M.I.A. in music video for Borders

Reading about a new M.I.A. release is enough for me to click on the link and listen to the new song or watch the new video. She is such an original and talented young woman.

Today, after watching the beautiful and self-directed music video for her new release, Borders, my love and respect for her has grown even more.

Not only is she addressing such an important and pressing human rights issue, but she is doing it in such a creative and visually stunning way. That is the… Read more

Saul Williams (from Buzzfeed)

Where does one begin when speaking about the wonderful Saul Williams? 
He is so prolific - an actor, rapper, musician, artist, and writer. 

No wonder that he was commissioned to write a book about about the United States of America. 
In US (a.), he reflects on the complicated issue of identity, of being an American, and the ways in which race informs that identity.
Check out the beautiful interview on Buzzfeed here.

Enjoy this video below. He is definitely one of the artists… Read more

Sananda Maitreya

He's back.
I have loved Sananda Maitreya since way back when he was known as Terrence Trent Darby.
His voice, his wonderful songs, his style, his sex appeal--- it was all enthralling. I followed his career as he became more and more philosophical and continued to produce beautiful music.  Today, my respect for him increases with the release of his new, powerful, passionate song and heartbreakingly beautiful music video.
The song is called I Wanna Breathe. According to AfroPunk, where… Read more

Were you excited when BET first launched? I was.

Coming from the Caribbean twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, it took a while before our little country got cable television. One of the channels I was most excited about was BET along with MTV. Music was always my passion.

Do you still feel that enthusiasm for BET and its programming in recent years? I don't.

And what do you think of BET's recent statement about its refusal to air the Million Man March 20 year reunion held in Washington, D.C. on October… Read more

 

Freedom Fest Japan

Osaka, Japan

November 28, 2013


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Osaka loves Nelson Mandela! November is Nelson Mandela month in Osaka with the launch of Freedom Fest Japan – a festival inspired by the former President of South Africa. 

Artists, dancers, musicians, photographers, academics and activists from all over the world have all come together to stage events throughout Osaka and even in Kyoto in honor of the ailing ninety-five year old Nelson Mandela. 

Freedom Fest Japan, conceived by the… Read more

Today I am sharing this very moving piece by one of my dearest friends, the talented Duane Ferguson.

Justice for Trayvon Martin!

I am..... Keep Your Hood Up
Developed, produced, and directed by Duane Ferguson. RIP Trayvon Martin.
(C) 2012, Baba Soul, Ent?.

(With my band in Japan, wearing our hoodies for Trayvon and for justice)

 I don't know what is worse - that in 2012, a young, innocent black boy can be pursued and shot to death by a self-righteous, racist, self-proclaimed vigilante, or that, despite the growing evidence, witnesses and public outcry, the police not only fail to arrest the shooter, but even make excuses for him.

It is deeply troubling that parents still have to teach their children - sons especially - that they must be careful, that… Read more

(http://news.yahoo.com)

It has now been two years since the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which killed over 300,000 people, injured countless others and destroyed the infrastructure of the tiny Caribbean island.

Here in Japan, we can have special empathy for the people of Haiti, having experienced a terrible earthquake and even worse tsunami in 2011.

Unlike Japan, however, Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere. The earthquake also destroyed Haiti's government and… Read more

When I reflect on 2011, the word "explosive" comes to mind. On an individual and on an international level, it was a year of transformative events.

As the fire of protest swept the Middle East, then Europe, water inundated the United States, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. The tsunami in Japan which claimed so many lives was followed by an ongoing nuclear disaster; both have affected me personally.

Yet out of the ashes, Japanese and other nationals have come together to help the victims and to… Read more

FREE DOWNLOAD: Rebel Diaz - Troy Davis Lives Forever (prod Agent of Change) by agentofchange


Despite great international support for death row inmate,Troy Davis, the Georgia Pardons Board refused to grant him clemency and he was executed on September 21st, 2011.

Seven of nine witnesses against Mr. Davis recanted after trial, many claiming to have faced intimidation by the police to give their testimony. Moreover, there seems to have been no physical evidence linking Davis to the crime.

More than… Read more