Babel

Tag: Culture

  • 12/26 Yamoré, Happy Kwanzaa

    ‘Yamoré’ – Salif Keita with Cesária Évora, music video

    Powerful, moving, sultry and poignant. Song about love and life by two African greats… wow… I love it. Magic!

    Salif Keita with Cesária Évora, Song: Yamoré, Album: Moffou (2002), Recorded at Les Studios De La Seine, Paris, France between July 15 & December 14, 2001. Label: Decca. ‘Moffou’ was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best World Music Album.

     Kwanzaa Glow ©Kit Tossmann Louisville, KY

    Kwanzaa, founded in 1966 by Dr Maulana Karenga is held December 26th thru January 1st.  It is an African American celebration of family, community, commerce, responsibility,  and self-improvement. Kwanzaa is not religious or political, nor a replacement for Christmas; rather it honors roots and culture. It is celebrated by more then 18 million people worldwide.

    The word Kwanzaa means, ‘first fruits of the harvest’ in Kiswahili (an African language). The celebration is based on Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles) which are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).  On December 31st the community cooporative Kwanzaa Karamu or Feast is held. To learn more visit tike.com     

    ‘The Black Candle’ is a movie about Kwanzaa. In the movie it says,

    Kwanzaa means access to your soul, to your people.

    The beautiful, striking image above right of the Kwanzaa candles is a quilt by Kit Tossmann of Louisville, KY. It is featured in the 2007 Sacred Threads Gallery.

    Happy Kwanzaa! Have a wonderful celebration.

     

    Salif Keita Salif Keita born August 25, 1949 in Djoliba, Mali, Africa is a singer and songwriter. He is considered the Golden voice of Africa. He began his career in 1967 in the government sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako. Then joined the group, Les Ambassadeurs in 1973 and fled Mali in the mid 70s because of political unrest. The name was changed to Les Ambassadeurs Internationales and they gained international acclaim. In 1977 Keita received a National Order award. He moved to Paris for a while then back to Mali in 2000 where he was inspired to create Moffou. You can learn more about Salif Keita at his official site at universalmusic.fr.

    Cesária Évora Cesária Évora born August 27, 1941 in Mindelo, São Vicente Island, Cape Verde is a singer. Her nickname is the ‘barefoot diva’ because she prefers performing without shoes. She is known internationally for morna (music and dance from Cape Verde) songs of sadness, sorrow and yearning. She met Eduardo (a sailor) at 16, who taught her the traditional Cape Verdean music coladeiras and mornas.  She recorded her first album in Paris called La Diva Aux Pieds Nus (The Barefoot Diva) (1988). ‘Sodade‘ was her first international hit single. At age 47 she became an international star with the release of her album Perfumado. You can read more about her at cesaria-evora.com.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • New Soul – Yael Naim

    "New Soul’ performed by Yael Naim and David Donatien

    A fun song about a new soul learning how to live  in this strange world. I always sing along. The video is so creative, it seems like it’s about recreating our world… from a new and different perspective. Very cool. I love them both! Yael & David won the Album of the Year Award in “World Music” at the 2008 Victoires de la Musique annual French award ceremony.  Song: New Soul, album: Eponymous 

    Yael Naim Yael Naim, singer/sonwriter was born in 1978 in Paris. She spent a large part of her childhood in Ramat Hacharon, a small town not far from Tel Aviv. David Donatien, percussionist/producer was born in France. You can watch more videos of Yael and David at their website and listen to more music at their myspace page. Enjoy!

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • YHWH the SPIRIT

    A beautiful inspired Native Spirit video with a message of Love and Oneness. Music:  Northern Cree Round Dance – produced by Quiet Buck Productions. A similar message was given to Hottidownunda (Stephanie) who wrote a song called YHWH the Spirit. Awe filled!

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • Azure Sky Dragon – Ling

    Ling the Dragon by Bonnee Klein Gilligan. Copyright 2008

    Ling, the Dragon by Bonnee Klein Gilligan

    Ling is a dragon of the sky and clouds. He is an Azure Dragon (lung) the highest among dragons… vital spirit, celestial power and  infinite supernatural power. The lung, or Imperial Dragon represents the East and fertilizing rain. I was told the kanji says ‘Great Spirit’. The original 9" x 12" pastel drawing was commissioned in 1999.

    Giclee prints available at Spirit Art Gallery.

  • Green Concepts, Green Action, Green Change

    As ever I seem to be stumbling upon a lot of wonderful and exciting concepts and actions being taken for environmental change. Here are a few of the coolest….

    Carrot Mob – consumer mobs for environmental change

    Consumers have the power to make change. Carrot Mob located in San Francisco, CA, the brain child of Brent Schulkin is proving that by organizing consuming mobs for environmental change. They interview businesses and pick one that offers the most toward change. Then organize a large group of consumers to mob the store and buy something. The first mob in March 2008 called ‘We Make it Rain’ was a resounding success. The mob spent $9,276.00 at K & D Market in a couple of hours. The store committed to spend 22% of the money on greening their store with guidance from the San Francisco Energy Watch Program. And the local SF Food Bank received 366 pounds of food. Carrot Mob has taken off, is growing and has lots of great ideas for the future. The second mob of a Cafe in downtown is currently being organized. You can find out more at Facebook Carrot Mob.

    A mob is also being planned in Kansas City at World of Spirits on October 21, 2008. This great new idea is expanding worldwide too. The UK has jumped on board. The first UK Carrot Mob took place September 16, 2008 in London at Redchurch bar. It was a resounding success. A second UK Carrot Mob called ‘Maddness in the Minimarket‘ event is planned for November 6, 2008. According to CarrotMob.org facebook all of Finland has jumped on board and 2 mobs are currently in the works. This is exciting… grass roots activism at its best!

    HelpingOthers.org – Random acts of environmental kindness

    HelpingOthers.org is a website dedicated to offering ideas and stories of people helping each other. They suggest the following ways we can help the environment…

    Practice kindness towards the environment. Participate in beach or park cleanups. Reduce air pollution by carpooling, taking public transportation, biking, or walking. Recycle all aluminum, plastic, and paper materials. Cut down on the energy you use by lowering the heat and turning off lights and unused appliances. Learn more about solar energy. As gifts, give houseplants to teachers, friends, or coworkers. Plant a tree in your neighborhood. What a terrific website based on the concept of ‘Pay it Forward’. How cool is that!

    Sheryl Crow singing in environmental change

    Sheryl Crow, singer/song writer and environmental activist is singing about change. Her latest album Detours is her most out-spoken record to date. She says about the album, “the most honest record I’ve ever made. It’s about being forced to wake up.”

    About.com Sheryl Crow Interview: Can "Detours" Help Pave the Way to a Better World? by Larry West. Sheryl says, "Although I hate that a movement can be inspired by fear, at least people are talking about it, talking about ways they can incorporate green living into their homes and workplaces. If the IPCC reports are right, then we’ll see a third of our species, counting man, become extinct, a thing of the past. It’s very worrisome, but I have to believe that there is hope and that we can incite a sense of urgency in everyone. Our farming community [in Tennessee] is trying to go wind and solar, to remove ourselves completely from the grid. If we’re successful, hopefully we can be an example to other communities of how they can come together, work as a community, and become part of the solution." Thanks for your great work Sheryl!

    UK’s Big Green Challenge working together for change 

    Big Green Challenge, the people-powered innovation prize from NESTA. The £1 million prize fund is designed to encourage and reward people who work together to develop new ways to save energy and lower CO2 emissions by 60% in their communities. 350 projects were entered, of them 10 finalists were selected. Each team of finalists were given £20,000 to develop their ideas further over the next year. Here is a list of the finalists.

    Mirror News (12 September 2008) Big Green Challenge: Finalists up for £1million environmental prize. Nesta chief executive Jonathan Kestenbaum told the Mirror: "The fact that we had over 350 communities submitting strong ideas demonstrates there is the passion and knowledge across the UK to devise imaginative responses to climate change. "We are confident the 10 finalists will step up to the challenge of tackling the biggest single issue facing the planet." A very exciting contest can’t wait to read who the winners will be. Yahoo!

    A few interesting environmental links:

    People & Planet an online global resource for environmental issues and solutions and their impact on the peoples of the world.

    E – the environmental magazine – online and print magazine which provides independent coverage on a wide range of environmental issues.

    Grist, environmental news and commentary – “Grist: it’s gloom and doom with a sense of humor. So laugh now – or the planet gets it.” An online environmental magazine with a sense of humor and a little seriousness thrown in for good measure.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan