Wanda's Picks

Ayotunde A. Akindele, business man, activist, Pan African speaks about Chapwati Great Zimbabwe Leisure Resort; Bill Doggett, a is respected and experienced Exhibitions Curator and independent archivist based in Oakland is  inspired by the life work of the legendary archivist and curator, Arthur Schomburg, whose collection established New York’s Schomburg Center Doggett’s goal is to create a educational outreach resource with his archive of rare ephemera and recordings.Doggett has curated three well received exhibitions in San Francisco: The African American Concert Singer 1900-1963,Porgy and Bess: From Broadway to San Francisco for San Francisco Opera; The Underground Railroad: Songs of Hope and Freedom, The Civil War@150 years and now a historic exhibit commemorating the 150 anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation Jan. 1, 1863-Jan.1, 2013--The Journey To Freedom: Emancipation Proclamation@150 Years.The exhibit covers The Transatlantic Slave Trade, Slavery in the US and The Emancipation Proclamation (Jan.-Feb. 2013) at the Bay View Opera House in San Francisco, with an artist reception Feb. 2. Larry Vann, drummer has been performing professionally  since 15. He draws from a deep well of musical influence, including gospel, blues, funk, jazz and soul and has toured and recorded with a medley of celebrated artists. Honors & awards include: The Blues Society’s West Coast Hall of Fame, “Blues Drummer of the Year ” and The Jazz Institute’s “Man of the Year” award. He has also been honored to serve as a Governor on the governing board of the San Francisco chapter of The Recording Academy.  He celebrates his birthday tonight with a CD Release and Concert at the 57th Street Gallery in Oakland. We close with an interview with Vixen Noir aka Veronica Combs about her reinvention as a vocalist with an EP dropping, "Dangerous," Jan. 29, 2013.

We open the show with Ann Chinn, Executive Director of Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers (MPP), an organization that began this year to Commemorate the nearly 2 million Africans who perished in the Middle Passage of the transatlantic human trade; Research and identify all ports of entry for Africans during the 350 years of the transatlantic human trade and then Sponsor remembrance ceremonies at each of more than 175 middle passage ports in 50 nations of North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe; Plan final ceremonies on the east and west coasts of Africa by 2020; Baba Achebe Hoskins, member, The Brotherhood of Elders Council speaks about Kujichagulia or Self-Determination, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at the Malonga Center, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland. He is a 2011 City of Oakland Humanitarian Award Winner, a father, cultural worker and playwright. Baba Achebe currently facilitates a Transformative Manhood Group which is made up of fifteen elders who conduct a weekly, multi-ethnic intergenerational “Critical Thinking” session for between ten and twenty youth, thirteen to twenty five years old. Artist, Activists: Malik Seneferu and Brotha Clint join us to talk about the Kwanzaa 2012 kick-off in San Francisco today at 12 noon at City Hall. Visit www.thevillageprojectsf.org We close with a conversation with Adimu Madyun and Ayodele Nzinga Ph.D. who talk about Warrior Spirit Art Experience this Saturday, UJAMAA or Cooperative Economics. The evening features: "WolfHawkJaguars: A Band of Hunters" at the 57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph. The Cleansing starts at 5 p.m., show 8:30-11 p.m.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.

I interview Taiwo & Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu, about Taiwo's work: Go Tell It!An original musical drama woven around Negro Spirituals.This musical journey with Harriet Tubman & family along the Underground Railroad shows us how Spirituals helped guide the way! The play is up this Fri. Dec. 21& Sat. 22 at 7pm. at Kids N’Dance, 3840 MacArthur Blvd. (at 38 Ave). Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Purchase tickets online at: gotellit.eventbrite.com brownpapertickets.com/event/294057  To find out more about the show, visit: gotellit2012.wix.com/gotellit  The musical is narrated by Griot Phavia Kujichagulia and features a cast of singers, dancers, drummers and actors numbering about 40! The choir includes: Marilyn Reynolds, Brenda Savage, Andrea Turner, Thomas McKennie, Alex & Harriet Bagwell, and Pat Jameson-Amwele from Vukani Mawethu Choir, along with Taiwo & Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu, Nyeta Byrd, Six and Dan. We close with an archived interview with Georgia Horton, whom,is currently incarcerated in Chowchilla, CA at CWF.

Today we speak to several artists about the New Beginning heralded by the end of the Mayan calendar, Dec. 21, 2012. First we speak to Dance Brigade founder, Krissy Keefer, musician/educator, Carolyn Brandy and poet/activist, MamaCoatl about "Voluspa: A Ghost Dance for 2012"

A two-night ritual dance performance that pays tribute to past and present struggles and works towards renewal. Featuring work by Dance Brigade, Grrrl Brigade, NAKA Dance Theater, Danza Xitlalli, John Jota Leaños and others. Each evening ends with a healing circle, December 19-20, 2012; Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm at Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street, San Francisco CA 94110, (415) 826-4441; www.dancemission.com We then speak to Ahkeel Mestayer, who is 17 years old and a Senior at School of the Arts High School in San Francisco where he studies Percussion. Ahkeel has been playing music with Loco Bloco since he was in 1st grade.  Currently Ahkeel is a member of Loco Bloco's Youth Apprentice Program, a performer in our Performing Ensemble and has served as the Assistant Musical Director for Night Wakes Dawn.Edris Anifowoshe Cooper is artistic director for the play which looks at is a musical, theatrical exploration of the beliefs and prophecies initiated by the Mayan culture surrounding December 21, 2012 and a questioning of the New Age controversy over its meaning.  Night Wakes Dawn focuses on reuniting with our ancestors and reconnecting with ancient wisdom to guide us in making life decisions and affecting positive change.  We close with a conversation with frequent guest Michael Gene Sullivan who is "Freddie Fillmore" in Marin Theatre Company's "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" through Dec. 23, 2012, adapted by Joe Landry and directed by Jon Tracy, from Frank Capra's film starring James Stewart (1946). Visit

Rebroadcast of 13 Dec. 2012 show: Dominic D’Andrea is the founder and producing artistic director of the One-Minute Play Festival (OMPF), where he has led close to 30 national festivals in partnerships with many theatres throughout the country. He was a 2012 NewYorkTheatre.com person of the year. Elizabeth Gjelten's previous full-length plays include What the Birds Carry (at The Pear Avenue Theater) and Dance Lessons (at the Working Women Festival and Venue 9). She received her MFA in playwriting from San Francisco State University, taught writing for performance at New College, and continues to teach as an artist/mentor to graduate students and incarcerated youth. An award-winning dancer, international choreographer, and accomplished playwright, Robert Henry Johnson has enjoyed the support of the San Francisco Bay Area black arts community since he was very young.He is the recipient of the 2001 Bay Area Critics Circle Award for his choreography in Thick House's production of The Seven written by Will Power, the 1998 Union Bank's Citizen of the Year Award. Rafael Jesús González, award winning poets and teacher, educator and activist, joins us to talk about "A new beginning" or the end of one eraand the start of another. Grammy-nominated Jazz vocalist, MARIA MULDAUR featuring her A-team of top-notch Jazz players, the Christmas Jazz All-Stars, in celebration of their new CD “Christmas at the Oasis” – recorded last year at The RRazz Room – present no overdone, pedestrian Christmas tunes here folks- only her special collection of swingin', rockin', hip, rare gems in the Blues and Jazz idioms! The show will run for two nights only Dec 15-16. Music: Selections from Christmas at the Oasis.

Dominic D’Andrea is the founder and producing artistic director of the One-Minute Play Festival (OMPF), where he has led close to 30 national festivals in partnerships with many theatres throughout the country. He was a 2012 NewYorkTheatre.com person of the year. Elizabeth Gjelten's previous full-length plays include What the Birds Carry (at The Pear Avenue Theater) and Dance Lessons (at the Working Women Festival and Venue 9). She received her MFA in playwriting from San Francisco State University, taught writing for performance at New College, and continues to teach as an artist/mentor to graduate students and incarcerated youth. An award-winning dancer, international choreographer, and accomplished playwright, Robert Henry Johnson has enjoyed the support of the San Francisco Bay Area black arts community since he was very young.He is the recipient of the 2001 Bay Area Critics Circle Award for his choreography in Thick House's production of The Seven written by Will Power, the 1998 Union Bank's Citizen of the Year Award. Rafael Jesús González, award winning poets and teacher, educator and activist, joins us to talk about "A new beginning" or the end of one eraand the start of another. Grammy-nominated Jazz vocalist, MARIA MULDAUR featuring her A-team of top-notch Jazz players, the Christmas Jazz All-Stars, in celebration of their new CD “Christmas at the Oasis” – recorded last year at The RRazz Room – present no overdone, pedestrian Christmas tunes here folks- only her special collection of swingin', rockin', hip, rare gems in the Blues and Jazz idioms! The show will run for two nights only Dec 15-16. Music: Alan Kimara Dixon's Appreciation & selections from Christmas at the Oasis.

Today the plan was to speak to Byron Hurt about his latest film: SOUL FOOD JUNKIES, airing on PBS Independent Lens, Jan. 14, 2013. We'll have to reschedule for another date, so stay tuned. The conversation then shifts to Litha-Aliah “Aliah” Tomlinson, new intern director for the Oakland Interfaith Youth Choir (OIYC) and Terrence Kelly, director of Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, for a discussion about MUSIC FOR THE SOUL.  Just recently OIGC featured OIYC at its annual concert, and this weekend is the Youth Choir's Holiday Concert, Sun., Dec. 16, 7 p.m. at Imani Community Church. Visit http://www.oigc.org/ Aliah has sung alto in OIYC and Imani Community Church choir, under the direction of Terrance Kelly, since 2009. Aliah loves to sing and began doing so at an early age – whether singing with her great-aunt, reciting Oakland Freedom School chants, or singing with her church’s children’s choir, directed by her mother. She and her sisters share the gift of song each month at Bellaken Gardens Nursing Center, where she has volunteered since she was in the 2nd grade.  For the past two summers, Aliah participated in the Costa Rica Mission trip to Puerto Limon, where she assisted in teaching the art of gospel music to newfoundAfro-Caribbean friends. In addition to singing, Aliah enjoys playing the guitar and piano under the tutelage of Bryan Dyer. Aliah attends KIPP King Collegiate High School where she is co-president of her sophomore class.  She is inspired by the positive women in her family and the positive men in her community. She aspires to study chemistry and music at Howard University, and to make a meaningful impact in her community. Visit

Today we speak live with Alan Kimara Dixon about his latest release "intro to modern," released a month ago to date: Nov. 7-Dec. 7. It features: Bobby Bradford: cornet, Bennie Maupin: bass clarinet and alto flute and Alan Kimara Dixon: composer / guitars, basses, keyboards and drums. Visit http://introtomodern.com/album/intro-to-modern Kimara says it is his hope that his art moves his audience to "transcend circumstance or culture and broaden perspectives" http://www.alankimaradixon.com We then listen to two recorded interviews. The first is with publishers: Sandra Redmond, her big brother, Willie F. Redmond or "June," and Deirdra Wilson, together: San'Dei'Jun Publishing, "an independent publishing house based in California that provides "space for creativity to spring forth from grass-roots of our communities and fertilize our collective soil of mind and heart." http://www.sandeijun.com/about/   Music: From intro to modern "tech rehearsal" and "appreciation." We also play KebMo's "Imagine" and Chinakare's "Tanzania."

We have an extended conversation with activist and writer, Robert Hillary King, Ph.D. His book From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of Black Panther Robert Hillary King Expanded and Updated, with a new forward by Mumia Abu Jamal. Visit www.Angola3.org We close with a special interview with Buika on Connecting the Dots, broadcast 15 Nov. 2012 on KPOO.org 89.5 FM, produced by Safi wa Nairobi. Music from Luther Vandross: The Classic Christmas Album: "My Favorite Things;" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live, Teddy & Chaka Khan duet).