Wanda's Picks

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

1. Gloria Brown joins us to speak about the 15th Annual Soul Stroll for Health, May 21 at Coyote Regional Park in San Mateo http://pgdglobal.com/soul/

2. Ben Vereen (archived June 2012)

3. Carl Lumbly speaks about his role as Ira Aldridge in Red Velvet at San Francisco Playhouse (through June 25). In 19th century Europe, at a time when his kinsmen were still in chains in America, Aldridge built an incredible career on the stages of London and Europe.

4. Lynn Morrow, Music Director of the Oakland Symphony Chorus and Nicole Greenidge Joseph, Soprano soloist, join us to talk about

the Oakland East Bay Symphony concert of music by John Adams, Stravinsky, Barber and Ravel tonight, Friday, May 20, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre. Ms. Joseph, who was the winner of the 2015 Toland Vocal Arts Competition, will sing Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915. (Originally Broadcast 5/6).

This is a black arts and culture site. . . . 

1. Kola Adesokan -- Kolamanjaro & his Yoruba Heritage Ensemble is where the classic Yoruba song-meter meets the modern. It is indeed, the crossroad at which yesterday's rhythms intersect with today's sounds to propel the future of cultural arts entertainment forward. It is a bridge that seeks to link Yoruba from the source with others far and widely dispersed around the globe and across the Diaspora. Kola Adesokan, (aka Kolaman or Kolamanjaro) describes his music as Juju-Fusion, a style which he branded Rhythm-N-Groove™ of Afrika, which is another variety of Afro-Beat genre founded by Fela Kuti of Nigeria. Kolamanjaro is a jazzily rhythmic sound whose soul is deeply rooted in authentic Yoruba heritage experience. 

2. Almaz Yihdego has a M.A. in Public Administration, from California State University East Bay and currently seeking a Ph.D.. in the Global Health Program at UC Berkeley. She has over ten years administrative experience working in non-profit   organizations, government agencies and community services. She has developed programs for children, youth and adults that support their needs and has a broad range of experience in service identification, funding entitlements and empowering parents through advocacy. she joins us to talk about Y.E.S. a youth empowerment program which is having a fundraiser this weekend, May 21. Kolamanjaro is the headliner. Visit http://www.globalcommunicationservices.org/index.html

Music: Zion Trinity's Elegba Opening Prayer; Kolamanjaro's Ori Mi Ma Deyin; Aar Maant's Deeqa; Eddie Gales's African Sunrise; Novalima's Coba Coba Liberta; Meklit and Quinn's Bring is Home to Me; Mark Lomax's Lives Matter Part 3: Black and Beautiful Power.

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

1. We speak to Dr. Adolphus Hailstock, composer and Maestro Michael Morgan, about Within Our Gates, the Oscar Micheaux film, at the SF Silent Film Festival, Sat., June 4, 5:15 p.m. at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. 

2. Joyce Jenkins, poet, editor, publisher, joins us to speak about the Northern CA Book Awards, Sun., May 16, 1 p.m., at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street in San Francisco. 

Music: Zion Trinity; Victoria Theodore

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

May 8th-14th is National Women's Health Week

1. We are joined in the studio by Karla Antoinette Baptiste, author "Dig in Your Heels, The Glamorous (And Not so Glamorous) Life of a Young Breast Cancer Survivor)". She will share information about the 5th Annual Conference: Breast Cancer & African Americans (BCAA) Conference, May 14, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco. It's a free event; online registration is available at http://tinyurl.com/2016BCAA. For more information contact 1.800.383.0941 or [email protected]. Conference includes the latest topics on breast cancer, hot buffet lunch, health resource fair, and much more. (It's sold out, however, go anyway, there will probably be a few no shows.)

2. Charles Johnson is joining us with cast:  Stuart Elwyn Hall, Desiree Rogers, Melvin Thompson from his latest play, "Ain't It So," at the MET in San Francisco Thursday-Saturday, May 12-14 with 2 performances 5/14: 2 & 8 p.m. at the Gough Street Playhouse, 1620 Gough (near Bush), SF. Visit wehavemet.org

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! 

1. Agents of Change, co-director, co-producer, Abby Ginsberg, and student leaders at SFSU: Jimmy Garrett and Benny Stewart, and cast join us in the studio to talk about a powerful student-led protest movement on college campuses in the late-1960s and its connection to the Black Lives Matter movement on campuses today. The film premieres at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, May 15, 1 - 4 p.m. Visit http://www.agentsofchangefilm.com/events/

2.  Professor Akubundu Amazu-Lott joins us to talk about African Liberation Day 2016: "African Women and Youth on the Frontline: Revolutionary Pan-Africanism is the Only Solution!" The event, May 28, 12-5 p.m. is at East Side Arts in Oakland. Visit http://www.africanliberationday.net/ and http://www.aaprp-intl.org/ (the organization founded by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana, in 1958, which hosts ALD).

3. We speak to Dr. Lynn Morrow, Director, Oakland Symphony Chorus and Nicole Greenidge Joseph, soprano, about the Oakland East Bay Symphony program, Friday, May 20. http://www.oaklandsymphony.org/event/stravinsky-silverman/

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

This is a Black Arts and Culture Site.

1. San Francisco Arts Festival 2016 is May 19-June 5: Joining us are: Genny Lim (artist), Andrew Wood (Executive Director, SFIAF), Charlie Levin (artist), Jon Jang (artist). sfiaf.org

2. Alice Aziza Jefferson, Artistic Director of Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble, speaks about the 2016 Spring Benefit, Apr. 30 at DeFremery Recreation Center, Lil Bobby Hutton Park, 1651 Adeline Street, in Oakland. She is first generation West Oaklander, Founder & Artistic Director of The Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble. She founded the dance company in 1998 to pay tribute to the artistic legacy of her mentor Ms. Akili Denianke, under whom she studied at CSU-Hayward and elsewhere as a member of the Harambee Dance Ensemble. It is the mentorship of Ms. Denianke that she attributes the clarity she has attained regarding her life purpose. Info: 510-735-5150.

3.  L. Peter Callender and Leontyne Mbele-Mbong join us to speak about ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA — which closes the African American Shakespeare Company 2015-16 season. Shakespeare’s epic love story — is set in modern day. Mark Antony has traded his power over an empire for the forbidden love of one woman, Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Jealousy, betrayal, death, and war cannot refute their undying love for each other. With award winning actors L. Peter Callender and Leontyne Mbele-Mbong in the title roles of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Visit http://www.african-americanshakes.org/productions/antony-and-cleopatra/

This is a Black Arts and Culture Site.

1. San Francisco Arts Festival 2016 is May 19-June 5: Joining us are: Genny Lim (artist), Andrew Wood (Executive Director, SFIAF), Charlie Levin (artist), Jon Jang (artist). sfiaf.org

2. Alice Aziza Jefferson, Artistic Director of Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble, speaks about the 2016 Spring Benefit, Apr. 30 at DeFremery Recreation Center, Lil Bobby Hutton Park, 1651 Adeline Street, in Oakland. She is first generation West Oaklander, Founder & Artistic Director of The Sankofa Akili Dance Ensemble. She founded the dance company in 1998 to pay tribute to the artistic legacy of her mentor Ms. Akili Denianke, under whom she studied at CSU-Hayward and elsewhere as a member of the Harambee Dance Ensemble. It is the mentorship of Ms. Denianke that she attributes the clarity she has attained regarding her life purpose. Info: 510-735-5150.

3.  L. Peter Callender and Leontyne Mbele-Mbong join us to speak about ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA — which closes the African American Shakespeare Company 2015-16 season. Shakespeare’s epic love story — is set in modern day. Mark Antony has traded his power over an empire for the forbidden love of one woman, Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Jealousy, betrayal, death, and war cannot refute their undying love for each other. With award winning actors L. Peter Callender and Leontyne Mbele-Mbong in the title roles of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Visit http://www.african-americanshakes.org/productions/antony-and-cleopatra/

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

 

1. Noel Schwerin’s documentary IN AN IDEAL WORLD will have its U.S. television premiere Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 8 p.m. on WORLD Channel (check local listings), as part of the fourth season of AMERICA REFRAMED, public media’s newest documentary series. The film will be available for free streaming on http://worldchannel.org/programs/episode/arf-s4-e413-ideal-world/  starting April 27, 2016.

 

Shot over seven years, with unprecedented access, IN AN IDEAL WORLD follows three men in California’s infamous Soledad prison—John Piccirillo, a white separatist murderer, Sam Lewis, a black ex-gang member and Ben Curry, a warden. Each entered the system young and learned its codes of conduct not only to maintain order and safety, but also for their personal survival.

2. From the Archives. 

3. We close with an interview with Mfoniso Udofia about her two plays: "Sojourners" & "runboyrun" at The Magic Theatre through May 8/May 15. Visit themagictheatre.org 

Music: Zion Trinity's "Opening Prayer Elegba"; Miguel Zenon's "Second Generation Lulluby."

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

 

1. Noel Schwerin’s documentary IN AN IDEAL WORLD will have its U.S. television premiere Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 8 p.m. on WORLD Channel (check local listings), as part of the fourth season of AMERICA REFRAMED, public media’s newest documentary series. The film will be available for free streaming on http://worldchannel.org/programs/episode/arf-s4-e413-ideal-world/  starting April 27, 2016.

 

Shot over seven years, with unprecedented access, IN AN IDEAL WORLD follows three men in California’s infamous Soledad prison—John Piccirillo, a white separatist murderer, Sam Lewis, a black ex-gang member and Ben Curry, a warden. Each entered the system young and learned its codes of conduct not only to maintain order and safety, but also for their personal survival.

2. From the Archives. 

3. We close with an interview with Mfoniso Udofia about her two plays: "Sojourners" & "runboyrun" at The Magic Theatre through May 8/May 15. Visit themagictheatre.org 

Music: Zion Trinity's "Opening Prayer Elegba"; Miguel Zenon's "Second Generation Lulluby."