space of Amsterdam. Open Source Amsterdam is the title of this unique event, which takes place in the Bijlmermeer. (The Bijlmermeer is the Caribbean and African part of Amsterdam.) From May 9 to July 11 there are 16 works by 15 artists from both foreign and domestically, internationally established and upcoming talent, a three kilometers long between art route between the Bijlmer-ArenA railway station and metro station Kraaiennest.

Editors note: The Bijlmer is considered the most multicultural black neighborhood of the Netherlands, with nationalities from the Caribbean, Africa and other part of the world. So if you are visiting Amsterdam you can enjoy international art and a black atmosphere.

French President Sarkozy attacks President Obama

"US President Obama is inexperienced and indecisive," said Sarkozy, according to a report in the newspaper Liberation. He went on by saying, “Obama has a subtle mind, is very clever and very charismatic, but when he was elected two months ago he had never run a ministry. There are a certain number of things on which he has no position. And he is not always up to standard on decision-making and efficiency.” Sarkozy was also lashing out to other leaders.

According to the Times it's clear that Mr Sarkozy was apparently irked by media reports that Mr Obama had saved the day in London by persuading President Hu of China to reach a compromise with France over tax havens.
Read: Sarkozy snipes at 'dim' Spanish PM and 'weak' Barack Obama

Symposium on the Sub-Saharan Diaspora in Belgium

Last month, in collaboration with Afribel (United Afro Belgian Artist), Cemis (Center for Migration Studies, University of Antwerp), CGO Kasala (Afro Belgian Organisation created by Prof. Dr. Kabuta) and Cood, FOYER organized a ‘Symposium on the Sub-Saharan Diaspora in Belgium’ on 19 March 2009

FOYER is a nongovernmental organization concerned with migration and its consequences in Belgium. They do a great deal to help refugees and other immigrants to make a new home in Belgium. Multilingualism, social cohesion, refugees, women rights are some of the issues they try to tackle besides many more. They organize events, workshops, meetings, language courses, support groups etc. and help immigrants to organize themselves and be heard by the government.

This organization has been working for 40 years and therefore organized a Symposium on the Sub-Saharan Diaspora in Belgium. They invited representatives of the Afro Belgian communities and members of government to talk with each other and reflect on the presence of new communities within Belgium and its meaning for Belgium and Africa. Foyer wants to focus on the positive sides of migration, how everybody can gain something out of it, how it enriches Europe, and how it can influence Belgium’s relations with Africa.

On Foyer’s website you can see two video’s of approx. 30 minutes where you can follow the discussions tackled during that symposium. The languages in the video are Dutch and French.

The first video is about which role the African diaspora can play in Belgian and European cooperation. The second is about how to associate and motivate the African diaspora in the economical, social and political development of Africa.

Turkish reporter uses blackface to report on Obama

A Turkish reporter on Turkish TV wore blackface on while doing a report on United States President Barack Hussein Obama. The broadcast was on wednesday April 8th. But there are different translations and interpretations about what the reporter actually said and meant. I picked two of them.



The video


First translation

(Rough) Translation: Welcome, Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now, we ask the same of you.

The reason why the announcer is wearing black face paint is because he wants to show respect to President Obama. This is a real anchorman, and he is just trying to give a bit of a comedy act.

We inquire that you give us what we give to you. By all means, if someone translates this and I call you “black, Arab, or negro”, it does not mean I am disrespecting you. I mean no harm. We respect you.

The anchorman is also trying to show shame for what his country has done, so that is why his face is painted in black. The anchorman is saying that no politicians will directly tell the truth to President Obama while in Turkey. The anchorman says that Muslim terrorists attack inside Turkey, but the country does not renounce Islamic terrorism."

Second translation

Welcome Mr. Obama. You made us happy with your speech in Ankara with your open attitude and good will. However, we have some anxiety. Until now USA has always demanded and gotten what it wants [from Turkey] but now we have a request.

There is a proverb in Turkey which explains my current situation [with the black face]. “They who request something should have a black face, and they who do not give something should be black.” When they translate the word “black” from Turkish to English they might use words such as “Negro” or “Blackie.” Please do not be fooled with this translation. This word is not used to insult or belittle black people. In contrary, it is used in a sense that our face should be darker. Hence, I have painted my face black so that I can make a request to Mr. Obama.

Now to the point. We [Turkey] have had a problem for years with the terrorist organization PKK. You said that PKK is a common enemy to both our countries in your speech today. We are expecting serious and earnest cooperation from you [as opposed to Bush] in this subject. Give us actionable information [from northern Iraq] and we will do whatever is necessary if you do not want to do it. Instruct your allies in northern Iraq to cooperate with us in this subject. They are your “men” and they will obey you.

The second issue is about the “Armenian genocide.” In your speech today you said that your point of view in this subject has not changed. Please give us your support in this subject against the propaganda from the Armenian lobby.

Please continue with your support for Turkey's concession procedure to EU. Also, there is this subject of IMF. We do not want money from you, we want cooperation. You said in your speech that Turkey is an important allied to US. Give us what we want as allies and we will give you what you want.


Read:
New York Times news blog: Turkish TV Anchor Dons Blackface to Address Obama
Today's Zaman, The English-language newspaper in Turkey

Michelle Obama's emotional speech in a London school

Michelle Obama's visited a school in London and spoke emotionally to a group of students. All of them girls ages 11 to 17, two-thirds of whom speak English as a second language. "I am just very touched," Michelle told the girls, choking up with emotion as she spoke. "All of you are jewels."
Read: Michelle Obama Finds Her Role on the World Stage

Black people in Italy

Black people in Italy became visible internationally by the death of Abdul "Abba" Guibre, a 19-year-old Italian citizen originating from Burkina Faso, who was beaten to death in 2008 for the theft of a few cookies.

But there is also a new second generation emerging in Italy. Sons and daughters of African, Asian and Arab immigrants who are
becoming a part of new Italy. In the article 'Second generation: as they say in Italian Obama?' several talented young second generation Italians are interviewed about there plans for the future.

Black actors white stages

"We are still a white audience. If you're watching a cast of negroes, you are still looking at something which in a certain way is strange. We look with white eyes at a negro," said a white actor in a dicussion on TV about black actors in theatre plays.

The scene was a Dutch discussion between a black actor and two white directors. The background was the fact that the only black actor in the cast found some of the elements of his dialog in the play racist. He had to say: “She has the colour of shining hors manure”, which revert to the colour of a black woman. The line was eventually altered.

In the discussion a tape was shown about what a colleague actor had to say about the whole matter, he said: “We look with white eyes at a negro."

The moderator looked at the black actor and repeated what the white actor had said. The black actor answered: “I don’t see it as racist comment, this comment should be seen as part of the internal discussion.“

But it went on. There where more reasons why black actors have difficulties getting on the stages. “Plays aren’t written for black actors,” one director said. “It’s the same as with older woman, roles in plays are usually written for young woman.”

But in the discussion all parties agreed that nothing had changed over the years, black people are still barely seen in the theatres. But, as one of the directors noted, things where changing.

In the UK black playwriter Bonnie Greer is also waiting for change. In a column in the Guardian entitled ‘The white stages’ she wrote: “But subsidised theatre does have shareholders. Black people pay taxes, too. Yet we are consistently underemployed, underused. Invisible. I can hear the arguments out there about "emerging playwrights", and so on. We've been emerging for so long we should be in the stratosphere by now. But we aren't.”

I think that Bonnie Greer finally got her answer. The reason why black actors are underemployed, underused and invisible is that some people look with white eyes at a negro. That plays aren’t made for black people, and that black actors are the same as older woman.

By the way, the Dutch play was entitled ‘Black Face’. The story is not about the racist Black face theatrical makeup, but about a not accepted romance between a black man and a white woman.

UK Lola Adesioye about “Blacks, Whites hear Obama differently"

Lola Adesioye is a New York based Socio-Political Commentator who writes about race in the US and the UK. In a blogpost she makes some interesting comments about the story entitled “Blacks, Whites hear Obama differently.”
She writes: "The basic premise of the article is that Obama’s speech and mannerisms are coded in such a way that he can do and say things that black people will recognize and feel familiar and comfortable with, but that will slip under the radar of most white people. He can therefore “be black” and appeal to black people without overtly talking about race."
For instance whites didn't get the meaning of the ‘fist bump’ that Barack Obama and Michelle do, and the fact that Barack Obama plays basketball as opposed to golf.

WANTED: young video ambassadors for StrangerFestival 2009

StrangerFestival is looking for 10 ambassadors. Reward: travel to and stay in Amsterdam for the full festival in October. Apply before 1 April 2009!

What is an ambassador?
You are aged between 16 and 26, make videos yourself and use the Internet to show your videos. You have an online network of other young video makers, and are willing to ask them to upload their best videos on the Stranger website.

Stranger Festival

More black UK TV on the internet

Colourtelly is Britain's first black-interest television network providing several channels of drama, documentaries, music shows, children's prgrammes and news. It's on 24 hours a day on www.colourtelly.tv. Founded by the legendary great Black Briton Carroll Thompson in the summer of 2007 it now has viewers in every corner of the Uk and in many other parts of the world also.

Read: Coloutelly.tv the Guardian

Being black in Germany

Being black in Germany. If you always wanted to know what it’s like being a black German person living in Germany, then this is a video you must see. In the video writer and cross-cultural scholar Nguvi Kahiha explains the full spectrum of the black diaspora in Germany. He looks at the historical influx of blacks, which started over 400 years ago and shifts focus to the current Afro-German culture and past African-American presence in Germany, which includes W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and Colin Powell. Nguvi Kahiha has a black African father and a white German mother

Some quotes:

“You are German or you are not. And since your black your not German anyway.”

“Afro-German are German born blacks with one parent African-American or African decent and another parent German decent. And blacks who have both black parent but are born into the German culture.”

“Historically, Afro-German where socially and culturally disconnected from the German society.”

Watch: Being Black in Germany