Looking towards the future

In recent weeks, art has taken over a large percentage of my time. I am trying to prepare for an exhibition which will be taking place in a couple of months. This has led to a sort of tug-of-war with the writing. Both are demanding taskmasters as they both require a great deal of time and energy.
Don't ask which is winning!

I have decided to start off my first blog of the year with a group of photos that have interested me for various reasons including their political importance as well as their social relevance.  The image above happened two days ago in Paris. The Presidential hopeful, Monsieur F. Hollande, was doused in flour by a female protester. I thought the picture was beautiful for three reasons. First, the way the flour surrounds him is almost biblical, second, the expression on his face and third, the motivation behind the act.
France is struggling to come to terms with its future without first healing past disgruntlement.

This second picture is of Ukraine's former Prime Minister, Ms. Yulia Tymoshenko and her daughter. It dates back a few months. She was put on trial and though many observers have been scandalised by the whole process, she has not had a stronger support than her daughter's. The image is both poignant and affirming. The mother offers comfort to the daughter while the daughter leans in to let her mother know she is there for her.

This third image was also culled from the internet. Its's a pellican collecting its meal.
Well, the survival of any species is about the ability to adapt and keep moving. You have to keep on keeping on.

This for me pretty much sums up the other two pictures. This year is going to be a battle to survive, to come out victorious in spite of the odds against you.

Have a good year!

Interests and interesting acmes

Dear blog readers and chummy chums!

So much has happened in the past few months it is hard to believe how time has flown by. Cliché but true. Now autumn is upon us in a profusion of yellows, reds and browns.

Well, instead of going into a long explanation filled with whats, whens and hows, I have decided to be concise and surf over the highlights.

In the summer, I interviewed three filmmakers from different countries and with varying filmatographic backgrounds. It was fascinating to discover how hard it is, yet how rewarding, filmmaking as an experience is.

- Offshoots 11 published one of my short stories "The Letter" - Hoorah! I did a reading in the city in early October. That was very nerve wracking as I kept accelerating and slowing down reading - mainly because I forgot to breathe. The book is beautiful (layout, stories and writers) and more definitely worth the read.

 - My poem "Away from Home" was accepted for publication in America. Then when and how are unknown as yet.

I also spent the summer taking pictures of the city and the construction work and tried to find purpose in change and readaptation. The global economic crisis, the famine, and the natural diasters have taken centre stage in our general consciousness and hopefully reminded us of just how changeable and fragile our world as well as our lives truly are.

Vive la planete!

Afrobeat mania

After interviewing and writing an article about Tony Allen in the recent past, I was rather fascinated to discover this blog.

Viva Afrobeat!!!

In the pantheon of Nigerian music history, Afrobeat stands heads above for me because of the political message Fela carried with it and the way it changed cultural entertainment to something that had political power. Afterall, those in power felt what Fela was saying through his music was annoying enough to warrant reprisals.

http://www.afrobeatblog.blogspot.com/

United we stand

According to urban legend, it is not quite the thing to blog on April Fool's Day.
Please don't ask why or how. But isn't there something wonderful about being able to defy the laws of social expectation?

This new blog is about all things African, creative, artistic and literary.

Postmark it, read it, watch it, love it!!!