Okayafrica TV: Tanzania’s Fid Q In Brooklyn

February 7, 2012 30 Comments

We met up with Tanzanian hip hop superstar Fid Q at an old-school Brooklyn house party. Like all parties, you never know who you’re gonna run into. We found ourselves in the company of Fid’s stateside pals, most of whom are movers and shakers in the music-as-activism world. Check out our brief backyard interviews with Fid Q, DJ Xpect, Toni Blackman, and Maya Azucena.

Fid tells us about his Fidstyle Friday MC project, Xpect hips us to his youth empowerment projects in the United States and Africa, Toni has been stationed in places all over Africa as the first ever hip-hop artist to work as an American Cultural Specialist for the U.S. Department of State, and Maya has been lending her soulful voice to the drive to reach Millennium Development Goal #5 for maternal and reproductive health. These folks are constantly globe-trotting so we feel special to have caught them in one place at one time – cyphering fireside no less.

Video shot by Myo Campbell.

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MoCADA ‘The Journey Home’ Ten Day Tour Through Ghana

September 9, 2011 Leave a comment

MoCADA, the Museum Of Contemporary African Diasporan Art located in Brooklyn has announced that The Journey Home, a ten day tour of Ghana’s historic arts and cultural sights is officially open for registration. The trip will take place from October 12 to October 23, 2011, and is an opportunity for museum supporters, artists and community members to spend ten days in the Ghanaian cities of Accra and Cape Coast. The itinerary looks pretty jam-packed and includes a concert with Blitz the Ambassador & Special Guests. Check out this brilliant video they put together to support the tour.

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Video + Interview: Baloji Live In Brooklyn

September 8, 2011 Leave a comment

 
Our boy Baloji recently brought his culture melding blend of hip-hop, jazz, and vintage Congolese sounds to a bar in Williamsburg.* MTV Iggy was there to capture the intimate performance in which the Belgian/Congolese MC and his Sapeur-ed out live band ran through alluring renditions of “Nazongi” and”Independance (Cha Cha).”

The self-described ‘Afropean’ artist also sat down for a short interview in which he discussed his diverse influences, compared African music to punk, and spoke about his mom. Watch “Nazongi” and Baloji’s interview (above and below). Head on over to MTV Iggy for the rest of the performance.

 

*For our New Yorker readers, that’s definitely Pete’s Candy Store.

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Film: Below The Brain- BAM Cinematek + Spectacle Theater

August 22, 2011 Leave a comment

Below The Brain is an experimental documentary mapping a journey through the 2010 Caribbean Carnival in Flatbush, Brooklyn as documented by Wills Glasspiegel, Olivia Wyatt, Tony Lowe, Sam Fleischner. This epic cast of multi-talented videographers shot the largest parade in the USA for 30 hours and edited it into an ‘unparalleled and kaleidoscopic explosion of Island culture’ that offers a unique look into the fringe of Caribbean communities in Brookyln. The film premiers at BAM Cinematek Thurs., Sep 1st at 6:50 (with Q+A), 9:15pm, and will have it’s theatrical run at Spectacle Theater Sept. 2nd – 9th and nightly at 8pm – with accompanying Caribbean films, food and music.

 

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NYC: Thomas Mapfumo + The Blacks Unlimited with Akoya Afrobeat (Wed, 7/20)

July 19, 2011 Leave a comment

This Wednesday Akoya Afrobeat is joining Thomas Mapfumo + The Blacks Unlimited on stage at Southpaw (125 5th Avenue) in Brooklyn. Thomas Mapfumo, aka the Lion of Zimbabwe, has used his music to call attention to the Zimbabwe’s historical, social and cultural issues and injustices from the country’s bloody revolution in the 70′s to today’s economic and political crises. Check out this frontman, social critic, visionary and national hero as he fuses afro-funk, R&B, reggae, local dance beats, African jazz and mbira sounds. The show will start at 8 at night and go until 2 the next morning.

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NYC Film: Sublime Frequencies Does It Up In Brooklyn

July 8, 2011 Leave a comment

It’s a big weekend for African documentaries, Sublime Frequencies style, at the DIY theater, “Spectacle” in Williamsburg (think secret, underground movie theater). First off, Olivia Wyatt will be in person to present her latest film, Staring Into the Sun in which she brought her camera to 13 different Ethiopian tribes, capturing Zar spirit possession, Hamer tribal wedding ceremonies, Borena water well polyphonic singing and… you get the point. Stick around for festivities to celebrate photographer/filmmaker Wyatt’s book/cd/film release party.

Saturday the sublime continues with the latest documentary from Hisham Mayet,
Land of the Songhai: Among the Wodaabe, Wogo,& Zarma of SouthWestern Niger and explores the music and landscape of the Songhai around the Niger River in Western Niger. Check out the previews for a taste of Africa and go to Spectacle Theater for show times.

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Video: Zakee, Live Performance of “Spotlight”

June 22, 2011 Leave a comment

Known for his heavy Kuduro bass and deep, crunchy beats, Zakee reveals his softer side with this live performance of the sultry “Spotlight” at Brooklyn’s Public Assembly from this past April for the Damn Zun iBomba Party.  We had the pleasure of linking with Zakee a few weeks ago, where he offered up a full album listening for his new record here at the OKA offices – needless to say there was no work done for hours, and everyone’s neck was sore the next day from an overdose of the head nod.  We are chomping at the bit to get a hold of his new project which should be hitting the streets sometime in the near future, so stay tuned.  For now, enjoy the live show, above.  Video by Giovanni P Autran for GEMSNYC.COM.

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NYC: Lagos Disco Inferno Party at Zebulon (BK)

June 17, 2011 Leave a comment

This Saturday, June 18 Voodoo Funk brings you another bumpin party at Zebulon in Brooklyn playing only the most outrageous Nigerian disco, funk & boogie records. The party starts at 10pm and the cover charge is only $5.  Zebulon is located on Wythe Avenue just a few steps North of Metropolitan.  Click HERE for a sample mix of what you’ll be shakin too.

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Video: “Stop Look & Listen” by Brams aka L’Insatiable feat. Juba Zaki

May 2, 2011 Leave a comment

Check out this new video from Brams, aka L’Insatiable, (born in Cameroon, living in Brussels) featuring Brooklyn emcee Juba Zaki. Both rappers flow freely complementing each others style. Brams spits in French, while Juba sticks with English: the language barrier is clearly no problem here.

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NYC: Blitz the Ambassador this Saturday!

July 22, 2010 Leave a comment

Brooklyn fave, by way of Ghana, Blitz the Ambassador hits this Saturday, July 24th and it’s FREE.  Come out to Weeksville (1698 Bergen St. in Brooklyn) for a lovely evening, outdoors on the lawn, with Blitz accompanied by the strings of The Embassy Ensemble.  Afterward, Blitz will premiere his new video for “Something to Believe” on the big screen (stay after the music to find out more about this)!  Flyer + details after the jump. Read More »

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