Contents Editors Notes • Feature : Afro-Futurism Chew on this • Juices • Health Talk • Fashion Book Review • African Space Program • No Evil G-Spot • Hair • Bloggable • Poem Subscription • Follow us
Contribu
tors
Editor : W
angechi R
uguaru Editor : E
va Githina Co-Editor : Wambui Wamuto
goria
Contribu Gerald M tor : ontgome
Contribut
ry
or : Kabu
ra Waho
me
Contribut
or : IbĂŠ K aba
Other Con tribut
ors:
Helen Kin uthia Gat henji Cherrelle
X
Designer
Chebet N g'ok - Sam Ga
thenji
Cover Art: Ikire Jones, Lagos 2081 A.D.
“If there is an Afro-Futurism, it must be sought in unlikely places, constellated from far-flung points.” – Mark Dery“Black people…live the estrangement that science fiction writers imagine.” – Greg TateAfrofuturism is an exercise in connecting the dots. One image, invention, poem or book does not paint a clear picture or define the concept. It is like spotting something off the corner of your eye and when you look at it straight it changes on you. It requires one to look at all the different fragments and then go deeper still to get it. Afrofuturism as a concept comes across as fluid and is barely understood before it morphs into a vision that would be understood differently by different individuals depending on personality, comprehension ability, time and place. I could go on.... Why then do we want to take a snapshot of it? For clarity? In Kenya we are celebrating 50 years of independence. The African Union is also celebrating 50 years since Africa freed itself, but this feels off. We know our people have been around since earth was formed, others say before it was formed. Right now we are pleased, very pleased with ourselves for all the progress, the development, our urban cities, our mobile technology, our advances in healthcare, education….but something still feels off. It feels off because we do not have the complete picture; we do not have the complete story. We have bits and pieces of our history and we barely understand where we are going with all these advances…where does it all lead? Afrofuturism tries to explain what we are doing, what our astrology, art, music, science, is leading to. Sure, these are fulfilling pursuits when explored individually, but there should be more, right? But then again we can’t all agree on the past, the present, or the future. Regardless of Afrofuturism’s ambiguity we can try to define, capture or understand it as it is and that is why as #africansinmotion must at least try. Whether we fail or succeed we must at least try.
Eva
Follow us into the rabbit hole……
We asked a few of our friends to define this concept for us and they did. They did a brilliant job and we hope that we are one step closer to that indefinable, ever changing concept and that we at least got close enough to take a snapshot of it. “What is Afrofuturism? At first thought, perhaps, an oxymoron…On second thought, a vision of fluffy, puffy afros crowning multi-hued afronauts juxtaposed atop a sterile, ivory vision of technological progression - is born; space ships and colonization, galactic empires and trans-planetary corporations. Further speculation inevitably conjures up nightmares of oppression at an almost unimaginable scale as the vagaries of the human soul are pit against the relentless drive of technology.”
~Mark Rockeymoore~
“If there is an Afro-Futurism, it must be sought in unlikely places, constellated from far-flung points.” – Mark Dery“Black people…live the estrangement that science fiction writers imagine.” – Greg TateAfrofuturism is an exercise in connecting the dots. One image, invention, poem or book does not paint a clear picture or define the concept. It is like spotting something off the corner of your eye and when you look at it straight it changes on you. It requires one to look at all the different fragments and then go deeper still to get it. Afrofuturism as a concept comes across as fluid and is barely understood before it morphs into a vision that would be understood differently by different individuals depending on personality, comprehension ability, time and place. I could go on.... Why then do we want to take a snapshot of it? For clarity? In Kenya we are celebrating 50 years of independence. The African Union is also celebrating 50 years since Africa freed itself, but this feels off. We know our people have been around since earth was formed, others say before it was formed. Right now we are pleased, very pleased with ourselves for all the progress, the development, our urban cities, our mobile technology, our advances in healthcare, education….but something still feels off. It feels off because we do not have the complete
picture; we do not have the complete story. We have bits and pieces of our history and we barely understand where we are going with all these advances…where does it all lead? Afrofuturism tries to explain what we are doing, what our astrology, art, music, science, is leading to. Sure, these are fulfilling pursuits when explored individually, but there should be more, right? But then again we can’t all agree on the past, the present, or the future. Regardless of Afrofuturism’s ambiguity we can try to define, capture or understand it as it is and that is why as #africansinmotion must at least try. Whether we fail or succeed we must at least try. Follow us into the rabbit hole…… by Eva Afrofuturism to me is Africa better, an Africa that has a more solid Identity. In my Future Africans are unapologetically African in the way they dress by wearing more African prints, creating even more accessories, new crafting methods in our textiles and metals. The African textile industry is booming, we fully control the export of precious stones and metals throughout the world. We are the innovators behind textiles and clothes worn in our continent. African designers and stylists have had time to understand the fine art of fashion and have found new and exciting ways to express their art. Africa in the future will continue to be what it has been from the very beginning: expressive, creative, interesting and constantly innovative, a place where the world comes to learn from their foremothers and forefathers. by Wambui Wamutogoria
Artists such as Erykah Badu, Andre 3000, Nnedi Okorafor and Janelle Monae are great examples of what afrofuturism embodies. The movie District 9 reveals the terminology through depictions of futuristic occurrences, for example aliens on earth in present day, but it’s all done creatively with great imagination and detailed portrayal. Afrofuturism is the future, presented now through deciphered narratives and folktales rich with secrets, yet told in the simplest of words. The term was structured by Mark Dery to define an artistic progression that intertwines science fiction with African culture and literature. Afrofuturists push the boundaries by employing their imagination whether through use of technology, poetry, spoken word, paintings, music or any other art form. It is a manner of creativity that is enthralling, captivating and inspiring. by Helen Kinuthia Gathenji
Imagine Leonard, a simple local boy from Liverpool who has never seen, let alone touched, an American football. Imagine somebody takes a professional America football team, say the Minnesota Vikings, to Liverpool to play against Leonard and his boys. Imagine Leonard and his friends get plummeted by the Vikings. They are left with broken bones, PTS on their brains, many died; and the Vikings always win. Of course! Damn refs! Imagine Leonard and his friends sense the bullshit and start screaming foul. So the Vikings and their sponsors say, okay, okay, you are ready for the big league. And so Leonard and his friends become the newest team in the National Football League! Imagine they become the laughing stock of the whole league—with no discount for their unique situation. Instead everybody agrees that they are simply lazy and lack the aptitude it takes to understand a game like football. Never mind every season—sometime in the middle of the season—superstar players would get together and change aspects of the game, introduce new rules and regulations without any input from the Pool Boys. When against all odds, the boys start getting the hang of the game and manage to win couple of games, coming close to getting in the playoffs on at least one occasion, imagine football morphs into hockey, into lacrosse, into baseball, etc etc. And the boys
are left further and further and further behind. What are 11 Pool Boys to do? They slowly realized the absurdity of their situation; their inherent disadvantage vis-à-vis their opponents and the fact that they would never catch a break even if they had God on speed dial. In a feat of rage brewed inspiration, they tossed their helmets, got rid of the sticks, bats and ice rink; lowered the goal posts, chuck the puck and made the ball round. They call their new game Soccer (cos they are Americans now, and it wouldn’t make much sense to call it football.) You don’t have to imagine this one: The Pool Boys are Africans and soccer is Afrofuturism.
world including in Africa. Our people have been struggling with color complex issues since they began to condition to us. The future is putting these superficial detrimental ideas in our past. To do this we must begin to judge each other by the content of one’s character. We must not tolerate inequity and we must treat each other with respect. Afrofuturism is your kinky hair, corn rows and dread locks, sweet potato pie and collard greens. It is a revolution of black artists, doctors, lawyers and free spirits. Afrofuturism is lifting each other up and refusing to let our past keep us down. Afrofuturism is where we are going. by Cherrelle X
By Ibrahim Kaba What is Afrofuturism to me? I would define it as the spirit of our rich legacy. It is the journey towards understanding our pasts while moving toward the future. We have got big shoes to fill. So when contemplating the idea of Afrofuturism we must first look at how far we have come and who has helped us to get where we are today as a people. In order to know where we are going, we must know where we have come from. We've come from a place where we have been judged not by the content of our character, but by the color of our skin, every place we go in the
Afrofuturism....The idea that Africa has a future beyond its current perception of poverty, corruption, war and disease. It speaks to an African Renaissance in all spheres; politics, business and culture. It will occur when the Global psyche drops it's obsession with the ego and allows creative sustainability to prosper. …3 artists I would say embody afro-futurism for me would be Frank Ocean, Lauryn Hill and Wangeci Mutu by Chebet Ng'ok
The Evolution t o Juice Feasting d vegetables n a s it u fr w ra f o s consumption a ed in ef d the largest is e v g a in h t s s n a ic fr A Juice fea smoothies. The All-Around ndRosemary: a rving es staCure ic f ju o f o er b m rm u n fo t e es h h t ig in rld and the h o w e h t in d n la is not farmed d d n la e il rt fe fertile untille is h t n. The reason re d il h c d f, or lack of n o a y en t n m o le p e v a h men, w e ower which w p n a m f o preserve the k c o t la s t y o a w le ib on is n s rather acces t u b d Africans o t fo a h e t h t s y r a w fo e m et o s rk ma ource. Here are s s it itioning es s h n c a ra t re y it b re s n o a ef ic b fr d foo erations of A en g re u t fu it ef en yle. today can b to this new lifest
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It's good for your health: The most obvious benefit from juice feasting is improved overall health. Africans in the modern world are finding themselves sicker from communicable diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and other outbreaks. To survive modern maladies we can boost our immune systems by switching to juice feasting. All meals eaten will be raw and our bodies will be able to access all nutrients from these foods, making our bodies stronger and more likely to fend off any incoming diseases.
Powdered and Sundried foods: Getting back to Nature: Scientist and historians now believe that Africans were the first people in all continents of the world. Their diet consisted of fresh fruits and vegetables. As a result they lived longer and more in tune with nature. By Juice feasting we live in balance with our environment, consume less toxins and live longer, healthier lives. If Africans are to play a contributing role in the future we must be in peak health to be in a peak state of mind
Africa has sunshine all year round, we may have some cold and rainy months tucked within the year but there’s always sunshine. Green powders such as sun chlorella and moringa can easily be made in Africa. These powders ensure that Africans all over the continent have protein and chlorophyll rich powders for their consumption all year round. If you also consider the minerals and nutrients your body needs on a daily basis you would need to eat a massive amount of fruits and vegetables daily. By turning green leafy vegetables into powdered form and sun drying fruits we ensure that these vitamin rich foods are preserved without chemicals. It’s a cheap way of preserving foods and ensuring that the food can be transported to any part of the world to be enjoyed by people that live in places with less sunshine.
Numerous research has shown the effectiveness of soursop as a remedy for diseases such as herpes and other viruses that find their way into our bodies. Soursop has also been found to reduce the growth of cancer cells and eliminate them from the body. Ingredients: Soursop only
Memory smoothie: Tuffs University did a study that showed that the consumption of blue berries may delay and improve short term memory loss. Black currants are rich in vitamin C which increases mental acuity. Broccoli is rich in vitamin K which enhances cognitive functions hence improving brain power. Nuts are also rich in Vitamin E which helps prevent cognitive decline particularly in the elderly.
Energy boost juice: We all know that red bull and 4loko aren’t good for our health. What if you need an energy boost? Instead of grabbing an energy drink out of the cooler try this juice packed with natural anti-oxidants, electrolytes and bioflavonoids. Oranges, kale or chard, green apples, lemon or lime and a pinch of Himalayan sea salt.
Libido Green Juice: On romantic holidays we’re encouraged to share chocolate amongst couples. Turns out, the cocoa bean boosts libido. The more raw and unprocessed it is the more effective it is. The lovely sweet smelling Peaches are also high in Vitamin C which has been shown to boost sperm count and less sperm clumping. Watermelon have unusually high amounts of an amino acid called arginine, arginine is related to vascular health in guys that translates to healthier erections and in women it’s been linked to increased libido.
Body Builders Juice: Magnesium is required during protein synthesis, activating key enzymes and energy production. Magnesium also keeps muscle and nerve functions strong. Ingredients: Parsley, chard or collard greens, carrots, beet leaves and lemon.
“Afro-Futurism has no tense: it is spiral, pastpresent-future tense, manifesting alternate realities and spaces for the true realization of self, destiny, freedom. Afro-Futurism is within and without; in our vessel traveling to new realities/spaces/time, it is the core capacitor.� Chicago Art Magazine
In a time long past but not forgotten, the people of Africa lived differently from the way we do now, ate different foods and observed norms that we have since abandoned. Runners traveled long distances to deliver messages. They did. They ran hundreds of kilometers. Their food was gathered from desolate plains and dense forests. They hunted animals that were a hundred times bigger than they were and swam with the sharks. The people of Africa consulted the stars when they built their homes, planted their crops, named their children and to mark the seasons. They built villages, cities and kingdoms. We now build neighborhoods, counties and governments. Forward in time, we are here still doing the same things but in totally new ways. We used our spears to hunt the animals and now we learn how to throw the javelin via YouTube. Kenya’s Julius Yego did that. He learned how to throw the javelin using videos and he has competed in the African Games and the Olympics. Running messengers travelled both short and long distances to deliver messages and now the likes of Usain Bolt and David Rudisha dominate the long and short distance races. Science has made it so that those who have lost limbs have been able to replace them with those made of steel. What does the future hold as far as our physical ability is concerned? Will we fly to the stars, swim the oceans or walk through time. In a way we already do and it will be interesting to see how much more of this we will be able to accomplish.
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The Futuristic Professional
The Future Bride And Groom
Wambui Wamutogoria
The IT Girls
The Future Politician
Octavia E Butler
“In the genre of science fiction, Octavia E. Butler has created entire alternative worlds that uncannily reflect reality and deflect and undermine it at the same time by generating subjects who improve on the available human models; in that regard, science fiction puts into play something that we know, that is rather familiar, while it so rearranges the signposts that the outcome is strange and defamiliarized. The melding of the familiar and the strange is not only the essence of the marvelous, but the very ground of the uncanny, which returns us to what we know in a way that we had not known and experienced before.� - Hortense J. Spillers-
it was then that he knew that he had to have her. According to him, she was a wild seed of the best kind and she would strengthen any line he bred her into. Strengthen it immeasurably. He knew that he could not kill her before he learned out all there was to know about her. He convinced her to come with him by promising to give her children that would not die but live, and by living with him, she would be protecting her current living children.
that the reader understands both perspectives and she also allows us to see the ways in which the characters change each other.
It was a different and interesting read for me, without a doubt. It was interesting how different tribes, different dialects and different times were all entwined and woven together. There was a free world, there was a slave holding world and there was a world where they all existed together. Doro hardly took the body of a white person, and Doro’s village was different from Anyanwu did not have the heart anything that Anyanwu had Doro and Anyanwu are the to take on a European name, but ever known or seen in her many memorable characters that emerge eventually she did. One thing lifetimes. In this village that he from the pages of this book. For the considered to be his home base that Octavia does very well is to longest time they lived worlds apart, he was seen as a god and he was put race in a world that was not each thinking that they would forever feared. He protected and provided meant to. It is something that she be alone. They had each on their for his people in the village and any accomplishes very well in Wild own, given up looking and accepted other seed villages that he had. Seed, the possibilities and the their solitude. doors that this opens are endless. Doro brought her there because She presents science fiction in at first he thought to keep her for In their first encounter they shared himself but after talking it over with a different and likeable way for things with each other that they masses that would not even think his son Isaac, they agreed that it thought no one else living knew or would be a better option for her to about reading it. would even grasp. Doro could tell by be his wife. looking at her that she was way older Octavia E. Butler was an Africanthan anyone though she was way American science fiction Anyanwu would not do it at first, older. She was old enough to be his it was wrong for her to be with writer. She became the first mother’s mother. Doro and Anyanwu both a father and son- unheard science fiction writer to win were similar in that they were not the MacArthur Fellowship. of where she was from. In Doro’s understood and others were afraid She started writing to escape world though, what he wanted of them. Their lives were in constant and ordered went, there was boredom and became a science danger and as such they adapted. fiction fanatic at the age of 12 no questioning, only obedience. Doro was possessed while Anyanwu The struggle between Doro and years. In total she wrote 15 was a healer. Doro convinced her science fiction books. She passed Anyanwu is a fascinating one and to reveal to him her true self and Octavia takes the time to make sure away in 2006 at the age of 58.
African Space Programs Are Realer Than You Think
by Wambui Wamutogoria
Kenyan Space Program: In 1970 Kenya launched the world’s first earth orbiting satellite dedicated entirely to X-ray astronomy. The satellite named “Uhuru” was launched from Malindi and scholars from all over the world were required to come to Malindi to get their PHD by studying the satellite.
Proposed Future Projects for the Kenyan space program (Uhuru Satellite pictured) A university of Astronomy would be set up in the beautiful beach town of Malindi where students would study data collected from Uhuru satellite. Kenya would also launch other satellites that would orbit all the planets in our solar system giving us a chance to understand the effect of the stars on the other planets in our solar system
Proposed Future Project for the Ugandan Space Program Uganda is a prime spot for space exploration due to its position on the equator. We could build on Idi Amins efforts by having training centers for Afronauts and setting up launch pads along the equator where space craft can take off. So that when African nations want to launch satellites and space craft they would do it in Uganda.
South African Space Program: South Africa’s apartheid regime started secret missile military projects whose aim was to orbit satellites. Due to pressure from the US government these projects were put on hold. Despise the halt on the project; South Africa still has space infrastructure, knowledge and experience.
Proposed Future Projects for South African Space Program Despite the halt on the missile project, South Africa still has space infrastructure knowledge and experience from the successful missile project. South Africa has currently negotiated with Kenya, Algeria, and Nigeria to pool imagery and other data from all their microstats. South Africa could develop better relationships with its neighbors by training them with know how to build missile programs to enhance security from forces outside of Africa. African nations currently do not have missiles in their armies’ arsenals making it easy for nations outside of Africa to intimidate African nations with their military prowess. The missile program in South Africa can be used to instruct African nations to defend themselves from incoming missiles and engage in defensive battles. Check out other cool Afronauts on www.africandigitalart.com
Speak No Evil Afro-Futurism is an exploration and methodology of liberation, simultaneously both a location and a journey. ~ D. Denenge Akpem~ Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu is the author of Zahrah the Windseeker, The Shadow Speaker, Long Juju Man and Who Fears Death (DAW Books, 2010). She was born the United States to two Igbo (Nigerian) immigrant parents. Because Nigeria is her muse, this is where many of her stories take place, either literally or figuratively. Read: Long Juju Man “A great early chapter book, with lovely illustrations. Ngoli is an 8 year old Igbo speaking girl living in a village in Nigeria. Her grandfather tells her stories about Long Juju Man and how he enjoyed using his magic to play tricks on people, but when she encounters his ghost in the forest, she isn't prepared for the strange friendship that they will develop, and how she will change as a result.” Samuel R. Delany is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Temple University. Walter Mosley says this about him: “Mr. Delany is it. He is the center. He is one of our most amazing writers and thinkers. You’re sitting in a room with one of the greatest men in American literature. Period.” Samuel Ray Delany, also known as "Chip," is an awardwinning American science fiction author. He was born to a
prominent black family on April 1, 1942, and raised in Harlem. Read: Dhalgren “Bellona is a city at the dead center of the United States. Something has happened there…. The population has fled. Madmen and criminals wander the streets. Strange portents appear in the cloud-covered sky. And into this disaster zone comes a young man–poet, lover, and adventurer–known only as the Kid. Tackling questions of race, gender, and sexuality.” Nalo Hopkinson is the author of three novels and a short story collection: Brown Girl in the Ring, Midnight Robber, The Salt Roads, and Skin Folk. She is from Jamaica and she also loosely bases her science fiction work on the culture of the islands. The New Moon’s Arms is her latest novel. Read: Midnight Robber “It's Carnival time and the Caribbeancolonized planet of Toussaint is celebrating with music, dance, and pageantry. Masked "Midnight Robbers" waylay revelers with brandished weapons and spellbinding words. Young TanTan, the Robber Queen is simply a favorite costume to wear at the festival-until her power-corrupted father commits an unforgiveable crime. Suddenly, both father and daughter are thrust into the brutal world of New Half-Way Tree. Here monstrous creatures from folklore are real, and the humans are violent outcasts in the wilds. Tan-Tan must reach into the heart of myth and become the Robber Queen herself. For only the Robber Queen's legendary powers can save her life . . . and set her free.”
Hear No Evil “Rhythm is this terra incognita, it’s this continent we’ve yet to land to. […] Rhythm […] is about intensities, it’s about crossing a series of thresholds across your body.”~Unknown~ ‘“Black to the Future” launched the discourse of AfroFuturism. [It] describe[s] the self-conscious appropriation of technological themes in black popular culture, particularly that of rap and other hip-hop representations.”’ – Mark Dery Spoek Mathambo Johanneburg’s Spoek Mathambo (Nthatho Mokgata) is an artist that transcends genres, boundaries and time into something other and it all feels like we are yet to get to it. Spoek makes music that we have to journey towards and that is the epitome of Afro futurism, so seek him out and let us know what you hear! https://soundcloud.com/spoekmathambo Simphiwe Dana Simphiwe describes her music as “meditative and celebratory”. Her music has a dream-like quality to it and her visuals are a clever combination of what we know of our past and glimpses of our possible future. Simphiwe’s music is relatable and timeless and we cannot get enough of it so take a listen and let us know what you hear! http://www.simphiwedana.com Just A Band Just A Band is not what it seems and is likely quite the opposite of what it sounds like. It is a group headed by Blinky Bill, the now hat wearing lead singer. The other members of the group are geeky, and very effective musicians and their sound truly captures the present dilemma of contemporary Africans in a fun and energetic way. Just A Band truly knows how to put on a show, so you should take a listen and let us know what you hear! www.just-a-band.com
See No Evil Culturally relevant and historically informative stories are made more accessible through animation. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~Maya Angelou~ Oya: Rise of the Orisha is an upcoming feature film that blends the Western superhero genre with Yoruba mythology. Rise of the Orisha garnered some attention on the internet following their Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign. Check it out here: http://www.thisisafrica.me/visualarts/detail/19879/oya-rise-of-the-orisha-yorubadeities-as-movie-superheroes
King Khama: The African Abe Lincoln is a proposed animated movie about Botswana’s King Khama III was also known as Khama the Good, was the kgosi (meaning chief or king) of the Bamangwato people ofBechuanaland (now Botswana), who made his country a protectorate of the United Kingdom to ensure its survival against Boer and Ndebele encroachments. For more information go to http://www.kingkhamaroyalfilm.org/ Kirikou et la sorcière is a French language animation for children written and directed by Michel Ocelot based on West African folktales it tells the story of a young boy, Kirikou, who appears destined to become a great leader and who sets out to free his village from the tyranny imposed by a powerful sorceress. For more information go to http://www.kirikou.net/
Ubuntu… on Mars Archaeologists excavating a trash pit at the Jamestown colony site in Virginia have found the first physical evidence of cannibalism among the desperate population, corroborating written accounts left behind by witnesses. Cut marks on the skull and skeleton of a 14-year-old girl show that her flesh and brain were removed, presumably to be eaten by the starving colonists during the harsh winter of 1609. The remains were excavated by archaeologists led by William Kelso of Preservation Virginia, a private nonprofit group, and analyzed by Douglas Owsley, a physical anthropologist at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington. —Nicholas Wade, New York Times May 1, 2013 Now that I have your attention… Recently there has been much to do about, well, a lot, regarding space travel to Mars. The Rover, named “Curiosity,” landing on Mars, August 6, 2012, was arguably a more giant leap for mankind than the small lunar step Neil Armstrong took on July 20, 1969. There’s even been talk, much more in astronomy circles—or so I’m told, of colonizing the Red Planet as early as 2023. Imagine, in just a decade there could be a colony on Mars; individuals I am certain will have friends and loved ones back here on Earth. Whew… talk about your long distance relationships! If mankind embarks on this unprecedented journey it is my most sincere hope that the maiden voyage consists of a diverse group of astronaut-pioneers. Let it be a cosmopolitan settlement; not just all Americans, Russians, or Chinese. History shows us that if the first Martian settlers represent one nation, and even worse one ethnicity of people, then the entire planet would be claimed in the name of that country—in which case the human race is most certainly doomed to repeat its mistakes. God forbid the second Martian settlement results in the first Martian world war. In light of new evidence alleging that the first English settlers were drove to cannibalism, if the first Martian colony is to survive I am convinced its occupants must practice African traditions; particularly the philosophy of Ubuntu.
An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each other’s hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself, they said: “UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad”? —Unknown Author, posted throughout the Internet Ubuntu is both our greatest strength and weakness, as we (black people) are a communal people to a fault. Our training and customs make this so: [In the past I once wrote] “If a black man wins a milliondollar lottery he is likely to not only give money to each of his family members, but to his friends as well, and to each an equal portion. Though charitable on its face, dividing a million dollars among, say, 35 people is hardly enough to significantly lift any of them out of their present economic state (e.g. home ownership, debt nullification, or college education) and thus would all be spent on material things.” Still, in the beginning of any organic process it is the communal spirit (e.g. the strong supporting the weak) not the survivalist attitude (e.g. the strong forsaking the weak) that predicates the survival of all parts involved. The key then, for the individual, is to know when to forsake the community, for a time, to advance himself.” Without the spirit of Ubuntu the attitude of “survival of the fittest” will emerge and, since the fit’s survival is at the expense of the weak, will most certainly lead to some form of cannibalism; if not as the ingestion of a man’s flesh then surely the consumption of his humanity—if not to make a meal of him, to sup, then assuredly to make of him a serf. The ugliest side of what makes us human finds pleasure in such a thing. Iron sharpens iron, so let’s be better because of it!
Gerald Montgomery
Hair from the past to the future By Eva “We don’t go natural, we return. “Natural” is where it began” ~Unknown~ “Take the kinks out of your mind, not your hair.” ~Marcus Mosiah Garvey~ "We have the same spiral in our hair as electricity, tornadoes, whirlwinds, DNA, galaxies!"~Nekhena Evans~ When I was about “yeh-high”, you know that height where you are too young to do anything for yourself but old enough to want to do it anyway because you were not old enough to know about your own short-comings? Yes well, when I was “yeh-high” I really dreaded hair wash day because it was never a pleasant experience. Mama had a way of scrubbing my scalp that left my head reeling. In those days, conditioner was a luxury and she also used whatever soap was handy and combed my hair as if she was in a rush to go somewhere and she was already really, really late. There was also the hot comb and if that was nowhere to be found because some invisible hand, (mine in fact) had hidden it to avoid the ear-burning sessions where my washed hair would then be straightened, then the clothes iron would then be used to straighten my hair to make it presentable for school, church or other gathering where children had to be presentable. A lot has changed since those days. Hair care has changed, except for the constant – Mothers washing their child(rens) hair. Shampoo and conditioner are readily available and used to wash hair and there are blow driers, curling irons
and for most nowadays, lye relaxers have been employed to permanently avoid those painful wash days. For the enlightened on the harmful effects of chemical relaxers, there is a ton of information on taking care of natural African hair and if Mama is able to she will take you to a well-informed hairdresser who will take care of wash day using modern day conveniences. Back then Mama and her friends believed that perms and curly kits were the best way to style and maintain hair. Braiding was seen as backward and too traditional. Looking around now we can clearly see that the tide has turned, we are shunning the perms and curly kits and embracing our natural curls and seeking the traditional braids, natural hair care and trying to stay as close to natural as possible. Hair care has come full circle and then some. We are not simply going back to the traditional, we are going natural and using the scientific method to figure out how we can better take care of our hair and the rest of our body. The tide keeps on moving and it will be interesting to see where the current hair trends go, how we wear it, dress it and the journey that involves.
Bloggable “[T]he future is not an idea, but a sensation.” ~Sadie Plant and Nick Land, Cyberpositive~ Timbuktu Chronicles
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Emeka Okafor the owner of this blog is an entrepreneur and venture catalyst who lives in New York City. He is the curator of Maker Faire Africa. He was the director for TED Global 2007 that took place in Arusha,Tanzania. Other associations include TED fellowships and the Africa Innovation Foundation. His interests include sustainable technologies in the developing world and paradigm breaking technologies in general. His blog, Timbuktu Chronicles seeks to spur dialogue in areas of entrepreneurship, technology and the scientific method as it impacts Africa. "Timbuktu is a city unsullied by the worship of idols...a refuge of scholarly and righteous folk, a haunt of saints and ascetics, and a meeting place of caravans and boats" -Al-Sa'Di African Digital Art http://www.africandigitalart.com
Jepchumba is an African Digital Artist originally from Kenya. She is the founder and creative director who focuses her passion for technology and creativity around Africa. Jepchumba has a Masters in Digital Media with experience in New Media project management and digital production. Digital Media and Africa. Jepchumba loves experimenting with motion, sound and various digital effects and techniques and has an extensive background in digital art, web design and development, audio/ visual production and social media strategies. She researchers and speaks on how technology and design affects culture. OkayAfrica
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OkayAfrica is run by a team that is dedicated to bringing you the latest from Africa’s New Wave; with more than half the population in many African nations under 25, the bright continent is currently undergoing an explosion of vibrant new music, fashion, art and political expression. These are the people that make it all happen!
A Wrinkle in a Traffic Jam By Ibrahim Kaba
Today On my drive home from work I turned my radio off And forgot my phone in my pocket I rolled down my windows And let my mind follow my ears I heard the sound of birds That led me to new buds Greening on nearby trees Inches away from the traffic jam I was sitting in
The roads are built by seasons— Rainy season gutters and Dry season dust bowls The trucks, old German hand-me-downs They move slowly And cough up plumes of smoke That bellows in their wake and mushroom Cloud that hovers and covers Attieke and fried fish—by the side of the road We eat—by the side of the road And die – (“God’s doing”, says the living) To keep on living
I thought about the relationship Between the birds and the trees The trees and my car My car and myself Myself and the trees The other cars—left, right, front In my rearview mirror 3:46 pm this day This city, this country This species, this planet We call home
I heard a semi Speeding down the highway Like war planes and torpedoes I wondered what was in its cargo Ice cream or fur coats Somewhere not here
I thought about progress I thought about movement Between natural and superficial divide Between all living things Machines we plug our lives into The Gods we hinge our lives on to I thought about time I thought about the past What will come to be Is right here in the present begging Our eyes to see I thought about legacy I thought about this poem I thought about reaching for my iPhone Before I got home And got distracted by all my distractions