Otherworldly Videos: Noise Gate + Spoek Mathambo + Fhloston Paradigm

Here is Donovan Vim Crony’s sci-fi short Noise Gate! The film is about a “dimension-traveling scientist who is in search of the ultimate reality. His only passage into that realm is something called the NOISE GATE.” It reminds me a little bit of Afrikan Boy and DJ Shadow’s ending for the video for “I’m Excited.” […]

Otherworldly Videos: Kina Sky + Ain’t Nothing But a She Thing

Sorry everyone that I have been gone so long. I kind of was distracted for a bit. But I am back! In light of some of the recent internet controversies that happened last week, including one involving Harriet Tubman (shame on you Russell!), here is a some uplifting videos: 1) Kina Sky from Jamaican filmmaker […]

Otherworldly Videos: A Seed of Hope – Baobab + Simphiwe Dana

I saw these two beautiful videos today, the French short film, Baobab, and South African singer Simphiwe Dana’s “Mayine.” While the videos may appear disheartening at first (and I do have questions about the former’s reason for the cutting down the tree, the depiction of violence in general, and the film’s meaning within a larger […]

Modern Griots Reviews: Sekou Sundiata Tribute at Summerstage

Although we the audience were subjected to downpours on Wednesday night, the sun seemed to come and shine, even for a little bit, for the three songtresses, Toshi Reagon, Sandra St. Victor and Nona Hendryx, who hit the stage in honor of late poet Sekou Sundiata. The singers, along with their bands and special guests, […]

Modern Griots Reviews: Malik Manifesto

On their bandcamp page, duo Malik Manifesto has the phrase “real is ‘relative,’ truth is ‘absolute.’” The motto appears to be a fitting explanation to Malik Manifesto’s debut, self-titled album. Consisting of producer Dasman and MC Mike Lamont, aka “Sintex Era,” Malik Manifesto’s album begins with what Lamont calls “the king’s manifest,” a title for […]

Modern Griots Reviews: Summerstage – Femi Kuti + Sinkane

Every time I go to a park concert, I am reminded of why I dislike going to park concerts: 1) the scorching heat (I almost passed out from it) 2) the standing up for several hours 3) the rude people who either step in front of you while you are recording a performance or the […]

Otherworldy Videos: So Divine — Saidah Baba Talibah, Vodun, YC The Cynic

Saidah Baba Talibah – “High” Donate to her Pledge Music fund for her next album, RedBlack&Blue (“RedBlack&Blue is a journey into the multitude of emotions dealing with the three most important ladies of my life; my mother, my daughter and my sister under the mystical, magical and spiritual guidance of my totem animals; The Robin […]

Obeah Playlist

To end my Caribbean focus for the past few weeks and to show support for the re-premiere of the Canada show Obeah Opera (hopefully one day it will go international), here is an Obeah playlist. Enjoy! Exuma – “Obeah Man” Nina Simone – “Obeah Woman” “Scratch” Lee Perry – “Obeah Room” Mighty Shadow – “Obeah” […]

The My-Stery: Revisiting The Mask as Technology

Several months ago, I wrote a post about the mask as technology, but after reading Louis Chude-Sokei’s essay about PT Barnum and Joice Heth, I want to think further about saying that the mask is technology, specifically in reference to German producer Frank Farian and the groups Boney M and Milli Vanilli. Most people know […]

Modern Griots: The Mighty Shadow’s Musical Jumbie

For an afrofuturist artist in jazz, you may think of Sun Ra, in funk, Parliament Funakdelic, and in reggae/dub, “Scratch” Lee Perry. But for calypso, it is probably singer The Mighty Shadow, or Shadow. Born Winston Anthony Bailey and originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Shadow is known for his 1974 mythic song “Bassman,” about a […]