NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL OPENING GALA

STORY BY BUDDHA BLAZE, IMAGES BY LUMZ LENZ

ANGOLAN ACTOR OF VIVA RIVA AT NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL



What great timing to be in New York just in good time to catch the opening gala for the prestigious New York African Film Festival http://africanfilmny.org in the Walter Reade Theatre at the Lincoln Centre. This is an event attended by the top names of the African film industry both from the motherland and the Diaspora. I’m here with Kenyan Vibe TV www.KenyanVibe.com the team is amped and we get busy at work quick. The one thing that’s clear is that the crowd doesn’t ever come more Afrelegant than this.

NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL FOUNDER MAHEN BONETTI



This is the gala of the 18th New York African Film Festival held in the Walter Reade Theatre at the Lincoln Centre on Broadway. This is the biggest African Film event in the world, everyone is smashingly Afrelegant. We’re welcomed by the festival’s founder Mahen Bonetti an amazing Sierra Leonean woman dedicated to African film. She moved to New York 20 years ago, worked in advertising and journalism at Weekly News. Due to necessity she started an African film club which later became the New York African Film Festival in 1993 due to popularity. It’s been growing strong here ever since. http://www.danaroc.com/inspiring_041706mahenbonetti.html


FOUNDER MAHEN BONETTI WITH VIVA RIVA ACTORS PATSHA & HOJI



The gala starts with screening of this year’s star film; Viva Riva’ a Congolese and Angolan collaboration film by Congolese film director Djo Tunda Wa Munga. Riva acted by Patsha Bay is a local Kinshasa, DRC hoodlum who goes to Angola featuring and steals a truck of gas belonging to a gangster acted by Angola actor Hoji Fortuna. The story unfolds when the truck arrives in Kinshasa, a city that is in dire need the gas and so does the owner. The search is on and drama unfolds when the search for gas in the city turns into suspense, greed, intrigue, lust, corruption and violence. What a Great film.

VIVA RIVA



VIVA RIVA CO STAR HOJI FORTUNA WITH THE STAR PATSHA BAY



CASSANDRA GOINES (PUTAMAYO RECORDS), BADUU (KENYAN VIBE) www.kenyanvibe.com



ZAWADI'S AFRELEGANCE, WAIRIMA'S BEAMING, STACY'S SMILE & CREW



After the screening there was a question and answer session hosted by the festival. We were later treated to a sumptuous African dinner as the crowd starts to mingle with each other into the later hours of the evening. It was time for press briefings, interviews and just plain old African networking. I bump into Kenyan bred Tanzanian director Ekwa Msangi-Omari of Taharuki and her US based cast Miriam Chemoss, Gilbert Owuor and Chris Kamau http://taharukithefilm.com they are at the festival to promote the film. This is a film to watch and you will be hearing so much about it soon. Keep it here.

STAR OF TAHARUKI MIRRIAM CHEMOSS, DIRECTOR EKWA MSANGI-OMARI, GABRIEL OWUOR & CHRIS KAMAU



ENYINNE OWUNWANNE (FAR RIGHT) OF HERITAGE 1960 WITH CREW



KOJO LOOKING AFRELEGANT



BUDDHA BLAZE CHILLING WITH GHANAIAN ACTRESS MAAMEYAA BOAFO





The gala is filled with every other film name that you can imagine from South Africa, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria and the Diaspora. I can’t meet everyone but the ones that stand out. And here at the New York Film Festival gala I would like to introduce to you an actress that you will be seeing on your screens very soon; the New York based afrelegant Ghanaian theatre actress and radio host MaameYaa Boafo who has appeared in a long list of Shakespearean productions of Hamlet and Comedy of Errors. She is currently playing one of the principals at George Street Playhouse's educational tour, and she's modeled for MTN - West Africa division, Hats So Me, and BHF Magazine. Check her out in the new Les Nubians music video 'AfroDance', and is the executive director of a non-profit called Shaggae’s Song Performing Arts Collective, INC. Miss Boafo is gearing up to hit the film scene - watch out Genevieve. This is one actress I personally hope to be seeing in a starring role in with Majid Michel very soon. It’s her time support her: http://casting.benetton.com/profile/1328341-maameyaa

RED UMBRELLA DIARIES HAPPY ENDING, LOWER EAST SIDE NEW YORK

ZAWADI NYONG'O WITH BADUU OF KENYA VIBE AFTER HER PERFORMANCE http://www.kenyanvibe.com/



ZAWADI FLAWLESS


By Buddha Blaze images by Lumz Lenz and Zawadi Nyong'o

Let me introduce you to Zawadi Nyong’o; a human rights activist, specializing sex workers’ rights. At first it sounds overwhelming but as a proponent for universal human rights, I’m down with anything that propagates to protect the rights of any human being. No self respecting grown individual deserves the humiliation of being discriminated for the reason of the colour of their skin, their nationality, they sexual orientation, their religion, their cultural choices or their work. Some rights maybe touchy to others but I understand that I cannot stand for equality if I discriminate about the form of equality.

THE FLYER



If a grown woman chooses to live her life a sex worker, there’s not much society can do expect give her alternatives of how she can lead her life. If all effort to get them away from that lifestyle is futile, then the same society has the obligation to protect this individual so she can do her job with safety. Understanding the human rights of a sex worker is not easy but they’re human too and someone has to do it. Zawadi is that person and she does it with pride. I have learnt to love Zawadi for what she stands for, she could have chosen to do anything else in the world but she made this her life. http://www.facebook.com/redumbrelladiaries?sk=wall



So when Zawadi learns I’m in New York she makes it’s a point to invite me invite me for poetry and story telling performance called The Red Umbrella Diaries at Happy Ending a small spot on the Lower East side of New York. Red Umbrella Diaries is a monthly poetic and storytelling event about the sex industry. I arrive at the spot on Broome Street late to find the place packed to the max with a multi culturally elegant crowd. Zawadi was just leaving the stage but the crowd is still murmuring about how awesome she was. The word is the performance is exquisite and Zawadi is flawless.

ZAWADI & HER DAD DR. ANYANG NYONG'O & SISTER LUPITA



AATARA JEWELLERY


I’m entertained by the amazing host Audacia Ray a former sex worker now sex workers’ rights activist. Being the community supporter she is, Zawadi has brought along Aatara Jewellery http://tinyurl.com/3dhvzv9 by Empress Wairimu Njoroge which keeps the crowd fascinated and occupied. I get to meet and hang out with Zawadi’s dad Dr. Nyong’o – who’s also in town for a conference; he’s a lover of the arts and poetry. Zawadi’s sister - sexy actress Lupita Nyong’o of MTV film Shuga http://vimeo.com/7775923 is also in the house. A beautifully talented family all in NY at same time.

LUPITA NYONG'O

I AFRICA NEW YORK

By Buddha Blaze I Africa NY Image by Stewart Samkange

TIME SQUARE NEVER SLEEPS



If you love hip hop, if you love that ‘boom bap’ hip hop then you must love the city of New York. The home of Biggy Smalls, the home of KRS 1, the birthplace of some of the greatest hip hop talents ever heard. From Nas to Jay Z, from Mosdef to Talib Kweli, from Pharaoh Monche to Boot Camp Click, this is their city. The city oozes so much sound you can hear DJ Premier scratches by standing on a quite street of New York. The melting pot, the big apple, the stage, the city that never sleeps – Yes it’s true.



The whole world lives in New York, you’ll meet people of course from every large nation in world and you will also meet people from the smallest nations on the globe. They are all welcome here. There’s nothing in New York that you have ever done or ever seen that hasn’t been seen or done by a New York native. New Yorkers are very particular about their cultural backgrounds and they wear them as vests inside their shirts. Don’t be surprised to hear “I’m Jamaican” or “I’m Nigerian” from many native New Yorkers. So to lay any speculation to rest I rock my favourite t-shirt Jamhuri Wear’s – ‘I Africa NY’
THE NEW YORK METRO CARD

The Metro North Railroad map is a must just so you always know where you are a long with a Metro Card - the train will get you anywhere you want to go. New York is so vast and yellow cabs meters seem too energetic, for most of the time, the train will be your traveling buddy. In a city that doesn’t sleep and most people are on these trains, don’t be surprised when some people start dancing on the train or doing recitals and even a marriage propose. The New York train is an international stage, talents are gotten there and as long as you know where you’re going – you will always be entertainment.

BROOKLYN BURROUGH



New York never misses a minute, one minute you can be in some grimy neighbourhood the next you maybe sitting in a snazzy hotel overlooking the city. Amidst the angst, the energy and the lights there’s also a special urban calm that can be found if you’re in its boroughs. Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens are very laid back neighborhoods but don’t get it twisted one calm New York minute you can cost you a whole life time’s opportunity. So for me I get on with it because I have a whole list of A class restaurants to eat from, a whole list of clubs to go to, and a whole lot of people that I need to see and speak to.

NEW YORK MAP



Follow me as I encounter my favourite city and experience my escapades as I engage in people, the discussions I have and ideas that flow within me. After all New York never sleeps so why should I? The city has poetry so I check out the The Red Umbrella Diaries; where my girl Zawadi; a sex workers activist has been invited to perform. Then we check out the New York Film Festival which is just filled with African talent. I check out hip hop spots such as the Brooklyn Bowl where I meet Talib Kweli and Quest Love. I eat at Madiba in Forte Greene and just kick it uptown in Harlem. Let’s GO!

BUDDHA BLAZE HIP HOP LECTURE - CONTEMPORARY HISTORY CLASS, TRINITY COLLEGE, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, USA

INFLUENCE OF THE MAU MAU ON KENYA YOUTH & HIP HOP CULTURE

By Buddha Blaze Pictures by Eli Jacob Fantuazzi


Buddha Blaze at the lecture



It took a deep professor to be able to connect the dots between the freedom struggle of the Mau Mau fighters in the Mt. Kenya jungle in the late 1950s with the present day human rights struggles of the urban warriors. The Mau Mau may have done it in the jungle and used the gun to pass their message across, present day urban warriors are poets, singers, rappers, writers, activists and creative designers who use prose poetry, song and expressions to fight the oppressor. Only things is the oppressor now is not a colonial imperialist the oppressor now is ignorance, corruption, poverty and bad leaders.

When history Professor Seth Markle at Trinity College http://www.trincoll.edu reached out me to do a lecture at his Contemporary History class in a session called: “Influences of the Mau Mau on Kenyan Youth & Hip Hop Culture”, I obliged as the, manager of one of Africa’s biggest urban movements where I have witnessed first hand the emergence of a new type of mindset within the youth in Africa that directly influenced by the freedom fight fought by the Mau Mau. Kenya’s human rights freedom expression has improved through the works of artists, poets, writers and other creatives. It is through expressions of hip hop, poetry, song and design that www.facebook.com/WAPIKenya has gained so much popularity amongst the youth.

The History class at Trinity College with Buddha Blaze

One thing that clear is that the new age freedom fighters may not even speak directly about a certain topic, they maybe even romanticize it a bit but the message is very clear. That kid wearing that Mau Mau t-shirt may not be the first to start a riot but the fact that he chose to wear that t-shirt alone is a major statement in its own right. The new age freedom fighters are only respecting a consciousness that our fathers and grandfathers were too scared to acknowledge. Up until 2002 Dedan Kimathi the same man who brought freedom to Kenya was still considered a terrorist even with a black government.

Kenyan Youth holding patriotic t shirts


My main intent with this lecture was for the students at Trinity College understand that in this era of technological advancement, our struggles can now be recorded, documented and put to good use. Kenyan hip-hop artists are the new school Freedom Fighters. The mind is a vital instrument towards achieving absolute freedom in the world. If you can free a people's mind you can free the whole world. Inspired by the struggle of Mau Mau fighters, the struggle is now told through prose, poetry and worn on the backs of many Kenyan youth. It’s these youth that keep the nation going when things are thick.

Buddha Blaze in session.


Hip-hop in Kenya permeates the general society through fashion, sheng' (language) marketing lingo and books. One of Kenya’s biggest designers Jeffery Kimathi who owns Jamhuri Wear www.jamhuriwear.com is inspired by the work of Kenya’s freedom fighters. Hip hop artists have enabled regular Kenyans to look at themselves as enabled humans, something their leaders seldom tell them. Inspired young Kenyans think that everything is possible with hard work and persistence. It started when Kalamashaka dropped the jam ‘Tafsiri’ it was over – all Kenyan youth felt like the sky is the limit. A whole industry has been built after them creating jobs for millions.http://www.mistarivideos.com/videos/kamah/angaliasaa.html

Buddha Blaze with Kenya Human Rights Commissions Director Muthoni Wanyeki at Trinity College



The aim of the lecture was to get students to know that young Kenyans are memorializing the Mau Mau in creative ways, not only found their the music but also in fashion. Professor Seth Markle has asked his students to read the following books: Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir, Harry Thuku’s Harry Thuku: An Autobiography, R Mugo Gatheru’s Child of Two Worlds: A Kikuyu’s Story, Wambui Waiyaki Otieno’s Mau Mau’s Daughter: A Life History, Bruce Berman’s “Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Modernity: The Paradox of Mau Mau and Mau Mau testimonies of torture collected by the Kenyan National Human Rights Commission its is important for them to remember there’s a whole new generation of freedom fighters.

Buddha Blaze building with International Relations Professor Vijay Prashad

The 6th INTERNATIONAL HIP HOP FESTIVAL, TRINITY COLLEGE, CONNECTICUT, USA

By Buddha Blaze Pictures by Eli Jacob Fantuazzi and Seth Markle


Every April, the university students of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut prepare themselves for a weekend b-boying, graffiti, MCing, Djing at the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival www.trinityhiphop.com. Supported by Nomadic Wax, http://nomadicwax.com this event that brings together hip-hop artists, activists, practitioners, community leaders and industry peers together to showcase their work, network and sell their wares while engaging with the student community. Hartford being a small town in Connecticut benefits from the community engagement that this gathering enables it annually.

Students at Trinity International Hip Hop Festival



Trinity International Hip Hop Festival is a free event and embraces artists from many different backgrounds and cultures. Hip hop as an effective tool of communication can bring about cultural cohesiveness especially in a college environment. It is the biggest college hip hop festival in the United States and a must attend. Previously the festival has brought to the college premises big hip hop names such as KRS 1, Knaan, Blitz the Ambassador, Bamboo and many other global artists. This spring on 1st and 2nd of April the special guest was the New York based fierce female tongue twister – Jean Grae http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9gE4ybCp_c

WAPI Tanzania Graffiti Writer



Trinity International Hip Hop Festival Breakdance battle



Buddha Blaze networking with Def Jam Records rep Rab Bakari



The week had a myriad of activities: Role of Women in Hip-Hop by Anna Oravcova of Czech Republic, Middle East since 1517 by Syrian rapper Omar Offendum, Speech ‘Beats, Rhymes & Life: Hip Hop as a Catalyst for Change and Development’ by T. Tomas Alvarez, B-boy battle by Neguin (Brazil, vs El Nino (Dominican Rep), Bionic Man of Philippines, vs. Fever 257. The Mill graffiti workshop by Mejah Mbuya of WAPI, Tanzania, discussion: ‘Hip Hop and a New Global Horizon’ with Prof. Vijay Prashad, and Rosa Clemente. Film Screening of Ugandan break dance film Bouncing Cats and Ghanaian Film, Hiplife in Ghana with director Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi.

The Mill



Jean Grae Rocking it



The main concert brought to close of the festival on Saturday evening was at the Vernon Social Hall. We were entertained by the lyrically romantic Profetas from Columbia, Syrian rapper Omar Offendum, Amkoullel who brought Mali to Connecticut, Brazilian Emicida, Eekwol from Canada and the feisty Jean Grae who came on stage dressed like a deranged private high school girl in search attention and up to no good. Jean Greasy as Grae usually prefers to be called is a beast on that mic and professional at most she killed her set in an hour and half and the festival was a wrap. All in all we had a great festival this year and can wait to see who will be on next years line up.

Translating Hip Hop Street Party

By Buddha Blaze

Translating Hip Hop Roundtable in Nairobi

Translating Hip Hop was put together The World Centre of Cultures in Berlin and the Goethe Institut. I was briefed by the Director of the Goethe Institut: Mr. Yohannes Hossfeld an arts enthusiast and a supporter of hip hop – his message was clear - lyrics, lyrics, and lyrics – why are they so important? Translating Hip Hop was not only a project but my hip hop journey and a big opportunity to engage and officiate a process that I really believed in. I am one of those hip hop heads that has for so many years listened to hip hop for its lyrics and message rather than its beats and melody. This was my turf.

MCs in Kibera slums

For the whole week, I engaged MCs from six cities - Bogota, Hamburg, Berlin, Beirut, Manila and Nairobi all locked in at the Goethe Institut, discussing their lyrics. The MCs would later make music together as an initiative of getting to know each other’s reasons’ for the lyrics. The week also included an expansive tour of Kibera slums to show the visiting MCs the environment that makes Kenyans MCs’ lyrics. Regardless of what city and cultural background any of the MCs were from the most outstanding feature about their lyrics was of crying out against inequality and injustices in the communities.

Goethe Institut, Nairobi

The power of hip hop lyrics was revealed as most important feature in the art form that we speak about. The whole week I spent translating hip hop with the rest of the visiting rappers such as the animated Mad Maxamom from Hamburg, tech hip hop lady Anne Khan from Berlin, queen of Arabian hip hop; Malikah from Beirut and Resty from Manila, Philippines and the laid back Colombian MC Melanina. They were hosted by their Kenyan counter parts in Translating Hip Hop - MC Kah and Nazizi. Guest local MCs were Moroko, Octopizzo, Wanjiku Mwaurah and L Ness.

Colombian MC Melanina

The Translating Hip Hop concert was packed to the maximum by 8pm and the energy on stage was something unimaginable. Noted was MCs performing in different languages but receiving the same amazing reaction from the crowd. Emcee Africa King Big Mic started it off with an energetic freestyle that culminated into a battle. Miss poetic Wanjiku Mwaura held her own with some soothing poetry. Anne Khan’s techno hip hop was a charged performance. The highlight of the night was Colombian MC who was a ladies favourite and Arabian queen of hip hop – Malkia. Keep it here for more.

THE FASHIONIST KENYA WITH LIZ OGUMBO

By Buddha Blaze

It has been a long time since an artist captivated me in a way that I can relate to. Either the music is industry is tapped out, getting tired or the artists are just lacking fresh creativity. It is really about being able to come in the industry with a whole fresh angle that nobody else has attempted. Then here comes the elegant Liz Ogumbo who many of you may know as a fashion designer who runs Imani Models and Imani House of Fashion http://imanimodels.com but I have known her a soul singer always singing at any opportunity given. It’s her turn now to enter the music industry and she is not coming in without haute couture.

Liz Ogumbo

Liz Ogumbo has recently finished her album Ken Soul on Gallo Records http://lizmusiq.com/site/ and is ready for the games to begin. Now based in Cape Town South Africa running her fashion boutique Orange, she was back in Nairobi to launch and promote her music at her event dubbed Music Meets Fashion at the Fashionist. The Fashionist is an international fashion event held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. Introducing Ken Soul to the Kenyan crowd and using her fashion as a vehicle makes her uniquely relevant in an industry that has not done anything of this design.

Buddha Blaze the MC

As MC of the event this was the first time I had done a fashion event and I have to say I will never again look down upon fashion models. These girls work hard and to be able to stay elegant at all times while cracking a smile. I know now that when you see a runway full of models strutting down what the mums gave them do not for once think that it is easy to do. The sequencing was up to par, the change over was quick and at the end of day the elegance is maintained. Models are some of the hardest working individuals in the entertainment industry and behind the pretty bodies are amazingly beautiful souls.







The crowd kept glued to Liz Ogumbo’s fashion pieces which is made up of elegant casual dresses made from the kanga, jeans cuts a mixture of modern and traditional style as she belted her Ken Soul songs such as ‘Awete’, ‘Big Nyash in Blue Jeans’, ‘Maro Pamore’, ‘Mambo Jambo’ which quickly turned into a chakacha contest putting ladies in the crowd against each other for who was the best in shaking their waist Swahili Coastal style – what a spectacle to behold. Of course the winner went home with a brand new Mi-Q5 Dual Sim Qwerty www.mi-fone.mobi. Fashion really met music at the Fashionist to the delight of the audience who didn’t miss a beat.