Modern Griots Interviews: : Louis Chude-Sokei Part 2

Welcome back! Here is part 2 of my interview with Louis Chude-Sokei! You can read part 1 here. “…What will matter in the long term is the impact we have on the (Sci-fi) genre itself, not on its packaging or clichés…” 4) Science fiction and fantasy have in the past been centered around European/Western stories […]

Modern Griots Interviews: Louis Chude-Sokei Part 1

Happy New Year!!!!! Welcome back to Futuristically Ancient! Last year, I introduced to you all to the upcoming release of Louis Chude-Sokei’s The Sound of Culture. Well, the book is finally here and I had the privilege to interview Louis about his book and his research. Louis is a truth-speaker and an illusion-breaker who is […]

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” […]

Modern Griots Interview: Blayer Pointdujour

Blayer Pointdujour and the Rockers Galore are a band based in Philadelphia. Calling themselves the adopted child of Saul Williams and Paul Simonon (of The Clash), the group combines different musical styles, including punk rock, reggae, funk, hip-hop, and Haitian rhythms. Pointdujour aims to put a new twist on old music, making a new style […]

Rethinking the ‘Fantasy’ of Africa in Roots Reggae

Professor, author and cultural analyst Louis Chude-Sokei speaks in his lecture, “When Echoes Return: Roots, Diaspora and Possible Africas (A Eulogy).” The lecture centers on the death of South African reggae singer Lucky Dube and how the fantasy of a singular Africa in roots reggae music has been both a dangerous space and a space […]

The Sound of the Machine…

Via analog-blog Lee “Scratch” Perry – Roast Fish, Collie Weed And Cornbread “I returned to music through machines. The difference is that the machines are clean, and the machines are not corrupted. What I create here cannot hurt people, but you can bring an impure musician to play in your studio and create your own […]

“Why Can’t We Be Happy”

This is the new single from Asa, the Nigerian-French singer-songwriter. I love the old-school vibe of the song and video, including the 50s technicolor look, the Soul Train line and dances, and the Ska/Reggae feel to the song. It’s a great song to start the summer!