Friday, March 21: Meklit – NPR praises this Ethiopian songstress for her “unique blend of jazz, Ethiopia, the San Francisco art scene and visceral poetry.” Meklit, who covers a lot of ground, geographically and musically, has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, SXSW, TED Conference in Long Beach, and the TED Global in Edinburgh. This singer, musician and cultural activist’s genre defying performances include anything from personalized indie pop-rock hits to traditional Ethiopian songs to her original solo work. Meklit will perform selections from her new record We Are Alive which the Wall Street Journal calls, “captivating” and “silky”.http://www.meklithadero.com/ | Tix: $20 in advance / $25 at the door.
“OF GOOD REPORT” nominated for 12 SAFTAS including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor; “KHUMBA” nominated for Best Animation and “CHARLES & JESSICA” up for Best Director of a Wildlife Programme. South African feature film production company Spier Films has been cleaning up Awards at festivals around the globe over the past year, most of them thanks to the celebrated African Noir thriller OF GOOD REPORT which has put director Jahmil XT Qubeka firmly on the world stage. At last night’s announcement of the SAFTA nominations OF GOOD REPORT dominated the feature film category whilst animated... Continue Reading
By Dennis Kabatto – Even the late King of Reggae, Bob Marley commended Dennis Brown as his favorite singer, thus conferring on him the title “Crown Prince of Reggae.” On Sunday, March 2, Dennis Brown Memorial Committee, New York Chapter in its efforts to preserve Brown’s legacy will present its 2014 Awards Gala and Reception at Henrica’s, a popular, international Jamaican and Chinese Cuisine Restaurant in the Rosedale section of Queens, New York. The Dennis Emmanuel Brown Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed upon Beverly Kelso Moodie, Hopeton Lewis and the late Victor Balfour “Vic” Taylor for their immense... Continue Reading
By Dennis Kabatto – New York based South African singer, songwriter and guitarist Tuelo & Her Cousins – a Brooklyn, New York seven-piece band are on a roll, amidst a series of success. After 3 sold out performances at Smoke and Mirrors Collaborative Presents South Africa Onstage at Lincoln Center in New York City a couple of weeks ago, Tuelo & Her Cousins will release their debut self-titled album at a special event on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the SubCulture, a subterranean music and arts venue located beneath the streets of New York. Images of the Lincoln Center’s awe-inspiring... Continue Reading
By Dennis Kabatto – The screening of the Nelson Mandela’s biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Monday in New York was a bittersweet experience for a large number of South Africans who attended the event. “It’s really a very, very, very painful story. It opened old scars inside me and many other South Africans who were present in the theater. While I recommend the film, I ask you to watch it at your own risk (too much pain),” said Sduduzu Ka Mbili, choreographer and host of No Questions Asked radio show on Pacifica Network Station WBAI, 99.5 FM in New... Continue Reading
