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!

 

Guests: Wanda Ravenell, founder, Omnira Institute, formerly known as NouvO’risha Institute, began in 2003 as a school for sacred knowledge for children of practitioners of spiritual traditions derived from West Africa by way of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. The organization’s choir, Awon Ohun Omnira (Voices of Freedom) participates in annual Juneteenth and Black History Month celebrations. Omnira Institute is located in Oakland, California and was founded by Wanda Ravernell who is a journalist and independent performing arts professional.

The institute’s annual cycle of programming, called ‘Roots of Faith, Roots of Freedom’ began in 2009. It is a series of observances that honor the history of slavery and emancipation, that promote healing for Oakland’s African American community.

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!

 

Guests: Wanda Ravenell, founder, Omnira Institute, formerly known as NouvO’risha Institute, began in 2003 as a school for sacred knowledge for children of practitioners of spiritual traditions derived from West Africa by way of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. The organization’s choir, Awon Ohun Omnira (Voices of Freedom) participates in annual Juneteenth and Black History Month celebrations. Omnira Institute is located in Oakland, California and was founded by Wanda Ravernell who is a journalist and independent performing arts professional.

The institute’s annual cycle of programming, called ‘Roots of Faith, Roots of Freedom’ began in 2009. It is a series of observances that honor the history of slavery and emancipation, that promote healing for Oakland’s African American community.

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 forbearers. 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!

We continue with our Katrina Update, this time we look at Mississippi in the second hour.

We open with a conversation with Harriette Davis, RN, Organizer, All of Us or None, a Program of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, prisonerswithchildren.org

Secondly, we speak to Antoine Hunter, choreographer, director, Urban Jazz Dance Company, about the 3rd Annual Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival, August 28-30, 2015 at ODC Theatre, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco, (415) 863-9834.

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 forbearers. 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!

We continue with our Katrina Update, this time we look at Mississippi in the second hour.

We open with a conversation with Harriette Davis, RN, Organizer, All of Us or None, a Program of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, prisonerswithchildren.org

Secondly, we speak to Antoine Hunter, choreographer, director, Urban Jazz Dance Company, about the 3rd Annual Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival, August 28-30, 2015 at ODC Theatre, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco, (415) 863-9834.

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 forbearers. 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 show will feature survivors of the Great Flood of 2005 and subsequent disasters in the Gulf, manmade and natural. We will discuss recovery and what is left undone: Malik Rahim, co-founder, Common Ground Collective; Sakura Kone, volunteer at that time, Robert King, survivor, Angola 3; Luther Gray, survivor, Bamboula 2000, Ashé Community Cultural Center.

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 forbearers. 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 show will feature survivors of the Great Flood of 2005 and subsequent disasters in the Gulf, manmade and natural. We will discuss recovery and what is left undone: Malik Rahim, co-founder, Common Ground Collective; Sakura Kone, volunteer at that time, Robert King, survivor, Angola 3; Luther Gray, survivor, Bamboula 2000, Ashé Community Cultural Center.

Two members of Odinwa Performance Ensemble, Sister Marysa Kenyatta and Sister Bisola Marignay, Ph.D., join us to talk about their concert this afternoon in Oakland, CA, at Coffee with a Beat on Perkins Street across from Lake Merritt Park. The Performance Ritual is from 3-5 p.m. It is free, but donations are appreciated. The segment is rebroadcast from August 18, 2015.

Bisola Marignay, Ph.D., Singer/Performer, Activist/Writer, Facilitator/Educator, draws from her experience in transformative studies, anthropology, linguistics, social activism, performance studies, and spiritual practice to organize thematic formats for Odinma’s music performances, and to write the stories, spoken word, poems, and songs that center in the group’s performance rituals.

Marysa Kenyatta, Julliard trained jazz pianist, has played a clubs all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Keystone Korner and other in San Francisco, Mr. Majors, Dillards, La Pena Cultural Center, 57th Street Gallery and many others in Oakland. She is one of the founders of the Women in Jazz jam sessions at Dillards and hs participated in many women's jazz ensembles during the past 20 years. She still continues to perform in various venues all over the Bay Area. Currently, she is with Father Amde Hamilton, a band of the Watts Prophets. Their recording, "Technical Difficulties," has just been released. She is the pianist for Odinwa Performance Ensemble, playing all styles of Afrikan classical music.

Two members of Odinwa Performance Ensemble, Sister Marysa Kenyatta and Sister Bisola Marignay, Ph.D., join us to talk about their concert this afternoon in Oakland, CA, at Coffee with a Beat on Perkins Street across from Lake Merritt Park. The Performance Ritual is from 3-5 p.m. It is free, but donations are appreciated. The segment is rebroadcast from August 18, 2015.

Bisola Marignay, Ph.D., Singer/Performer, Activist/Writer, Facilitator/Educator, draws from her experience in transformative studies, anthropology, linguistics, social activism, performance studies, and spiritual practice to organize thematic formats for Odinma’s music performances, and to write the stories, spoken word, poems, and songs that center in the group’s performance rituals.

Marysa Kenyatta, Julliard trained jazz pianist, has played a clubs all over the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Keystone Korner and other in San Francisco, Mr. Majors, Dillards, La Pena Cultural Center, 57th Street Gallery and many others in Oakland. She is one of the founders of the Women in Jazz jam sessions at Dillards and hs participated in many women's jazz ensembles during the past 20 years. She still continues to perform in various venues all over the Bay Area. Currently, she is with Father Amde Hamilton, a band of the Watts Prophets. Their recording, "Technical Difficulties," has just been released. She is the pianist for Odinwa Performance Ensemble, playing all styles of Afrikan classical music.

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 forbearers. 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. Odinma Performance Ensemble: Sister Marysa Kenyatta and Bisola Marignay, Ph.D.

2. Black Choreoraphers Summer Showcase

11-11:05: Laura Elaine Ellis and Kendra Kimbrough-Barnes talk about Black Choreograper Festival

11:05-11:20 -- Raissa Simpson speaks about her work at BCF and PUSH Festival

11:20 to 11:45 Gregory Dawson, Dawson Dance joins Raissa and talks about his work which premiered

11:45 to 12:00 Antoine Hunter and Paunika join us to talk about the two pieces which premirered

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 forbearers. 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!

Archival Interview with Colia Lafayette Clark & Robin Fryday, director, Barber of Birmingham

1. Colia L. Liddell Lafayette Clark is an African-American activist and politician. Clark was the Green Party's candidate for the United States Senate in New York in 2010 and 2012 (2014 broadcast)

2. Interview with Barber of Birmingham, director, Robin Fryday (from archival broadcast Feb. 22, 2012).