inspiring & unforgettable cultural intiatives or content from music to books, poems, plays, exhibtions, TV series, films, photos and food this season…
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Autumn. Arguably one of my favourite seasons but this year marks a painful one for humanity.
Speechless at the barbarism, frustrated at the western media’s casual gaslighting and like many feeling helpless with no union protection. As tragic as its been, let’s look to art and culture for hope, history for insight and foresight for strength. For if not hope what do we have?
“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.” – James Baldwin, The Nation
Mccarthyism
History was one of two of my favourite subjects at school. I loved it. We would watch cold war documentaries in Year 10 and 11, with every week being a new episode. I vivdly remember studying Mccarthyism and thinking “wow that was only 60 years ago?”
Mccarthyism also known as the ‘Red scare’ was the public accusations-without any evidence- of disloyalty targeted at many public figures and organisations, from politicians to artists.
The paranoia of a so-called communist takeover instilled a fear designed to silence public figures and successfully did so for a period.
Many Hollywood artists were also publicly accused and silenced…
Mmmm you might wonder, what has todays artists learnt from the sticks of the powers that be?
Santa’s list and The Vietnam-US war
Much of the west looks back at the popular protests of the anti-Vietnam war in the 1960s and 70s with nostalgia and admiration.
“Oh boy, those hyppies were cool back then…No tech, nor social media but their principles.”
As Vietnam disassembled into a bloodbath with over 2 million killed, public figures including artists, sports personnel and young activists spoke out against the war. This was echoed with various anti-war films including; Apocoplyse Now (1979) and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). With art as a tool that mirrored the futility, brutality and insanity of war, public outcry was reflected the growing anti-war opinions in the polls. For years of course, these public figures were on Santa’s “bad list.”
The ‘baddies’ or the disgraced listees included the likes of Muhammed Ali, Gil Scott Heron and Marvin Gaye. This was echoed with various anti-war films including; Apocoplyse Now (1979) and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987).
Decades later, it seems their younger counterparts took notes from their predecessors generation. “Mow money, mow money, mow money” became the sole goal for too many, drentched in capitalist propaganda and the hustle to be millionaires.
Those on Santa’s good list this christmas are now much of Hollywood (or maybe the cat just caught their collective tongues). There was Kerry Washington- whom every two years encourages the public to vote for The Democrats- who appeared on social media promoting her new book with Opera by her side. Yay! Or none other than Beyonce who blessed her instagram fans with her new world tour renaissance film and wait for it………………
(Drums roll)
Her new fragrence!
Brazzaville Records
By far my favourite shop in Geneva with vinyl records from all genres.
‘Treasures of the Ngoma label: The Soul of Congo. ‘A fantastic booklet that shares the history of Congo’s rumba and the record label.
More on Karl’s Brazzaville later…
Matthew Perry
Adey mearey’s friend whom she adored and laughed at right until her transition.
Chandler, who taught sarcasim to so many, will be remembered for his wit, humor and the joy he brought to so many xx
Lamen’s transition: 3rd anniversary
Rest in eternal peace, dear brother and uncle.
Baseball & basketball
My love for both sports might be random for a londoner but is honestly just what you need to unwind and one of my go-tos.
This season my favourite player being shortspot and second baseman, Texas Rangers‘ Marcus Semien – I know π
Jaffa cakes
Growing up one of my favourite chocolates as a kid was Jaffa cakes. That combination of orange and chocolate was delicious. The soft biscuity-sponge cake base, with a sharp orange tang and covered with chocolate.
Not-so-fun fact: The origins of jaffa oranges, of course dates back to Palestine in the 1840s.
I recently stumbled across the origns of jaffa cakes, Jaffa (Yaffa) being the outskirts of now Tel-Aviv. However, in the past Jaffa oranges was a source of great revenue and a livelihood for many Palestinians that dates back to the nineteenth century. During the British colonial years, Jaffa cakes was first introduced in the UK by McVite in 1927.
Though Jaffa oranges are no longer a major Israeli exporter, some organisations most notably BDS and a major Irish retail company called for boycotts of jaffa cakes (just saying).
Media – With hearts and truths
“Don’t watch CNN in the morning….It’s bad for your health, its bad for your mind…” said a guest last week, in Democracy Now.
Alternative and progressive media- with hearts and brains – has kept millions informed and showed humanity. Countering the matrix-like mainstream media are the independent media namely: Democracy Now, Novara Media, Gray Zone, Useful Idiots, Bad Faith, as well as Al Jazeera and Channel 4. From spectacular reporting to thought-provoking analysis, insights and interviews.
Melons forevs!
Books (a few that get you out of the matrix)
A Collective Bargain: Unions, Organizing, and the Fight for Democracy – Jane F. McAlevey
Why Unions Matter – Michael D. Yates
Detroit: I Do Mind Dying : A Study in Urban Revolution – Dan Georgakas and Marvin Surkin
Songs:
The Visionaries – Human Tree
“There’s a little bit in you
There’s a little bit in me
There’s so many branches on the humanitree”
Culture – Nah Stay Inna Babylon
Edwin Starr – War (What is it good for)
Daboor – Fi Ta5 (Prod. Al Nather)
Mustafa – Name of God ππ (absolute beauty)
Amy Winehouse – Best Friends, Right?
The Internet – Hold on
Putumayo Presents Congo to Cuba (Official Version) (Track 5 = elite)
The Funky Groove – Music Is The Answer | Soulful House Mix | Best Of October
November
Vaud
with a view:
New Blue Sun (2023) – Andre 3000
Andre, his flute and a laundromat.
Forever in awe of him and his magic. A therauptic and magnetic album that encourages authenticity and soothes. With woodwind instruments, including native flutes and digital wind instruments.
GQ Interview:
His love for simplicity and the yearning of normalcy – what can be more simple or normal than going to a laundromat?
Videos on social media taken by the public of Andre casually playing the flute in Tokyo had been surfacing for months. Nevertheless, this phenomenal creative album is as bold, inspiring and authentic as an artist can be.
London protest
11/11/23
750,000 strong
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ was an eerie watch but depicted the much needed Native American story of the Osage murders. A story of murders, brutality, greed, betrayal and love (though complex as it was). Played brilliantly by Lily Gladstone, Leonardo D’Caprio and Robert De Niro.
Jazz Cafe: Gilson’s
A fantastic show that brought me back to Rio and Salvador, where the crowd were just as loud as the cuties on stage.
Book store: Peace in the “gel temtem”
via Finchley Rd/Swiss cottage:
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
(Dis)Connected: How to Stay Human in an Online World – Emma Gannon
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking – Samin Nosrat
Beckham Documentary
The honey making, tatooed, forever handsome Becks. This four-part documentary was as nostalgic as rich tea and penguins. A warm reminder of key parts of my childhood: Footie & spice girls.
Farha (2021)
A fantsatic 2021 historical drama on Netflix, directed by Darin J. Sallam, Palestinian-Jordanian writer. It first priemered at Toronto International Film Festival on September 2021.
A tale of the 1948 Nakba tragedy when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homeland. Just as the young Farha was trapped in a room in her home amongst the bloodbath, the viewers sat with Farha and bared witness through the holds on the door.
A deeply moving film that gives context to todays tragedy, as the world too witnesses.
Yemane Barya: 26 year anniversary (Nov 5th) πͺπ·πͺπ·ππ
Gems of an icon.
My heart and childhood gently wrapped in my Adey’s gabi and nestled in this song and his 90s album.
Beam: Full full English
Poached egg, sausage, smoked bacon, portobello mushrooms, hash browns, baked beans with buttered artisan bread.
Lisboa’s Nata pastry
Makda & Jack! π Bumped into my favourite two at Luton Airport
p.s. It’s the second time Maki and I have bumped into each other at an airport in just over a year π
Songs:
Sampha: Tiny Desk Concert
Sons of Kemt – My Queen is Nanny of the Maroons
Faye Meana – Why
Manhattan Jazz | JazzHop (why not)
B.B.King – Lucille
J Dilla – Flowers (Instrumental)
Jill Scott – A Long Walk
From Plainpalais with love
Zara Tewolde-Berhan 