Wanda's Picks

8 AM: Nurse-midwife Mary Koroma from Sierra Leone has over the past 10 years dedicated her life to saving the lives of mothers and babies; Ayesha Feary, Director of Information and Education of AAPDEP. Xandréa Sanford-Treistman, psychologist and nutritionist/holistic health counselor,share the Africa's Future in African Hands Tour lands in Oakland APR 18-19, 20 with stops in two locations. APR 18, 6:30 PM at Niebyl Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, OAK.; April 19, 6:30 PM, Uhuru House in Oakland--both events kick off the Bay Area Birth Justice Fair, Saturday, APR 21, 10 AM -5 PM at Uhuru House, 7911 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland. The events are all free to the public. The Bay Area Birth Justice Fair opens with a healing circle for mothers who have lost a child before its first birthday. Visit http://africasfuturetour.wordpress.com and http://www.bayareabirthjustice.wordpress.com or call 510-395-1780

8:30 AM:Michael Warr, awardwinning poet, speaks to us about his latest book, a poetic memoir: The Armageddon of Funk and two readings with a jazz band. The first at MoAD SF, APR 25, 6:30-8 AM, the second APR 28, 1-3 PM, at Readers Book Store, Bldg. C, Ft. Mason Center in SF. We close with a wonderful conversation with cast, director and writer for the wonderful closing night film at the OIFF, BASKETBALL 316: Pharoah Charles Powell,  Ramasses T. Head, Founder, History In The Making Entertainment, Karen Cox, and Jo'Nez Cain.

We rebroadcast a special show featuring Rev. Liza Rankow and Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake on the sad occasion of Dr. Thurman's last surviving child, Olive Thurman Wong, passing from this life on Thursday, April 5th, at the age of 84. She was surrounded by loving family and friends. The West coast memorial service will be held on this Saturday, April 14th, at 11:00AM at the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples,  2041 Larkin St., San Francisco (www.fellowshipsf.org). An East coast memorial celebration will be held in New York City, sometime in May. We lost another wonderful woman, Christine Nyanda-Chacha this week as well. Mama Chacha, a mother, wife, sister, friend, philanthropist, innovator, pillar of strength passed while on a medical visit in South Africa and funds are needed to bring her body back to the USA for burial. She founded the organization African Immigrants Social and Cultural Services (AISCS), an organization that works to better the lives of African immigrants in the United States and of rural communities in Tanzania (www.aiscs.org). In 2012, Mama Chacha received the prestigious Jefferson Award as well as the Ubuntu Award from Priority Africa Network. She is survived by her husband Ezra, and her 5 children, Julius, Pamela, Eliazar, Jeremiah, and Sarah. It will cost approximately $25,000 to cover all the costs. Donations can be made directly via Pay Pal at http://www.mamachachafund.com. Visitation and funeral service arrangements are to be determined. For more information, contact [email protected].

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.

We have a prerecorded interview with David Roach, Executive Director and Founder of the Oakland International Film Festival, kicking off its 10th Annual Festival, Apr. 6-8, 2012 at the Oakland Museum of CA in Oakland, 10th and Oak. Visit www.oiff.org  We open with a conversation with Javier Reyes, poet, playwright, activist who is bringing his lastest work and collaboration to the Bay Area for one night before the company heads for New York (smile). His Each One Reach One & Urban Healing Tour Present "Toy Soldierz," a joint collaboration to raise funds for Bay Area Youth Theater programs on Monday, April 9, 2012, doors open at 7, show 8-11 p.m. at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, will showcase UHT's critically acclaimed multi-media, hip-hop theater production "Toy Soldierz." UHT will be showcasing One Act Plays written by incarcerated youth working through EORO's award winning theater programs. Youth poets from "Youth Guidance Center Integrational Center perform as well. Proceeds from the show help fund travel to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in May "Toy Soldierz." To Purchase tickets, please go to http://www.thefreight.org/urban-healing-tour-presents-toy-soldierz  Tickets are half price for patrons under 25 years old. Music Animals as Leaders "Tempting Time" & New Song," 8/26/2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYBH3QoIAE&feature=related

Today on the anniversary of MARTIN KING's killing we reflect on healing and survival via a variety of perspectives, beginning at 7 a.m. with a conversation with Ifa Priestess Oyafunmike Ogunlano who portrays the role of "Mona" and "Shola," in Haile Gerima's classic: Sankofa. Beginning her career on the theatrical stage, Ms.Ogunlano first graced the stages of Washington, D.C. as a proud member of the D.C. Black Repertory Company under the direction of Robert Hooks in such powerful productions as The Blacks, Imamu, Day of Absence, Changes and more.   She has appeared in many stage productions including North Seventeenth Street, Homecookin’ and Oursides as member of the renowned the Negro Ensemble Company.  With the Nuyorican Poet’s Café she performed in Shango de Ima, Julius Ceaser set in Africa and Obatala.  She was a member of the Ebony Impromptu Theater Company, under the direction of the late Harry Poe and is also an accomplished African dancer who has danced with the dynamic Olatunji's Drums of Passion, Wo’ se, and Mori Nimba to name a few. She will also speak about her Ifa temple project, "Palmaras." We then have an interview with poet and filmmaker, Adimu Madyun, about Hunter Poetry on WolfhawkJaguar. We open with Every Breath of Life. Tico Wells, director of Black Rep's production of John Henry Redwood’s play, The Old Settler at Black Repertory Group Theatre Thursday-Sunday, through April 8, 2012, is up next. We speak about everything from PTSS and Dr. Joy DeGruy to Martin King and his legacy on the 44 anniversary of his assasination. We close with David Roach, director of Oakland International Film Festival, April 6-8, 2012 at the Oakland Museum, 10th and Oak. Visit http://www.facebook.com/oyafunmike and http://www.oiff.org/

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. Today our guests are artists: Betty Kano and L. Frank, with curator, Eric Murphy. They speak about the current show at Joyce Gordon Gallery: SheRose Of Our Time: A Tribute to the First Lady, Michelle Obama through April 19, 2012. JGG is located at 406 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 465-8928. We speak later in the show to Terence Nance, director of the Sundance hit, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Terence Nance, USA, 2011. His film is featured at the SFIFF 2012. Playdates: SUN APR 22  8:30  at PFA, MON APR 30  9:00 at the KABUKI; TUE MAY 1  12:15 at the KABUKI; WED MAY 2 4:00 at KABUKI. Visit http://www.sffs.org/ We include a prerecorded interview with Tim Wise, author of Dear White America (smile). This is the plan, who knows, someone else might drop in.

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. Today we are joined by author, Queen Kay, to talk about her memoir, The Reconstruction and Transformation of Queen Kay; this live interview is followed by a prerecorded interview with Tim Wise about his latest work, Dear White America (canceled); we close with a conversation with the cast of The Old Settler by John Henry Redwood, directed by Tico Wells, a member of the original cast in 1997, Angel Lands as Elizabeth, Paula Martin as Quiley, Clarence Ray Johnson as Husband Witherspoon, and Tavia Percia as Lou Bessie a.k.a  Charmaine. Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott, Executive Director, joins us as a surprise.  The play is extended through April 13. Runs are Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m. and 2:30 Saturday matinees. For information call: (510) 652-2120.

Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu, Reagan Griffith,  Taiwo Kujichagulia-Seitu, join us to talk about Stopping Our Silence 2012, the theme this year is "Silencing the inner critic," and this year's sexual assault and domestic violence healing conference, is April 14th and 15th, 2012. The weekend will kick off on Saturday April 14th at 8:30a.m., On Stage Studio (Kids N' Dance), 3840 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, with a full day of workshops. That night's performance will begin at 7p.m. Sunday's matinee performance will begin at 3p.m. and will be followed by a question and answer session with the cast and S.O.S. founder Ms. Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu (510) 434-6773 [email protected] Sheena Johnson's REBEL HOME DANCE presents: LANDHOME, March 30-31, 2012, 8 p.m., at the Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th Street, Oakland. We speak to Sheena and collaborating artist, Chris Evans, a multimedia artist, with an emphasis on sound and dance. We close with Brian Copeland, who speaks about his latest show: The Waiting Period at The Marsh, Main stage, in San Francisco, through April 27. Copeland, a multi-talented actor, playwright, author and talk show host, has basked in the glow of both public and critical acclaim for nearly a decade. And yet, along with such other well-known figures as Mike Wallace, Tipper Gore and Yves San Laurent, he suffers from debilitating bouts of depression. Friday is educator's night, 2-for-1 available for groups. Visit themarsh.org or briancopeland.com

Tim Wise speaks about his latest book Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority. Anita Wills, Oscar Grant Committee, speaks about the Million Hoodies March on the UN in New York, here the march is to UN Plaza in San Francisco, 5:30 p.m. 1 Million HOODIES March: Show the World we are all Trayvon. Rally at Bradley Manning Plaza at 5:30 PM March to UN Plaza at 6 PM! Oakland fam: gather at 14th & Broadway BART to ride together to Embarcadero: 4:30P, 5P and 5:30P. Lets meet folks with stay-away orders underground at the BART station since the BART station is not part of the stay-away. Visit http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin and http://www.facebook.com/events/318735908182032/ We close with Zack Rogow is the author, editor, or translator of nineteen books or plays. His seventh book of poems, My Mother and the Ceiling Dancers, was published by Kattywompus Press in February 2012. He is the editor of an anthology of U.S. poetry, The Face of Poetry, published by University of California Press. Currently he teaches in the MFA in Writing Program at the California College of the Arts and in the low-residency MFA at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

Rebroadcast of interview with Rene Marie followed by an interview with A’Lelia Bundles, president of the Madam Walker/A’Lelia Walker Family Archives and author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker, the award-winning, New York Times bestselling biography of her great-great-grandmother. After a 30-year career as an executive and Emmy award winning producer with NBC News and ABC News, she now devotes her time to writing and serving on nonprofit boards. She is president and chair of the board of the Foundation for the National Archives and a trustee of Columbia University. She is joined by Sheryl Grant, president, 100 Black Women, to talk about the 14th Annual Madam CJ Walker Awards Luncheon, Friday, March 23, 2012 in SF, CA http://www.onehundredblackwomen.com/ Verna Brooks & Patricia Van Hook join us to talk about the Third Annual Girls Day Out, March 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship, 7272 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. For information call (510) 823-3665. We close with a conversation with the artistic director and co-founder of Dimensions Dance Theatre, Deborah Vaughn, and guest choreographers: Latanya D. Tigner & Isaura Oliveria. Down the Congo Line part 1, debuts April 14, 2012, 8 p.m. at the Malonga Casquelourde Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland. For tickets visit brownpapertickets or dimensionsdance.org (510) 465-3363. Tomorrow Dimensions Extensions, the youth program, performs their annual concert, Saturday, March 17, 7 p.m., same location. Ticket sales will go toward travel expenses, etc., for dancers who would like to attend workshops here and abroad. Music: Rene Marie, Juan de Dios Ramos Morejon's RAICES PROFUNDAS, Novalima.