Silent Cry Documentary Screening Nov. 28th, 2009

  • November 26, 2009 6:13 pm

film documentary

Hey People,

I am posting this flyer/event because this documentary is screening only for one night in Toronto.  I have not seen this documentary but I think it might engage some important issues.  In any case, it should be interesting what some British students do in Kenya.  Anyways, that’s my disclaimer.  Contact information for the documentary is listed below.

Mark

Contact: Abdishukri Omar

Tel: 416.884.2812

Cell Phone: 647.215.9998

Email: info@silentcry.co.uk

BURIED BY BRUTALITY

Silent Cry

A desiccated, little-known region in south-eastern Ethiopia: this is Ogaden. Bordering on Somalia, it is populated mainly by Somali nomads. It’s very sad that for the rest of the world it’s nothing but a dark speck on the map. Nobody hears about Ogaden. People are simply killed, robbed, mistreated and nobody hears anything about it. The lack of reporting tells the Ogadenis that they’re of less value because nobody cares what happens to them. And the feeling overcomes them that they don’t belong among citizens of the world. When 500 Ogadenis are murdered, there’s complete silence. The world community is wholly ignorant of events in the region.

Thanks, to a group of young passionate British students who’s initial purpose was to vacation in Kenya, altered their holiday intentions after they had met “Omar” a local Taxi Driver with a story that changed their lives forever; we now can see the hidden truth shown in the strong documentary, “Silent Cry” a milestone event for Ogadenis, made possible through S.U.S Visions, presenters of 89.6 FM radio in London who’s long been the most popular broadcast frequency in popularity; whose remarkable vision of trying to expose some of the most serious problems in Ogaden through interviews, have led them to advocate for many people whose voices would otherwise be unheard.
From running down true story leads to interminable rides on rough roads in cheap cars with suspensions worn away a few hundred thousand kilometers ago, their journey finally proved fruitful when it finally brought them to IFO Refugee Camp in Kenya. Where they filmed and interviewed the locals who had fled from ongoing pattern of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Ogaden region. People said they had been brutalized by government troops. They described a widespread and longstanding reign of terror, with Ethiopian soldiers gang-raping women, burning down huts and killing civilians at will.
Though it is impossible to describe in simple language the anguish and tragedy these people have been through, the team hopes that this documentary will raise awareness about the crimes against humanity being committed. Their aim is on the verge of truly transformative change: changing the way the world responds to genocide and mass atrocities in Ogaden. With the change in leadership in Washington, the opportunities to advance their cause are much greater. They will continue to operate as volunteers but need additional funding to spread their message to the general public and recruit many more volunteers to submit their petition forms. Only with widespread support will they be positioned to abolish the genocide in Ogaden.

In short, the movement is shifting “Never again” from a promise they make to a commitment they keep.

The screening will be taking place on Sat. Nov 28 at Lady Hamilton Hall at 1677 Wilson Ave.

Haydain Neale 1970-2009

  • November 24, 2009 12:43 pm
HaydaiNeale was a Juno Award winning artists and lead singer of the group Jacksoul. On Sunday, November 22, 2009 he passed away at Mount Sinai Hospital in downtown Toronto after a seven month battle with Lung Cancer.
In a statement from his wife Michaela; “Through all these challenges, Haydain’s sense of humour and love of music were ever-present. He constantly brightened the room with his singing and his smile. His joyful presence and beautiful voice will be missed by us all.”
may he rest in peace.

haydainneale

Haydain Neale was a Juno Award winning artists and lead singer of the group Jacksoul. On Sunday, November 22, 2009 he passed away at Mount Sinai Hospital in downtown Toronto after a seven month battle with Lung Cancer. In a statement from his wife Michaela; “Through all these challenges, Haydain’s sense of humour and love of music were ever-present. He constantly brightened the room with his singing and his smile. His joyful presence and beautiful voice will be missed by us all.” may he rest in peace.

Let Spirit Speak!

  • November 23, 2009 9:59 am

CALL FOR PAPERS
“Let Spirit Speak! Cultural Journeys through the African Diaspora”

April 22-24, 2010
The City College of New York
New York, NY

In many traditional African cultures, there is unity in the material and the spiritual, in the seen and unseen. There is no difference between the sacred and the secular within this system of thought: everything is imbued with the spirit of God. Binaries that dominate Western thought (man/woman; mind/body; light/dark; good/evil) do not function in the same way within these cultures, as the emphasis is not on extremes but on balancing these radical differences, on reconciling them.

In this three-day conference, we wish to celebrate the myriad manifestations of life in the languages and literatures, the music and arts of the African Diaspora. We will rejoice in the multiple expressions of life, giving voice and paying homage to the ancestors.
We invite scholars and cultural workers from all areas of arts and humanities: Art, Dance, Drama, English, Ethnic Studies, Film, Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, International Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religion.

We invite paper abstracts and complete panels, workshops, and roundtable proposals on all aspects of the cultural manifestations of the African Diaspora. Submissions should detail requests for specific audiovisual equipment, if needed. We also ask that a proposal for a complete panel, roundtable, or workshop include a brief description of the theme as well as abstracts for all speakers. Abstracts should be a minimum of 300 words. We welcome presentations in all of the languages of the African Diaspora in the Americas.

The deadline for abstracts and proposals is December 15, 2009.
Selected papers from the conference will be published as conference proceedings.

Please email abstracts to Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés at culturaljourneys2010@gmail.com.
Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés
Assistant Professor
Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures The City College of New York 160 Convent Avenue, NAC 6/331D New York, N.Y. 10031
Phone: 212-650-6279
Fax: 212-650-6374
Email: vvaldes@ccny.cuny.edu

Prom Night in Mississippi

  • November 12, 2009 10:50 am

Jackae Baker

  • November 7, 2009 1:39 pm


One of Toronto legendary drag performers. 

Kehinde Wiley

  • November 5, 2009 1:51 pm

Justin Bua exhibit – Liss Gallery

  • November 4, 2009 9:02 pm

Posted by Alison
Justin_Bua_Invite

It was sometime in 2001, during my time at York University, that his work caught my eye.

I was killing time between classes and found myself in some sort of art sale on campus. It was while flipping through some of the larger prints that I saw it – some sort of graffiti-cubism mutt with sharp lines and unique perspective. It was an image of three Black men playing dice on “Green Street”; the short beer-bellied one holding an American $20, with “Mom” tattooed on his bicep. My eyes searched the lower part of the poster until they found what they were looking for: “JUSTIN BUA” – the artist behind the art.

When I got home, I Googled (well, actually I Yahoo’ed) his name, found an email address and sent my first piece of fan mail, telling him I had never heard of him and wanted more of his work. His response: “Thank you very much for your excitement. Call me and I’ll tell you more.”

I did. He let me know that he was working on a new piece called “El Guitarrista,” that he was planning on doing a coffee table book, and he used to breakdance. I told him I was a wanna-be B-girl from Toronto, that I’d look forward to the book, and asked that he include more women in his work. He said he would.

These days, everyone I know recognizes BUA’s signature style. “Green Street” still hangs on one of my walls, along with “El Guitarrista,” “Jazz Trio” and “The DJ”.

BUA will be showcasing his work at Liss Gallery in Toronto (140 Yorkville Avenue) on November 21, 1-5pm and 8pm-midnight. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP by phone (416 787 9872) or email (brianliss@lissgallery.com).

Village Cipher–> November 5th & November 11, 2009

  • November 3, 2009 2:38 pm
posted by Mark
Lost Lyrics is currently in their reflection and planning season. The past 3 years have been incredible learning experiences for both Amanda Parris and Natasha Daniels. They are trying to continue the process of learning by reaching out to the communities that have welcomed Lost Lyrics. Hence…

You invited are to the

Lost Lyrics

Village Cypher!

Parents, community members, educators, artists, students, elders and youth are invited to this collective exchange of ideas, knowledge, energy and perspective that is to help shape the Lost Lyrics 2010 curriculum. They will be sharing our learnings from 2009 as well as ideas for the Lost Lyrics 2010 curriculum and would love to have your feedback. Plus they will be showing a sneak preview of our Lost Lyrics 2009 DVD which features footage from in our classroom and The Live Report Card. And they will be serving free and very, very yummy scrumptious food courtesy of Mama Hood Catering!!! They will be holding two cyphers: the first in Malvern and the second in Jane-Finch. You can check out the location that is the most convenient for you or come to both! Here are the details:
Village Cypher

Sauti Yetu Gorée Network

  • November 3, 2009 8:19 am

By Alison Isaac

Sauti table

Liliane Braga is a Brazilian journalist, hip hop producer and academic researcher whose works focus on Africa and the African Diaspora. Through her work, Liliane has facilitated and participated in a number of cultural exchanges that have taken her to Canada, the US and Cuba. In July 2008, Liliane attended a 30-day encounter of young activists from Africa and its Diasapora on Gorée Island, Senegal (one of the three main slave-shipping points from which enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas). While there, Liliane and others formed a network of artists/activists called Sauti Yetu Gorée (”sauti yetu” means “our voice” in Swahili).

SYG’s mandate is “to help activists in the Diaspora implement self-sustainable projects in communities of African countries.” As a fundraising activity to support its initiatives, the group sells t-shirts portraying images of iconic African figures (Anatacia, Zumbi dos Palmares, Titina Sila, etc.) at various locations internationally (available at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore in this city).

Liliane, in collaboration with four other women, is currently working a documentary about the encounter in Senegal called Na nga def. Na nga def (“How are you?”) was a greeting in Wolof, which was repeated daily by participants while in Gorée. A clip of the documentary can be found on Youtube. Music by Montreal’s Nomadic Massive.