Some of the best stories are the ones that connect back to original tales and cultural rituals that are part of the human journey. Today, sometimes the universal meanings, archetypes and principles behind our modern stories are hidden because we are disconnected from those ancient tales and rituals. Think of, for example, Little Red Riding […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: The Summer of Gods and Panel DiscussionBelow are some notes from two of the three conversations from Funk, God, Jazz and Medicine: Conversation on Self-Determination: Black Radical Brooklyn: Past, Present, and Future *The history of Weeksville (James Weeks bought land in order to vote) and the four projects of Funk, God, Jazz and Medicine pointed out the intersections between race and […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Notes from #FunkGodJazzMedicine ConversationsOur society often focuses more on representation and showing images of oppressed people as proof we have “progressed,” but the other side of true moving forward for people who live in oppressive societies is self-determination, something that often gets ignored for the more superficial representation only politics. Self-determination is the freedom and ability to control […]
Read More Modern Griot Reviews: #FunkGodJazzMedicine at WeeksvilleI recently met Boshia at the Little Miss Creative event in New York City where she recited her poem, “I Have a Galaxy in Me:” “These organs are not only my make up but they make up my galaxy/I am a goddess of the galaxy that reproduces life/This is why I believe in me because/I […]
Read More Modern Griots Interviews: Boshia Rae-JeanThe first in its trilogy, Nova Spark‘s apocalyptic, alien novel Dome is filled with characters figuring themselves out as their home disappears and a new questionable home arises that forces them to find the truth and what is real home. Alternating between the point of views of a father and daughter, Sam and Emma, the […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Nova Sparks’ ‘Dome’“Children born in this desert are always thirsty.” This is a line from poet Mahogany L. Browne’s Poetic Theater Productions and The Wild Project presented production, Redbone: A Biomythography. The Eboni Hogan-directed, hour-long show descends into the depths of the relationship between Browne’s parents for Browne to better understand them and herself, and to highlight […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Mahogany Browne and the Mythic Poetics of RedboneSupport My Writing and Other Projects on My Patreon Page ___ We still struggle for empowering spaces to hear the voices of Black women of the African diaspora, including those part of powerful spiritual traditions outside of the typical Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism). But during this month, CCCADI has hosted a few events honoring […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: “Mulheres De Axe” – CCCADI Celebrates the Sacred Power of Women of Spirit*Become a patron and support my blog and other writing endeavors on Patreon! __________ Black Rock Coalition and CCCADI (Caribbean Cultural Center) hosted events last week that reminded audiences, especially those of the African diaspora, of how much black histories, stories and voices get erased, revised, transformed, hidden, abducted, revised, whitewashed or any other […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Roots Reversion – “Rehistory” Lessons from Black Rock Coalition and CCCADIGrace Jones’ exemplified “the human right to self-express,” singer Davi said before he performed Jones’ song “Living My Life.” The Jamaican-born British singer did just that with her commanding stage presence never apologizing for who she is, her androgynous look, striking beauty and out-of-this-world style. And neither did any other of the performers for the […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: State of Grace – Grace Jones Retrospective*Become a patron and support my blog and other writing endeavors on Patreon! __________ Here is part two of yesterday’s interview with Colored Girls Hustle’s Taja Lindley and Jessica Valoris.In this part, they talk about their plans and expectations for the mixtape and Colored Girls Hustle, and how their work is both futuristic and ancient. Enjoy! […]
Read More Modern Griots Interviews: Colored Girls Hustle Part 2
Sherese Francis 