UNTITLED - A POEM BY SAMIA AZIZ©

Samia offers an insightful piece that captures the claustrophobia of the current world situation. Her choice of ideas expresses the helplessness we can sometimes feel against an invisible oppressor and how that can lead, dangerously, to apathy as a way of existing. Samia chooses to write to make sense of it all...

UNTITLED

Let us talk about truth? Cough splutter choke.
The norm is far from the place to start
From simple minds come simple lines
But inside my mind, a coup

　
The pen is my sword

But even then, I’m confined to reality.

Sighing to start the day,
Running down that non-existent hill

with hopes to feel the fake morning chill.
Aiming to forget all that can be seen…

REMEMBER THE 14 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE NEW CROSS FIRE

30 years ago this happened. It should have been a national tragedy. But because the young people who died were Black it was downplayed by the press. Doesn't this echo the handling of the Stephen Lawrence case? A fascinating look at Black British history.

The Reaction -  15,000 plus Black people marched through London in protest of how the murder of a communities children can be dismissed my the authorities. Can you imagine this being allowed to happen now?

WHAT WE LEAVE WE CARRY: THE LEGACY OF JOHN LA ROSE

Check this BBC Radio 4 John La Rose tribute programme which you can listen again to for next 4 days.

& also for those fellow Bibliophiles among you (e.g. Rotimi & yo enthusiastic book-buying that means you bro!) peep the New Beacon bookshop which still going strong in North Larndarn town. Always good to support the local community bookshops - especially when Libraries & services getting cut cut cut & when the sometimes cheaper alternatives come with power moves like this:

Big bookseller embroiled in WIKILEAKS DRAMA
Amazon's new "MORALITY POLICE CODE"

Daniel Ellsberg says BOYCOTT AMAZON

peace & poetry, Sai

COALITION OF RESISTANCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE - YOUTH, STUDENTS AND EDUCATION WORKSHOP

How empowering is this?! I've played this video to some friends age between 30-45 and they we were so invigorated and smiled with a little water in their eye because there is something in the Barnaby's voice that reminded them of their younger selves. It called passion. This vid has inspired many because it slaps up apathy, re-igniting and fueling an internal drive to action because of injustice. Gotta Love it! - Peace. Zena.

ERIC SOUL IS THE HOST OF WAHALA TV

Did you know this?

Click to check out more on AFROGROOV TV!!


 And still in the spirit of Fela!, Jane has let you know that you can still get ticket for the Fela musical at the National Theatre. See the story of Nigeria's contemporary political  story through his music and life.


Note from Jane: "If you haven't seen the show "Fela!" at National Theatre yet, get down there. It's an amazing night of afrobeat and politics. Incredible performances - Eric, Zena and I have all seen it. YOU CAN GO FOR £5, standing tickets (or dancing tickets....!!)"

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/57358/productions/fela.html

ESTATE VISION - LIVE TV DIRECT FROM HACKNEY'S YOUNG PEOPLE

Here  is an update on Ana's last project with Chocolate Films.


 









Estate Vision:  A screening of the Best of the Broadcasts.

 Young people from Fellows Court and Fawcett have been sharing their opinions on local issues, showcasing local young talent, and interviewing guests from the community on their own internet TV channel broadcasting live from their estates! Street Art, bad hair weave and education cuts are just some of the issues they have tackled on their shows, along with profiles of local young rapping and cooking talent.

Join us for a special gala screenings of highlights from their broadcasts.

    Saturday 22 January
 Rio Cinema 
107 Kingsland High Street, E8 
1.15pm

FREE ADMISSION!

For more information contact Chocolate Films

020 7793 4287

office@chocolatefilms.com

www.chocolatefilms.com

Watch the broadcasts online at www.stickam.com/estatevision

 

AMENAH'S POEM - VOICES THAT SHAKE

Amenah gives an unashamed account of a journey discovering her inner power, identity and her voice. It’s an honest and personal account of self definition through her culture, entering womanhood as a young Woman of African descent with a firm spirituality at her core.  She bravely exposes her inner fears. Something many of us are fearful of doing.

ARTS CHANGING THE FACE OF EDUCATION

SHAKE! is so on the right track. With all your input, YOU could help make this way of teaching THE way of teaching in the future.

This incredible video demonstrates how using the arts to educate our children and young people takes education away from the jurassic ways of teaching that don't instil enough hope in students for a shining future but how the Arts can. Brilliant speech (if a bit late). Brilliant visual graphics. A MUST WATCH!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR SHAKERS!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR SHAKERS!! All of us at SHAKE! and Platform hope you are all more than well and that you enjoyed the Seasons Holidays. WE ARE ON A MISSION THIS YEAR! It is so exciting.  We begin with lots of juicy things to watch, courses apply for and events to go and see. we start with this play on Radio 4. Its short notice but you can definitely catch it on BBC iPlayer if you miss it live! Here is a direct link to the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/Burned-To-Nothing Rex Obano's Burned to Nothing made a big impact at Tiata Delights 08 (Almeida Theatre). The play is an exciting, unsettling thriller set amidst oil-flamed violence in Nigeria's Delta region. It can be heard tomorrow Wednesday 5 January at 2.15pm on BBC Radio 4 and subsequently via the listen again options on the BBC website. This new radio version is directed by Tiata Fahodzi's former Artistic Director Femi Elufowoju, jr and the cast features a mouth-watering line-up of talent: Jude Akuwudike, Lorraine Burroughs, David Ajala, Obi Abili, Gbemisola Ikumelo and Tiata Fahodzi's current Artistic Director, Lucian Msamati. Good wishes, Tiata Fahodzi Here is a link to Tiata Fahodzi African Theatre company who created the play and thier Facebook page