A Jacksons’ Halloween…..

After Hurricane Sandy, I am treating myself and everyone to some music from the Jacksons family for Halloween. When we think of Halloween and scary music videos, the first thought may be Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” but the Jacksons have dabbled into a few other scary videos. By the way, read two of my Frankenstein posts […]

The My-Stery: The Unreality of “Keeping It Real”

We should be “…moving past keep it real…let’s keep it surreal.” Musician Vernon Reid said this in his presentation of Artificial Afrika and it stirred some thoughts on “keeping it real.” I see it as reality that is presented to us and the reality we create or perpetuate can always be called into question. Reality changes, […]

Otherworldly Videos: Romi Anauel

Romi Anauel and The Soldiers of Ra – “Take a Moment” Mirror-image merging and superimposed images make for one trippy video.

I Could Dance, Dance, Dance All Night: Octavia

After attending the Oya and Anyanwu program on Wednesday, I did a search on the Anyanwu from Wildseed and came across a dance performance, called Octavia. Dancer Staycee Pearl choreographed this project and presented it last year. It is a tribute and exploration of Octavia Butler’s work and life, bringing her magical and sci-fi literature […]

Otherworldly Videos: Beaming In From Zimbabwe

Here are some videos I viewed via Nafuna TV: Synik – “Sin City” Roki featuring Diskord – “Mativenga”

Modern Griots Review: Oya and Anyanwu — The Faces of Change

Without stories, we are nothing but shells, only giving others the physical form of ourselves. Stories ground the spirits and forces around us and make them real. Oya priestess Isoke Nia expressed this sentiment last night at the Schomburg Center in Harlem at the enlightening tribute to the Yoruba orisha, Oya, and writer Octavia Butler. […]

The My-Stery: Black Women Who Are Philosophers

Online PhD sent me a link to this list about female philosophers and the post generated some thoughts about the lack of attention around women in philosophy, particularly black women, leading me to a few interesting finds. Philosophy, which means “love of knowledge or wisdom,” is one of the oldest studies in human history. Afrofuturism itself can […]

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth: Myth in Brown Girl Brownstones

Last week I read Caribbean-American Paule Marshall’s novel, Brown Girl Brownstones, and to put it simply, I was blown away. It definitely on par with The Invisible Man. It is a coming of age story that follows a Bajan (Barbados)- American girl, Selina Boyce, who is finding her own path amidst the destruction of her […]

Otherworldly Videos: Afrogalactic Postcards

This series is from National Black Programming Consortium and features actor Alem Sapp: This work is a series of video podcasts in which the receiver ‘intercepts’ 60 second messages from ‘travelers’ either trying to find their way home or trying to run as far away as they can, but always hoping to maintain a connection […]

The My-Stery: Sacra Vulva

With issues concerning women consistently headlining in the news in not just the past few weeks (ex. Malala Yousafzai), but for months now with examples like Todd Akin, I want to take some time to write about one aspect that goes unmentioned. Many of these discussions about women show a fear and lack of understanding […]