Tribal Realities Visions,
Verses
&
Vibes
from
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βeta
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Tribal Realities Table of Contents
The Naked Truth on Disaster Capitalism
Naomi Klein + Full-body Scanning Techs
The Jungle Brother
A Graphic Novel steppin outta Babylon
Tribal Vibez
Orisha Yemaya & Yoruba Records
Tele-Visions
A Pro-Active Mantra from Mali. underground visual magazine issue 10
00 Intro 01 The Naked Truth 03 The Jungle Brother 15 Tele-Visions 16 Tribal Vibez 18 Outro 19 Creditz
00 Intro Welcome to Your Tribal Year 2010! COVER: Noupe-Niongo Mask. Nyikaryi Secret Society, Senufo people. Côte d’Ivoire. This powerful helmet mask, presides over the occult ceremonies related to TR Issue 10, granting a successful 2010 to all its readers. CORE: This year I decided to change again and give my precious and devoted readers new visionary contents, new features and a brand new layout. First, just to start the year with few practical directions, a couple lines bridging our friendly [full-body scanners] with [Naomi Klein’ Shock Doctrine]. Second, the first episode of my graphic novel The Jungle Brother , to express pristine vibes from the deepest depths of My Heart to You. We are all native. Steppin outta Babylon. We all wanna go back to our MotherLand: Universal Love. Third, the tele-vision of the month: a sweet lil’ jewel of animation from Mali. Last but not least, my adventures with Orisha Yemaya, via Yoruba Records deep house vibes.
Now, EnJoy Your
Tribal Realities!
thenakedtruth? Full-body scanning tech is coming soon to an airport near you! Are you excited? Fullbody scanning is the next-gen technology in anti-terrorism: concealed packets containing liquid bombs, drugs, or ceramic knives - unnoticed by metal detectors - are shown up. It seems to be an effective answer to our contemporary world, bedeviled by the constant menace of terrorist attacks - which, as you may know, can be anytime, anywhere. OK, I see. Now, the flipside(s). First, this state-of-the-art technology raises privacy concerns: full-body scanning reveals hidden weapons because it reveals your body, in detail. Full details. Indeed, the pictures above are likely to be the merciless portraits of you and your partner. Second, can full-body airport scanners actually harm you? According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), millimeter wave scanners, emit less radiation than a typical cell phone (and cell phones are safe, right?) while backscatter scanners are low-level X-ray machines exposing our bodies to as much radiation as about two minutes of flying in an airplane does. In other words, as far as we know, it seems there are no health risks associated with fullbody scanning techs. Good. Third, full body scanning adds another checkpoint, slowing you down in the set of security screenings to your destination. This means more stress. This means our lives are changed and shaped by security screenings and terrorist attacks. Every passenger is a potential threat. We lose trust in others. We live in a constat state of emergency. We are weak and vulnerable. Because we are costantly under fire. Thus, we accept any thecnology, any policy - even limitation of our freedom - in order to defeat these obscure and unknown enemies we are sleeping with everyday. Given this situation, we all became helpless babies. Increasingly losing control over our lives. When in a state of shock, we are not able to protect our interests.
the jungle brother A graphic novel steppin outta Babylon - Episode 1
of disaster k Full-body scanning seems yet another example of Naomi Klein’s shock doctrine: “using the public’s disorientation following massive collective shocks – wars, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters -- to achieve control by imposing economic shock therapy.” Blunty put, Capitalism, Dictators and Corpocracy take advantage of shocks (natural or planned) to do what they want. In her latest publication, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, Naomi Klein provides a rich set of examples, just to name a few: COUPS Chile under Pinochet -->public spending cut 50%, incomes for the rich up to 83%; WAR Britain under Thatcher (Falcklands War) -->privatisation of gas, steel, airlines, telephone; MASSACRE China during the Tiananmen Square crisis--> China embraces “free-trade” becoming the sweatshop of the world; TERRORISM 9/11-->the Bush administration out-sourced the War on Terror to private contractors such as Halliburton and Blackwater; NATURAL DISASTERS the post-Katrina New Orleans -->privatisation of services (housing, hospital, schools). In her opinion Disaster Capitalism is the application of Milton Friedman’s economic shock treatment and his holy trinity of market deregulation, privatization and rolling-back governments. Hence, free-market ideology triumphed on a planetary scale not because it was freely embraced, but because it was imposed to people, when they were weak and vulnerable in moment of distress. Shocking people into obedience. It looks pretty much like a paranoid scenario, uh?Judge for yourself. But, in my humble opinion, Naomi Klein is not the usual flavor-of-the-month conspiracy theory. Think about it. Next time. At your local airport.
“only a crisis – actual or perceived – produces real change. ” Milton Friedman Capitalism and Freedom (1962)
a HOPELESS and dirty shantytown in the suburbs of the babylon empire. Akon is finally taking a nap after 14 hours of ceaseless work at a local sweatshop, when all of a sudden a sparkling light flashed on his day-dreaming vision...
remember who you are. you are a warrior. go back to your roots. Go!
I am a warrior! Back to my roots, out of this shantytown! yes, I am going to meet the shaman...
I am your ancestor. don’t be scared, my dear son. no fear! tell me, why are you trying so hard to fit in this world? this world is not designed for your living. chANGE this world, one life at a time, starting with yours. it is time you enter the secret society. you have to go in the jungle to meet the shaman. he knows.
following the ancestor’s direction, akon decides to leave his old ‘civilized’ life of exploitation...
you crazy, son!?
Babylon told us our culture is primitive and out-of-time. they told us we have to embrace (their) technology. but they just sell us obsolete techs, second-hand clothes, trinkets, trade beads, guns & ammunitions so we kill each other...
i don’t like you. i wanna be myself.
i am confused. everyday, i am losing my own culture of millenary knowledge while i am de-linked from the global world and wealth. everyday, they are taking advantage of me, through their predatory corpocracy... They brainwashed you all. You going insane! i cannot understand you! i wanna go back to my ancestors’ religion and culture and lifestyle. i wanna go back to mother earth. i wanna go home. now!
his family couldn’t understand his choice. they were mesmerized by the tv mantras of channel zero. his mother’s mind programmed by a 24-inch remote control.
so, the sweatshop worker got rid of his western outfit and, completely naked, he entered the jungle,searching for the naked truth. he was looking for his answers. he was looking for his questions. he was looking for his true self.
are you crazy, son? where are you going? wanna live with those ‘savages’? in the forest? bro?you are going insane!ya crazy!?i cannot understand you brother!why are you leaving the modern world?what’s wrong with you?
Tamed & unconscious: his father and brother could not understand his radical decision, his calling into the jungle.they were million lives away from the ancestor’s will.
NO, I AM NOT CRAZY. YES, I AM GOING INTO THE JUNGLE. the so-called ‘SAVAGES’ ARE BETTER THAN you civilized fools!AT LEAST THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE! s
he was carrying a big antelope. silent and pensive, the sweatshop worker-turnedwarrior, started to follow the red road leading into the mysterious jungle...
DELICIOUS HONEY. i am sure he will appreciate this! I HOPE tHE shaman WILL HELP ME TO FIND MY WAY IN THiS WORLD AND IN THE OTHER, TOO.
he chosed the most precious gift for the shaman: honey. the jungle is a temple with 30 meters arboreal columns. thus, he climbed up on those giant trees to get the honey, stunning bees with the smoke. then, he gift-wrapped A big BASKET OF liquid gold...
I am definitely out from my comfort zone. i am scared.it seems like this impenetrable jungle is watching my steps. i have a strange feeling, like someone is watching me...
carrying his precious gift, he was penetrating into the deep heart of the jungle. he was assailed by doubts and seized with fear. he was embracing the unknown. in search of him self.
indeed, a powerful entity was watching him...
the jungle is one single and unique organism with million arms, ears, mouths and piercing eyes, staring back at you...
i am the guardian. who are you, intruder? how do you dare to enter the sacred land of the ancestors without permission? beware!
all of a sudden, a frightening vision paralized the young warrior. the guardian appeared in all his terrific powers. what is it going to happen, now? stay tuned for the next episode!
tele-Visions Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre, You’re free to go, the way is clear.
The short animation I wanna talk you about is a fresh blend of 2D, Flash and 3D graphics, illustrating sweet vibes from Mali. Indeed it is the video of the song Massi téladi, from the Bamako-based musical duo Amadou and Mariam. In their latest album Welcome to Mali, produced in 2008 by Damon Albarn (yeah, the guy from Blur, Gorillaz...), they blend Western pop tones, simple and irresistible rhythm with Malian blues guitar riffs. The music video has been directed and animated by Aurélia Vernhes, Clément Bolla and Laurent Gillot. Additional Animation: Sophia Chevrier. Additional 3D graphics: Jean Constantial. Ok, done with the credits and the tech stuff, now the message. What is the meaning of Massi téladi? Massi téladi, massi téladi...La vie est une école. It’s no use crying over spilled milk. Amadou et Mariam are inviting us to live our lives to the full potential. Everyday. No regrets. Just actions. Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre.Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle.Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre. You’re free to
go, the way is clear.You can move, life is so beautiful. You’re free to go, the way is clear... You know, it is fairly peculiar that rich countries need to learn such a proactive stream of positive thinking from the desperate underdeveloped Africa. This is a big lesson to learn, uh? We, the people from US, Japan, Europe - scared by unemployment rates, worried by GNP figures and stressed out by uncertain futures - need to sing the Massi téladi vibes everyday! Consider it a magic mantra, straight up from Bamako! Still not sure of it? Ok, let’s go ahead with the song’s lyrics. Tu as perdu ton boulot dans cette vie la,Massi téladi. Ta femme t’as quitté à cause de ça-la,Massi téladi. Tu as perdu ta famille dans cette vie la,Massi téladi.Eh! Tes amis t’on quitté à cause de ça la,Massi téladi, massi téladi …La vie est est une école.Tu ne peux pas rester, tu ne peux pas rester,Dans cette vie là, il faut te racheter. You’ve lost your job in this life.Your wife has gone because of it.You’ve lost your family
in this life.Eh! Your friends left you because of it.Life is a lesson.You can’t stay, you have to move on.In this life, you have to redeem yourself. All right, now you understood the lyrics, but I still can’t hear your voice, singing Masiteladi. Let’s try again. From the top of your lungs. All together, now! Now, I can hear you : ) Good Job! Massi téladi! Massi téladi !! Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre,Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle,Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre,Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle. You’re free to go, the way is clear.You can move, life is so beautiful.You’re free to go, the way is clear. You can move, life is so beautiful. Go! Go! Go! www.amadou-mariam.com/
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tribal vibez O s u n l a d e + Y o r u b a R e c o r d s
Back in 2005, in another life, I was working in Roma. In the weekends I was drifting in the Eternal City looking for new vibes, rare grooves and hot vinyls. During one of my several journeys, I found myself in one of the best dj-shops in town. Skimming & scanning all that wax -(jungle drumz, garage flavas, hip-hop phatbeatz, breakbeats, remixes & breaks)- but couldn’t find what I was looking for. No meaningful discovery. No treasure. A deep sense of dissatisfaction pervaded my feelings. I was almost out of the door, with my unwilling “Ciao” to the clerk, when a little fancy cd started blinking at me. On its dark gold cardboard sleeve, naked black men and women were freely dancing to the beats of a big drum. Black and Gold. A strange
feeling was pervading me. Inside. I knew I had found what I was looking for. The title of my treasure was: “Osunlade presents YORUBA RECORDS Cinco Anos Despue (Five Years On ) A retrospective of classical and rare tracks.” SOUL JAZZ RECORDS. A double cd set. 20 tracks, baby! I quickly scanned the tracklist on the back of the cd: Ochun’s Arrival, El Musica, Cantos a Ochun et Oya, Yemeya...Yemeya? Yemaya! I shivered. I stopped in the middle of the shop, holding the cd in my hands. A magic enchantment was going on. I knew it. Yemeya was calling me. I was sure of it. Word. But who is Yemaya? In the Cuban Santeria, Yemeya is the Goddess of the Sea, the Great Mother of all the Orishas - aka the Divinities of Santeria’s Pantheon. Without saying a word, I automatically took the cd from the shelf and bought it without even listening to one single track. It was like a blind date, but I had a strong and positive feeling. Yemeya was calling me.
She was talking to me. She was smoothly entering into my life. As I understood later, the shop-owner had followed my actions and was impressed by my out-of-theordinary behaviour. I told him “these are good vibes, man.” And he (kinda frightned) answered me with a puzzled “O-oh Y-yes.” I smiled. Out of the shop. Then , Piazzale Flaminio: the metro & train station. 45 minutes after - following Vodoun rhythms, deep house patterns and mellow chords à la Stevie Wonder - I was singing from the top of my lungs the name of Goddess Yemaya. From that day, Yemaya is a steady presence in my life. That one was my first meeting with Osunlade. Not bad, uh? LOL. Reading his bio, I discovered he is a dj, polistrumentist, composer and cream-of-the-crop music producer. That’s cool, but check this out...You know what? One day he chosed to quit producing corporate beatz, and find his true Self. A paradigm shift. It sounds familiar to me. How about you? Following that path, he became an ordained priest in the African religion of Ifa - an ancestral towards derstoodWay later, the Divinshopities, deeply rooted into owner had followed my the acYoruba andimpressed practiced tions culture and was bybythe slaves Dunno during myAfrican behaviour. the Diaspora to America. As a why. Maybe the strange matter of fact, Santeria, Can-
domblé, Lukumi and Vodun are inherently connected to Ifa and the ancient Yoruba culture. In 1999, Osunalde founded Yoruba Records, a dance music label devoted to elevate human souls. In the year 2001, his debut album “Paradigm” was truly a paradigm shift for the house music scene. That’s the point. Change your mindset. Elevate your soul. Enjoy the spiritual vibes, ancestral beats and conscious content provided by Osunlade and his artists. A unique sound. Speaks to Your Heart. www.yorubarecords.com www.souljazzrecords.co.uk
TR10 VIDEO PLAYLIST http://tribalrealities.blogspot.com/
1. SIN PALABRAS - Yemaya (Yoruba Soul Rmx) 2. OSUNLADE - 2thousandcowries 3. OSUNLADE - UR 4. GRUPO BATUQUE - Na Batida Do Agogo (Osunlade remix) 5. OSUNLADE - Soninsikart 6. OSUNLADE - Oxossi da Focha Branca 7. OSUNLADE - Rader Du 8. OSUNLADE - My Reflection
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Marco Spada
<Special Thanks To: Paul Bigirwa>
Editor
<artist’s statement> I am a Shaman, painting Visions. Leveraging the Powers of word_music_ video_art, I guide rare souls to their own destinations. Beyond the reduct i o n i s t- c a r te s i a n paradigm, I create Spaces of Trascendence giving voice to human being’s pristine desire: going beyod the physical body to higher level of consciousness. I explore transpersonal dynamics, depict enlightning experiences, taking part into the Vibrant Dance of the Universe: the Simultaneous and Multiple Unity. My Art is Magic, because it mediates the Natural and the SuperNatural. That’s my modus operandi.
<bio> Initiated to Shamanism during the magic night of Urabon ( The Hungry Ghost Festival) in a little cemetery in the countryside of Niigata-ken (Japan, 1993).
I started my journey of discovery through an ancient discipline of meditation: The Way of Japanese Calligraphy. Following this Way, I’ve been travelling/living/studying/ working in Japan, Turkey, USA, Egypt. I completed my esoteric education, thanks to several sojourns in India, where, under the stable and severe guide of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, I’ve been learning ancestral knowledge, through the strict practice of ancient Vedic disciplines. Since 2001, I’ve been studying percussions with professional instructors in India , Egypt and
Italy. Then I added to my menu, piano, synth and didjeridoo. I am a life coach (2002), and certified Reiki Master (2003). My BA in Political Sciences (University of Salerno), and MA in Philanthropic Studies (University of Bologna/Indiana University) led me to academic research, audaciously blending Eastern philosophies, new management paradigms and economic game theories. Since 2005, I’ve been working in U.S. big pharma, managing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects and programs. In 2007, I quit my corporate life and I was born again in an ancient XVI century casale located in the mystical Umbria, The Green Heart of Italy. Here I guide individual and group sessions and I teach Shamanism, Reiki, Meditation, Channelling, Veda-chanting, Sound-healing, Art, Music and Video production. Come and visit me!
TRIBAL REALITES, born in January 2008, is an underground visual magazine, creatively blending Ancestral Knowledge with 21st Century Culture. As the editor, I am inna perpetual Beta state, always open to original, pristine and visionary contributions. So, contact me! ^_^ http://tribalrealities.blogspot.com/ tribalrealities@gmail.com
TRIBAL REALITES is published by Marco Spada under a Creative Commons (CC) license: Attribution, Non- Commercial, No Derivatives 3.0 Unported (by-nc-nd) You are free: to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work, under the following conditions: Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes. No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. More info at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Everything designed/produced/delivered by Marco Spada unless otherwise indicated. Image Credits: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/imaging_technology.shtm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yemaya-NewOrleans.jpg
Thank You!