Being Black in Germany
From Nairobi to Berlin
Over the last two years, the NRBLN – BLNRB project has brought together German and Kenyan musicians, resulting in the eclectic album BLNRB – Welcome to the Madhouse. They’ve now also uploaded this video for the track ‘Msoto Millions’ by Jahcoozi (featuring dancehall collective Ukoo Flani). Follow the project on their blog — they’re promising to put up more videos for the other songs on the album soon.
Music Break / Y’akoto
German-Ghanian singer Y’akoto’s biography on her website made me look up the meaning of the word “hegira” — a beautiful word, but maybe not the best translation of the original German ‘Suche’, as in: “search” (for herself). Great track, and a nice video. Live recordings show her playing with the Mighty Embassy Ensemble, Blitz The Ambassador’s backing band. That makes perfect sense.
Via Kweligee.
Music Break
The video “Niemand” [No One] by German singer, Joy Denalane (featuring her husband Max Herre) off her new album “Maureen,” which is set for release next month.
Via Afro-Europe
I’m Gonna Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBAFe_TnVsc
No more “Down on My Knees.” Nigerian-German singer Ayo‘s new–well at least one month old–single of her upcoming March 2011 release, “Billie-Eve,” is all empowerment.
Postmodernism on Ice
So it turns out that tonight at the Winter Olympics in the pairs figure skating finals, Germany will be presented by, Robin Szolkowy, whose father is Tanzanian (his mother is German), and his Ukranian-born partner, Aliona Savchenko. They will perform a routine choreographed to the music of the film, “Out of Africa,” which in turn is based on a Danish writer‘s fantasy of Kenya. And, as a German friend informed me, their coach was an informant for the East German secret police.
I won’t waste any comment on the Russian pair who put on animal skin costumes to perform their “Aboriginal Song.” That’s too easy.
Nneka Plays Stateside
Her US tour dates are now available.
* The video above for her single “Kangpe” was filmed in Cote d’Ivoire.
MUSIC / NNEKA
At my old blog address I declared my like of Nneka, the Nigerian-German singer. Nneka is now making a splash in the US among the neo-Soul (?uestlove of The Roots has conferred his blessings). This is the US version of her video for the song, “The Uncomfortable Truth.”
FILM EVENTS / ‘MY FATHER THE LUO’
If you’re in New York City tonight, go see Polish director Tomasz Magierski’s documentary, “My Father the Luo.” The film revolves around Roma Ndolo, a young Kenyan-Polish woman and her attempts to connect to her father’s homeland. The film, judged on the trailer, above, also comments off the rise of a famous son of a Luo, Baracjk Obama, to the the American Presidency.
The film will be screened at the CUNY Graduate Center tonight.
HT: Caitlin Chandler
