tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.comments2008-08-28T14:59:05.061-07:00cultural junkieSsangalyambogohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04569111430728340100noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-89818954482733741912008-08-28T14:59:00.000-07:002008-08-28T14:59:00.000-07:00More on slavery in Mali:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi...More on slavery in Mali:<BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7576444.stmSsangalyambogohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04569111430728340100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-91348365367711335372008-08-14T13:32:00.000-07:002008-08-14T13:32:00.000-07:00I want to add to your point regarding the consumer...I want to add to your point regarding the consumers of hip hop. I believe that mainstream american hip hop consumers do not determine what type of rap will be popular.<BR/><BR/>As a child of the 80s, I started with a lot of the Def Jam artists like LL Cool J, Run DMC, Beastie Boys and Public Enemy. At the same time, I was into West Coast rappers such as NWA, Ice-T and Too Short.<BR/><BR/>What I didn't realize at the time, is that I was only being exposed to a fraction of the rappers out there. I'm not completely aware of the details of how the music industry works, but what I know is that we only hear what they want us to hear on the radio or on tv. They say if it doesn't make money, then it won't be on the air or on tv.<BR/><BR/>Well, then what the hell is wrong with people? Maybe that's a bit judgemental, but it seems like a rap song will only make money if it makes you want to shake your ass. I have nothing against this and enjoy it when I'm in the club trying to shake my ass, but does it have to dominate the airwaves? I don't have to have my radio on for more than two minutes to hear references to shaking that ass.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes, I want my mind to actively participate when I listen to music. Is that too much to ask for?<BR/><BR/>If we want to get a wider array of artists in our collection, it takes a little effort. Granted with the Internet, things are much easier these days. If you're looking for something diffrerent from the radio booty music, check these sites out: <A HREF="http://www.rhymesayers.com" REL="nofollow">Rhymesayers Entertainment</A>, <A HREF="http://www.therapcella.com" REL="nofollow">The Rap Cella</A>, <A HREF="http://www.legendarymusic.net" REL="nofollow">Living Ledgends</A> and <A HREF="http://www.projectblowed.com" REL="nofollow">Project Blowed</A>. Enjoy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-40981846355008304952008-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:002008-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00Well, I have to agree that America's Best Dance Cr...Well, I have to agree that America's Best Dance Crew is the hottest show on TV. I love seeing the differences in dance from around the nation. I believe that dance is a critical element of any culture and provides great insight into accepted values and norms of a people.<BR/><BR/>I do have to say that I have a bias towards the crews that incorporate pure breakdancing into their sets: JabbaWokeeZ and Break Skate. Ever since I was a child of the 80s, I've always been drawn to beakin'. It's one of the elements of hip-hop and a great way for one to creatively express themselves and interepret music. I tried break dancing as a kid, but haven't done much but watch performances since I've grown into an adult.<BR/><BR/>Now, there's a new documentary out in theaters that truly captures the essence of breakdancing: Planet B-Boy. I haven't seen it yet, but the trailers look hot. The filmakers follow breakers from all over the world as they prepare for the world's top breaking competition: Battle of the Year.<BR/><BR/>One would think that the US would dominate, but South Korean breakers have come a long way in a short period of time and truly do the most amazing things. Go to the www.planetbboy.com and click on the "VIDEO" link and check out the prolific and dynamic breaking.<BR/><BR/>It'll blow your mind!H-Bombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06063148454461867187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-47123757856731296602008-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:002008-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.H-Bombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06063148454461867187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-90301891588661941832008-05-13T09:26:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:26:00.000-07:00Katrina, Wow -- what an impressive blog!! I felt l...Katrina, Wow -- what an impressive blog!! I felt like I just took a graduate seminar in African politics! You write very clearly about difficult situations. Thanks for sending Luke the link for your blog. MarisolPablo Vicente Larahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06600974117433350210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-60075012752723687872008-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:002008-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00I agree wholeheartedly with your last sentences on...I agree wholeheartedly with your last sentences on the importance of an independent judiciary in parts of Kenya. But the reasons for the shortfall in the judiciary in Africa is connected to many of the core inter-linking challenges facing the continent:<BR/><BR/>* lack of political and economic stability, occasionally characterised by war<BR/>* endemic poverty and disenfranchisement<BR/>* brain drain<BR/>* corruption<BR/>* unaccountable global companies, NGOs and foreign rich governments having more power than locally elected leaders.<BR/><BR/>These are all things that are beginning to shift, and thus we are seeing changes in the judiciary. Particularly, it is worth noting the tendency of international NGOs to be more collaborative rather than dominating in poor African countries, which is leading to actions to support local judicial processes.Shiraz Chakerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06363363969782737610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-26673616831066639382008-04-27T07:14:00.000-07:002008-04-27T07:14:00.000-07:00Great article.From this side of the pond, Obama ce...Great article.<BR/><BR/>From this side of the pond, Obama certainly gets a lot better press too. Hillary seems increasingly gaff-prone as she chases Obama's lead, whereas Obama is heralded as a visionary statesman. And, in fact, when he made his speech on race called a more perfect union, those pronouncements seem apt.<BR/><BR/>Despite the disaster of the two leaders ripping each other apart, whilst John McCain can look like a statesman, you have two great candidates that make British left leaning politics look positively stale. We've been looking on with envy lately.Shiraz Chakerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06363363969782737610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-92065629687274796572008-04-27T06:59:00.000-07:002008-04-27T06:59:00.000-07:00Your article highlights three really important poi...Your article highlights three really important points: the organised nature of the violence; the disproportionate suffering of women; and that the two leaders, Kibaki and Odinga, are both heavily compromised by their long political careers.<BR/><BR/>And it is this last point that is most important now Kenya is in a power-sharing context. Critical to sustaining peace are not only high priorities such as getting the economy moving again, but also ensuring that the suffers of the violence see real and progressive justice. Justice that can begin to heal wounds and enable the naturally forward-looking people of Kenya to trust each. However, these two leaders have very little interest in seeing justice come to completion - in terms of both the immediate issues of bringing the perpetrators of the violence to book and the longer-term issues of effective land distribution - because their and/or their supporters' hands are too dirty.<BR/><BR/>Thus it strikes me that this power-sharing agreement needs to be seen as a interim situation before fresher leaders come to the fore at the next election.Shiraz Chakerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06363363969782737610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289495156933272373.post-10410876037508338812008-02-27T03:13:00.000-08:002008-02-27T03:13:00.000-08:00Having lived in Kenya for well over 6 years, the f...Having lived in Kenya for well over 6 years, the fact that Kenyans were inherently divided along ethnic lines was not hard to see. For instance, the first thing one asked after a formal greeting or introduction was, "what tribe are you from?" it was therefore no surprise that ethnic tensions would one day rear their ugly head. What was not known back then, was that a disputed election between two former allies in the fight to bring democracy to Kenya. The issue of who won or lost is not important right. what really matters is how Kenya is going to get back on track, under the present circumstances. The levels of violence in Kenya, clearly unprecedented but not new to the region, have attracted a lot more attention than the Rwandan genocide because of one simple fact. the outside world has a lot more to lose if Kenya goes up in flames. so what is the way forward? simple..a re-run of the election with different candidates this time, preferably candidates with more uniting than divisive political game plans coupled with a concerted effort from the two candidates who over saw the blood letting of the past two months, to heal the wounds and bridge the ethnic gaps that have been created. what happened in kenya will not go away over night. the communities that happened to find themselves on the wrong end of the ethnic divide in their villages face a very uncertain future. one where the option of going back home to look at the neighbour who hacked your wife is still unconcievable. it looks like kenya is i for the long haul as far as reconciliation and bringing the communities back together goesTropical Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192672317093159053noreply@blogger.com