Hamza on Shake! Showcase: The showcase that “Emboldens” and shakes the “Energetic Apathy -

Shake Showcase!

The third edition of the course was held in August 5-9^th at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues! The young people, who come from different ethnic backgrounds, vividly proved that Art is not there to be an abstract form or simply to be for the sake of entertainment but rather as a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about. Performers succeeded each other and displayed their brilliant poetry, music and filming skills. The spoken words were particularly eloquent and moving and touched on different subjects such as war, racism, celebrity culture, social injustice and addiction. Christianah, Onysha, Annie, Lucas, Lateef and Umaru were full of energy, fieriness, passion and dissent, a dissent that is much needed in these radical times. These young poets’ spoken words were so gripping, penetrating and carefully chosen. They were words that embodied situations we –grown-up- have been confronted to for a long time; Energetic Apathy is definitely one of them. For her turn, Anna gave an incredible singing performance with a beautiful voice that added poignancy and a sense of urgency to the song. .... The short film “Reach” that was produced in only three days with limited logistics was of excellent quality. The filmmakers wanted to depict the contrast between wealth and poverty in communities around London and how affluence and power are concentrated in corporations. The images that were accompanied by some narration were powerful and showed how these communities are affected by gentrification and how they are alienated from the wealth they produce themselves. This was obvious in the “irritating” presence of Barclays and HSBC’s buildings behind the estates and the frustration at the out of reach higher education in universities. When asked to summarise the film in one word, the young directors used the words: capitalism, reach, aspirations and motivational to break obstacles ...
The showcase was truly an exhilarating experience and instilled in me the belief that these young people can be a force for change. Shakers, you emboldened my optimism and surely you will find me, in solidarity with you, struggling against the Energetic-Apathy around us.
Read full blog here:

http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.olX1t94G.dpuf
Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf
Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf
Since I joined Platform in July, I have seen the high-spirited Farzana passionately preparing for the “ Shake! – Young Voices in Arts, Media, Race & Power course”, organising its different activities and coordinating with other facilitators (Ed, Zena and Sai) in order to make it even better than the previous sessions. The third course was held in August at the landmark Bernie Grants Art Centre in Tottenham and the theme was Power, Propaganda and Perceptions. What the bright young people (16-25 years old) produced from poetry, music and film was showcased at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon on the night of October 29th. And what an amazing show and a stimulating experience it was. Talent at its purest and most engaging way with injustice and global issues!
The young people vividly proved that art is not just there to be an abstract form or simply for the sake of entertainment but can also be a powerful tool to face up urgent issues of our time in a creative manner. If you thought for one second that these young people have been dictated to what to write, compose or film, then you need to realise that the shake! course rejects the top-bottom approach of traditional educational forms and rather encourages the youth to develop their own ideas, express themselves through the medium of art and tackle issues they feel strongly about.
- See more at: http://platformlondon.org/2013/11/04/the-showcase-that-emboldens-and-shakes-the-energetic-apathy/#sthash.GEmZIfCh.dpuf

The Cost of War

THE COST OF WAR.
By Christianah Babajide

Did you actually know the cost of war
When you signed on to join the Army?
With your innocent minds and eager smiles
Did you realize...
The battlefield is not a playground


You've been brainwashed and fooled by the Old lie:
It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.
All they talk about is the pride of fighting for your motherland,
but nobody mentions the drums of death that beat in the battleground.


Who says “it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country”
Who makes the decisions about these wars?
Who is profiting from them?
Who is slurping from the blood of the dead?
Who is playing God and at what cost?
Knowing fully well that death walks hand in hand with war.


They promised comfort, you're living like refugees,
In your own mind, in your own body, in your own land.
They promised laughter, you're drowning in your guilt
They promised success, you just lost half your men.
They said the war wouldn't change you...
just who is that man in the mirror?


Rapid fire! He sways,in shock, almost unaware.
Then drops like a hot potato
That was my brother. We all lost a brother.
I want him back, not his broken limbs or fractured nose.
I want the whole package. His eyes were hazel.
It should have been me.

Now you are consumed by this guilt...
Your heart sinks lower than the Titanic,
He joined the war, not realizing people would actually have to die.
He never realized the horror of it,
Until he'd lost himself,
A baby with a gun
Lost in the bloody nightmare.


God only knows what we're fighting for...
to live like animals even though we're men
for our own neighbours not to recognize us?
Or is it for their names to be in history books?

Well, if that's the compromise of war
it is not enough.
Your humanity is priceless
and losing yourself is unforgivable.


If I survive the stench of hell, they may praise me for my victory
but their cheers will never be loud enough.
They cannot praise me enough for what I have lost.
I have lost the very thing that made me human.

Latest Shake! Film: Reach

This poetic documentary set out to explore issues of aspirations, social cohesion, capitalism, gentrification, and the UK's growing economic divide, as identified by the young film makers.

The second Shake! film of the year was made by:

Nathaniel Chapman
Enayet Mannan
Umaru Saidu
Khadiza Shahid
Minhas Wariz

It was devised in a day, shot over 2 days and edited in 3 days by young participants of the August 2013 workshops at the Bernie Grant Art Centre. The film making was facilitated and supported by film makers Richard York and Hannan Majid The Rainbow Collective and Derek Richards from Hi8us South.  This arresting film is testament to all their incredible talent.

Film Makers Q & A

The film was so sophisticated. Stunning. - Jane 

The film was absolutely incredible- Audience member from Shake Showcase

"Very sophisticated touches, the juxtaposition of the ticker tape of share prices and the fingerprinting news story, could easily have been missed, but matched the larger image of the HSBC building towering over the estates. Great film."- Sarah