Friday Night Jam @ The World Stage Performance Gallery

Friday, December 18, 2009, for sure, was not the typical noisemaking and do nothing Nd'House of Los Angeles' end of year party.

It was not about erstwhile Black President, Fela Kuti's talking drummer, Najite Agindotan's Olokun Prophesy and Leimert Park Drum Circle.

It was not about the controversial drum churches in Black Township's Leimert Park led by the hood's renegade who want out in order to define the hood rats.

It was not even about the all women drum essembles chereographed by Renee.

It was something totally different in "da neck of the woods". Friday night, December 18, 2009, at approximately 8:00 p.m., The World Stage Performance Gallery sitting on 4344 Degnan Boulevard in Los Angeles presented "Munyungo Jackson: An Oral History Interview" with opening remarks and introduction by Chet Hanley who is host, "Jazz in the Modern Era" on Tuesdays at Channel 36 where jazz scholarships are discussed.

Yes, Munyungo Jackson who plays all sorts of instruments including odima, bells, bongos, congas, djembes shakers and adudu known as talking drums had a packed house full of performers and players of instruments from all walks of life coupled with jazz freaks like my humble self.

It was a hell of a blast!

I popped up a little bit late, I mean, about 10-minutes before the introduction and jam session began, and I got it all.

Jackson is a Los Angeles native and throughout his stellar career, has played with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Yusef Lateef, Hubert Laws, Lionel Hampton, Billy Mitchell, Elliot Cane, Doc Powell, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, George Duke, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Kenny Loggins, Lessa Terry, Joe Sample, Bobby Womack, Barry White, Queen Latifah, Karen Briggs, The Temptations, Supremes and Four Tops.

On top of all that, Jackson has also had engagements with Dwight Tribble, Christian McBride, Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, Mickey Champion, Babatunde Lea, Derf Recklaw, Lionel Ritchie, Gladys Knight, Freda Payne, Patrice Rushen, Norman Connors, Bobby Lyle, Hiroshima, Jonathan Butler, Marcus Miller, Lona Morris, Quincy Jones, Leon "Ndugu" Chanceler, Don Littleton, Joe Zawinul, Anita Baker, Santana, Willie Bobo, Jean Luc Ponty, The Pointer Sisters, Joe Bataan, Eartha Kitt, Claire Fischer, Bennie Maupin and uncountable others.

But Creed Taylor and the Kudu years was not mentioned in all the process even though some names passed through as we all hopped up onto the stage to ask questions and pay special tribute to the great Jackson who was the man of the night.

Jackson played like never before. World Stage manager, Pianist and flutist Mark Gibson was in the house. Jazz historian Jeff Winston was in the house. Waberi Jordan who had opened for McCoy Tyner last month at UCLA's Royce Hall before her engagement in Europe, was also in the house.

After the jam session which lasted into the night, Jackson told me about his book, "The Nu Naybahood: Funetic Ebonic Dictionary Vol 1," signing a copy and releasing it to me, said "It's all about community and helping one another," pointing out with regards to the book's preface:

"First of all, I love my people! (Some of us can be a little hard headed, and hard on each other, BUT -) I love the fact that we have our own way of deoing things, of expressing ourselves, and of communicating. We understand what each other is doing, saying, and feeling. Because of this special way of doing things, we have inflenced the world with our language, our music, dance and sports...Unfortunately, most of us don't share in the rewards and benefits of that influence, and are sometimes the butt of jokes from people who really don't understand the nuances in or culture..."

There is a very strong message in the piece.

A night to remember, I took home his celebrated CD "Munyungo" produced and engineered by David Manley and a cast of back-up musicians including Lenny Castro, Bill Summers, Michael O'Neil, Pedro Eustache, Robert Grennage and Rayford Griffin.

Tracks:

1. Columbiana
2. So Happy
3. Drums, Drums, Drums
4. Trees
5. Be On Time
6. Petyer's Bells
7. Shango Bakaso
8. On Green Dolphin Street
9. Oye Samba

"Oye Samba," being the last jam of the night, and typical of Brazilian samba-playing football fanatics, got everybody clapping, singing to the vibe and stomping untill the wee hours of the night.

Time People Birthday Musings

Image courtesy of Zcache

How does one explain all the madness in this universe and life's amazing journey? Just as one thinks about surviving the hostile environment of the world, time equally flies at the same time with a hub of global issues, grand and small; and a crablike personal problems that spreads all over.

I must admit, I am thankful to God for coming that far and able to reflect on the past which happens to have been the backbone of survival and engagement, and which also could always be traced from the strength that I have applied to keep on keeping on -- taking it easy and moving on despite all the battle wounds. life is beautiful and the best out of it is knowing one's value and determining what one's contribution to creation would be, depending on the path followed.

The last few months, I have been wondering what would one say about playing some roles in society and how does that tell about the person in particular. Would it be mid-life crisis, old age or just beginning, since life now starts at 60? Well, my mid-life crisis started long, long time ago and I am still in the trenches trying to figure the whole thing out.

Every being, without a doubt, has contributed one way or the other to the functioning of society. When you make someone laugh, that's a contribution and when you make someone upset, that is also a contribution. Life is a journey as every beginning has an end. And like any journey, sometimes it ends well and sometimes it ends on a sad note. Nevertheless, there is a comedy in all of us.

So, as it goes, I am just glad to be keeping on and grateful my well-wishers did check to see how I'm doing.

First on board was my childhood buddy, Eugene Onyeji, who had called me on Sunday, September 13, reminding me from his Beaumont, Texas home that my birthday is around the corner and that life goes on meaning we must always do the best no matter what the situation is. I had done everything with Eugene growing up on the streets of Accra in the company of our Ghanaian fellas and homeboys, John Bull, John Satorji, Hillary "Ahidjo" Akabuilo, Mamma Sani, Zachary, Haruna, Emmanuel while playing double dutch and the tap of fine leather on the playgrounds of Ruga Park by Kanda Estate. I vividly remember the times. Eugene and I spoke at length when he called me on that Sunday morning of September 13. We talked about the days of the Roman films of the sword and scandal 60s starring Mark Forest in "Goliath and the Dragon," "Hercules against the Barbarians," "Hercules on Chain," and "Maciste." We talked about the tv movies and series--Bonanza, The Lone Ranger and High Chaparral. We also talked about the folks in Accra we idolized.

Among our discourses generated a whole lot of the past. Eugene had left the shores of Accra immediately following the end of Yakubu Gowon's genocidal campaign against the Igbo nation. He had settled in Lagos and had enrolled at St. Gregory College, Obalende, with his older sibling, Theodore. I arrived "Nigeria" much later on and was catapulted to my native Amazano to learn more about my cultural heritage and of course the significance of my native tongue which I grabbed before anybody knew what was going on. It was a wonderful experience, and for that, I am very thankful to my parents who made it possible my homeward bound for culture and a much, much better understanding of my forebears.

But that was not all. I learned. I met my cousins from both sides. The matrilineal and patrilineal descent. A family and culture being an entity. And leaving the city everything changed.

The village and the villagers becoming home. The egwu onwa, moonlight plays and the joy of culture being whole and not parts; that culture is indeed an entity and cannot be separated. The joyous festivities of Oghu Festival coupled with the enduring masquerades. The trek to the stream to fetch some water.

The learning of the pogrom and displaced persons.The fact that the pogrom was built on coercion and theft and on a propaganda that led to the abandoned property; and a deliberate rape on Igbo treasures and the more insiduous measure of a regime that justified the slaughter of infants, women and children. And so it goes.

And that's some part of history which makes the rounds as time passes for we are where we live based on our neigborhoods. I don't buy that very concept sometimes because there are many things to it even though where you live speaks volumes about what you eat, drink, drive and even the way you think. When ghetto kids move to the posh bedroom communities they will still act ghetto; just like when the white trash leaves the inner-city for the blue blood estate -- nothing will change as they will still act trashy. Like me dining at Lola's on Fairfax in West Hollywood which I did some few days ago, doesn't really stop me from my regular ofe olugbo, and the varieties of meat and dry fish that comes along with it at the various African eateries on the Southside. From my humble viewpoint, the blue blood estates, the bedroom communities and the inner-city ghettos are all the same depending on the way you carry yourself.

And for all you folks who kept record of my birthday and sending me all the wishes I say thank you and also wish you the best. For Eugene and speaking with Eugene Jr., he made my day with a thrilling fun. For those who think we are in competition, just drop it for life is too short. For all the airheads, never mind, we're all in the same boat. Let's keep chilling for life is too beautiful with the best yet to come, for sure!

Ain't time flying?!

Summer Jam's Winding Down

The beginning of summer could be viewed as the opening scene of a movie. Shots into the night. The crews and casts. The concerts from every recreational park on the goodwill of every city or county's department of culture, and on the sponsorship of the big rollers in today's commerce -- Heineken, Lucky, Los Angeles Weekly, Downtown Long Beach Associates, Budweiser, Jack In The Box, Burger King, McDonalds, Sonoma Vineyard, CVS Pharmacy, Magic Johnson, Korbel, KLOX 95.5 Los Angeles, Amoeba Records, and so on -- throwing in the big bucks, making sure we party animals, pub-crawlers, concert goers and the Hollywood wannabes gets the best out of it. It is winding down and how could one explain it? Fun? Of course.

Besides all that summer jams and blasts, call it what you want, I somehow did something different during the course of the summer jams not letting anything block my way, no matter what. I read some fascinating books while the summerfest jammed all around. I combed through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck after my daughter reading it and concluding some of the short stories did not have an ending suggesting there might be a sequel as in a movie or to suspend her readers to figure it out. And, also, interestingly, I read Jeanette Hardage's Mary Slessor -- Everybody's Mother: The Era and Impact of a Victorian Missionary published by WIPF & STOCK taking me aback to the civics lessons of Colonial Mentality which destroyed our cultural heritage bringing about modernity that we see today as civilization, and which ultimately nullified our ancient customs rather than reform them. Remember when "witchcraft, trial by ordeal, the murder of twins" for one must be the offspring of a demon and when barren women were derided as ekwesu, evils in our society? As the story goes on, Mary Slessor, the Scottish Presbyterian missionary, at age twenty-eight dabbled into an agrarian and primitive society in Calabar and did all she could as a missionary to leave a mark in the history books.

I also read The History of Black Religion: Your Spirits Walk Beside Us by Barbara Dianne Savage published by Harvard University Press, which narrates the relationship between a prominent black preacher, Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church in Chicago, and his most famous congregant, Barack Obama, who would become the president of the United States. Savage wrote with style here beginning with the early studies of black religion by W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, and Benjamin Mays and ending with a discussion of Obama and Wright. Interesting read!

Now the book is diverting my attention, so I must face the real deal and while summer is just fun. Nothing but fun, so to speak.

From Long Beach to Los Angeles, and from Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley, it's all about jazz and the summer jams. From Laguna Nigel to Ocean Side, the sweet breeze met the smooth jazz on several trips along the coasts of San Diego heading back North on the 405 Freeway onto the 5 Freeway jamming the farmlands of Central California. It also echoed on the playgrounds of California State University in Bakersfield, breezing through the beautiful smell of produce in Fresno. It's been a hell of a jam despite the "slowmo" economy. It's the economy really bad?

Then all along the 101 North, heading to Woodland Hills, Canoga Park Westlake Village, it's all about the summer jams.

For instance, the three day Long Beach Jazz Festival was one of its kind in the program's 22-year history. The lineup this year was another event that revealed there is actually no show like showbizness. The festival was dedicated to former NBA player and jazz musician Wayman Tisdale who passed away on Friday, May 15th, 2009. My girl, Los Angeles-based performer, Angie Stone, gave it her best with her fifth studio album "Unexpected" scheduled to hit record stores around mid-October and Stone taking her career to a whole new heights said, "people think there is a fixed sound for Angie Stone, but this will be something different across the board," and acknowledging "... there will be some collectible tracks in there. With the exception of Chuck, I'm working with all new producers. I also worked with Juanita Wynn, my sister in soul for the last seven years and she's incredible."

In Black Township's Leimert Park, the 2009 World Stage dropped its own line of programs on Sunday, August 09, on the Vision Theatre parking lot with a bunch of casts and fanfare even though the event and turnout was way below expectation. I was able to talk to a lot of the performers, and had looked forward to seeing Los Angeles Times veteran photo-jounalist, Francine Orr to show up for the historic community's event which unveiled some incredible talents.

I had also spoken to Leimert Park resident, hand drummer, Marvin "Brother Rock" Rock of the Leimert Park Drum Church founded by Nigerian-born Najite Agindotan. Najite was the Chief Priest, Fela Kuti's hand drummer at kalakuta republic. Najite Olokun Prophesy plays weekend at the House of Blues in Hollywood with his cast of Omo ogun, Rock Samori, N'gala, Sherwood Nat Nyema, Nate Morgan, Charley, Kpapko Adu, Phil Ramelin, Bobby Bryant, Alaah-Deen, Andrew Gerald, Chini Kopano, Ndugu, Makida Anderson, and Carol Abata. Bobby Bryant plays alto sax while joined by fellow windist Alaah Deen on tenor saxophone.

Sitting down with Najite and chatting on the course of Leimert Park projects in reviving its cultural landscape, he said the city hasn't done much to promote the historic park's cultural awareness despite all the efforts he had put to bring back life to the community and his own idea of the Leimert Park Drum Church was to make it a yearly thing as in all cultures and fests.

The summer fests is winding down, for sure, and the reamaining lineups seems to be tempting and would be overwhelming. In keeping funk alive, the Long Beach Funk Fest was held on the streets of Long Beach, on the corner of Pine and Broadway, and it was all explosive, featuring back in the day funksters' Mandrill. Dawn Silva, Charles Wright and The Meters' Experience popped up to sustain the future through pure funk. The jam was on till midnight, Saturday, August 29 to wind it down, and I probably have one more big event to attend depending on my schedule -- the one week two festivals at the 33rd Annual Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival featuring Al Jarreau, Neville Brothers, Rick Braun, my buddy Jonathan Butler, Dr. John and the legendary R & B Revue, also, featuring Tommy Castro, Bernard Allison, Rick Estrin and Janiva Magness. The Jazz and Blues Festival starts Sept. 12 for the jazz concerts and Sept 13 for the blues at Johnson's Beach in Guerneville, on the plains of the wine country of Sonoma County.

It's going to be fun, without a doubt, so stick around as there is more to come and time to deal with the nasty political issues of the day, home and abroad.

Gist Around Da Hood

The magnificent Ivorian Didier Drogba celebrates in style after scoring that amazing first goal beating Everton 2-1 in the season finale of Road to Wembley. He will be negotiating a new paycheck to effect his contract extension with Chelsea. A three year contract and bonuses draws him closer to Europe's highest earning players and sits on the elite role of African football players.

Staples Center, 1111 Figuroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015
Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she will be the first Latino, according to some sources, to be on the Supreme Court. Her parents moved from Puerto Rico to New York. A feminine radical in the 70s and had always defended the underdog but her critics say that's not enough to be confirmed though the overwhelming Democratic majority in Congress is in her favor.

In this world there's much confusion.

And I've tasted the city life and it's not for me

Now I do dream of distant places

Where I do not know but is destiny

If it's the rich life I don't want it

Happiness ain't always material things

I want destiny ...

Neverland Ranch was a rich life. Oh, by the way, the king of pop is about to rise like a phoenix. I have followed this legendary performer all my life and I do think I have every of his recorded album throughout the many phases of his career -- Jackson Five, The Jacksons and the solo acts -- and my favorite tune of all time, Destiny, besides the jams, Shake Your Body Down To The Ground, Thriller, Off The Wall, Enjoy Yourself, ABC, The Girl Is Mine and many other stimulating tracks.

The gist now is billionaire Tom Barrack and AEG Live owner Philip Anshutz are coming to the king of pop's rescue. They want a rebirth of the Thriller years and from media sources, Michael will be heading to the studios soon because his backers -- Barrack and Anshutz have confidence in him and had envisioned a thoroughly remade Michael when the entire deal is struck which would include a three year world tour, series of singles coupled with packages of a museum, casino and movies. Barrack who said Michael could make $500 million a year once he puts his mind into it acknowledged Michael 'is' one of very few artists who could reach that mark in showbizness and at any given time.

But Michael is not done. His 50 concert series at the O2 Arena in London kicks off July 13 and tickets are already sold out. One other thing, though is can Michael do fifty gigs without getting exhausted? We'll see how it plays out starting July 13. Michael in his own words regarding the 50 shows in London: "Thank you for your love and support, I want you guys to know I love you very much," ... "I don't know how I'm going to do 50 shows. I'm not a big eater - I need to put some weight on"


Also, around the block, came some political talks about President Barrack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, whom I haven't followed until she was nominated by Obama, last week. And now following her like a tweeter, I know she was one of 70s feminine radicals on campus at Princeton University. She did not like the way Princeton was run and had always defended the underdog. From Princeton to Yale, and as a prosecutor in New York to corporate lawyer and serving on the federal bench for seventeen years, methink the new Democratic controlled congress should let her walk in without much ado so she could start punching the badass Clarence Thomas in his face, and his "high-tech lynching of an uppity black man."

And if confirmed which I expect she would be, overwhelmingly, making her the second Latino on the Supreme Court, although the political blogosphere on Sotomayor's side claims she'd be the first Latina on the Supreme Court, if confirmed, which would nullify the claim from other circles of Justice Benjamin Cardozo whose parents were of Portuguese descent, in the 30s, as first Latino on the Supreme Court. Enough.

Down the street in da hood, talks are popping up on soccer. Obviously, the soccer moms have taken it to a whole new heights which is quite engaging with kids. We called it football until the Yankee's crazy sports began to blow up our minds. I mean, too many in the mix and soccer got to be. The world's most watched sport and we won't erase soccer and permanently keep its original logo? Come on, now, there's tennis not lawn tennis; there's basketball not netball; there's ping pong not table tennis; there's baseball, not cricket and there's football not rugby, whatever that is.

So as it happened, the English FA Cup gathered storm. Ivorian and Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba and his colleagues lifted the FA Cup amid 85,400 and something soccer freaks in Wembley Stadium beating Everton 2-1 which ended the season's crazy-dubby Road to Wembley. Drogba's contract has been extended to another three years and expect the field dynamo's pocket to surpass the 80,000 British Pounds Sterling a week paycheck.

The World Cup is fast approaching and all that Brazillian influence is still hanging on. The quality of play, pattern of play, dribbling style, the celebration, jubilation and the samba has entirely nothing to do with what is going on at USC. Am I perturbed by all the scandals that is now hitting the sports program walls of Pete Carroll saying he knew nothing about Houses and gifts given to the parents of Reggie Bush, the running back for the New Orleans Saints? Nope! There's always something and that's just the way it is. As Bush' investigation continues, popped up another accusation. This time on Tim Floyd, the school's basketball coach, on payments made to O.J. Mayo's associates. And now that NCAA has cut in, we probably would get to know about all the scandals of gifts and cash exchanging hands by the time it's through with its own independent investigation.

In my little political alley, the behind closed doors pundits at Yahooligans, the talk now is why would Obama make Ghana his second point of call and not the sleeping giant, Nigeria. Citing Obama as a second generation immigrant who had adopted Abraham Lincoln's style of approach and politics, and bringing about a "New Dawn" of the internet age in "change has come to America" platform, the economy is still biting and the "Stimulus Package" hasn't been able to subdue the Bush-Cheney made meanspirited economy yet, in my own assessment because the people, I mean, the American people are still talking and complaining.

Well, it's showtime on Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles where Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers sits comfortably with Hotel Figueroa, Nokia Center and the Convention Center as neigbors. Tonight, the Lakers will be tested by the hungry Orlando Magic in Game 1 of 2-3-2 series. "All road leads to downtown and it's Lakers all the way," says one Lakers accessories hawker. "We gonna get them, baby!"

I know I have gunned for Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus when they whooped Lebron James and his Cavaliers. I have already neutralized the firepower of the magic, and hey, this is my hood and my Lakers ain't taking that for granted. It is Lakers all the way and with all the pubs full to the brim, hell will surely get loose if...

We want destiny!

Adios and enjoy the finals.

Main Street: In Da Hood

On Easter Monday, as we usually called it back home, I was invited by a good friend over dinner and some drinks, and some talks. While we ate and drank, we talked about a whole lot of stuff including the new arrivals on the book shelves -- Caught Between Hitler & Stalin; From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women; A Constitution of Many Minds: Why the Founding Document Doesn't Mean What It Mean Before; Founders: The People Who Brought You A nation; ICRC Report on the Treatment of Fourteen "High Value Detainees" in CIA Custody; The political Worlds Of Slavery And Freedom; Nazi Germany and the Jews; The Black Death; Engaging The Muslim World; Hitler's Pope; Captives and Countrymen: Barbary Slavery and the American Public; The Irony of American History; Adolf Eichman and many other books that just arrived on the shelves, particularly about the Holocaust. He is disgusted with Nd'Igbo and why nobody is writing with regards to the pogrom.

On Nollywood, we talked about how the New York Film Academy's Film and Acting Conservatory now has locations all around the world except for 'Nigeria.' The New York and Acting Conservatory has locations in United Arab Emirates, Italy, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Spain, Dubai, England, France, Belgium, Germany, and so on. My buddy stressed on how a location in Abuja or Lagos could help produce better movies to meet up with the standards of the Academy Awards after going through the institute's workshop in filmmaking, acting, producing, screenwriting, documentary, cinematography, editing, cinema studies, music video, musical theater, photography and other movie producing essentials.

After some long discourse, I let him do all the talking and too many issues popped up since I was the one listening while he did the talking.

First, in his monologue, he started with what our women have done ever since they set their foot on the shores of this land reminding me of the current debate going on at BNW Messageboard which is actually getting nasty. On these women who have destroyed our cultural heritage, he blamed Oprah Winfrey and said that the 50ish feminist needs to get a real husband to feel how it's like, and that there are certain values money can't buy. He wondered "how can you spend your lifetime savings, paying your dues in this great country called America and ending up being screwed-up by a woman you brought here." He cited Texas as the mother of all craziness and failed marriages regarding 'our women' who'd lost every sense of purpose, ala, destroying our family values in its entirety. He was so pissed he blamed the 'boys' for starting something they could not finish.

On the talk show hosts, media elites and still blaming Oprah, he really doesn't give a "fuck" about Sean Hannity, the drug addled Rush Limbaugh, Larry Elder, George Stephanopolous, Dianne Sawyer, Charles Gibson, and that there's nothing there but commerce. "Without commerce," he would continue, "all of them ain't worth shit." He is critical of all the talk show hosts and commentators, including Oprah whom he dislikes with a passion.

On the global economy, he blamed a retarded George W. Bush and a "fucked-up" Dick Cheney for screwing-up everybody by fighting a useless war in Iraq and squandering all the surplus bad boy Bill Clinton left in the nation's coffers. He insisted Bush and Cheney should be tried for mass murder.

On President Barack Obama, he said Obama should be very careful, even though he's going on the right direction, that the stinking conservatives are doing everything within their reach to see that the president who is yet to mark a hundred days in office and a whole lot accomplished doesn't succeed. He listed Obama haters -- Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Denver's Bob Newman, Bill Cunningham, Chris Baker, Michelle Malkin, and the rest bigots -- as, cough, cough, the airheads who have nothing else to say about the president but trash talking.

On the main subject matter, what we have earlier discussed before my stopping by in da hood to see what was cooking and what the gist was all about, and exactly stuff like that. The gist was Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie's new book, The Thing Around Your Neck, a collection of short stories about what historians describe as the "push factor," the economic and social conditions that compelled us to leave our native land for a better life abroad.

Regarding Adichie and her new book, he paused and scratched his head. He did not scratch his head because of Adichie's book. He was worried Adichie, now 32, and no marriage, might end up sooner or later becoming a hardcore feminist, that at a certain age and a woman not married based on our culture, that she will be scary and that alone turns men off. According to him, early marriage for a woman is evidence of good upbringing and an indication of keeping ones cultural heritage viable and intact. That Adichie can tell all the finest stories out there; and without marriage she has no place in Igbo land, that Igbo tradition from long time ago must be preserved like any other people on Earth, citing the unique culture of the Japanese, the Chinese, the Jews and the Indians.

He said Adichie is now bent on writing books being praised on the literary circle but forgot to realize the dual feminine role of women in our society. He concluded a woman's role is that of mother and nurse, that the moment a woman crosses that line, the sign of failure becomes obvious unless the man in question is crippled.

Boy, I was wondering if this guy was Okay. He brought up the Minnesota incident of Mike Iheme who had murdered his wife in the most brutal way and blamed society for pushing the man against the wall. He talked about other killings and men who have strangled their wives in the Igbo community.

I had to cut in and change the subject before he drags me along with him on domestic violence cases I have never been part of. I decided to review Adichie's new book and he began to listen.

I read Adichie's two previous books, Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Half of a Yellow Sun (2007); and both were good books of narrative politics, life events and storytelling. Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck is told with familiar names and characters. "Cell One," which is the first story was told in the format of Nollywood casts -- gangs and cults in university campus engaging in all kinds of criminal activities "copycating" American hip-hop and pop culture.

Then follows the northern religious riots against the Christian South and a brief encounter between two females during the fracas; one a medical student of Igbo origin, and the other a trader of Hausa extraction in a mutual order with regards to mankind to resist and overcome the predicaments of tribalism which has led to many deaths. Seriously, an engaging episode where the Hausa market woman relatively indulges the Igbo medical student for a way out of the chaos urging the medical student to do something, begging, "my nipple is burning like pepper." She had shown her nipples to the Igbo medical student in that plea, the plea to stop the violence.

In the case of sojourn to the United States, Adichie enumerated in detail the consequences of culture shock and asks if it's even worth it to embark on such a journey -- especially in a situation the "overclass" Nigerians send their wives abroad to have babies but adjusting to Yakee way of life never becomes easy.

There's also the case of arranged marriages with a Yankee. And it falls out. And sexual favors were denied. And there was anger. And there was the threat to leave on the ground that sex was not part of the deal -- the arranged marriage. And, also, there was the case of Chinaza Udenwa, (The Arrangers of Marriage) who had to change her name to Agatha Bell on the recommendation of her true husband.

Quite some thrilling stories as one reads on. Ending up with no place like home, Adichie concludes by recounting the tale of a boy sent to a missionary school by his mother which eventually turned sour. The woman's granddaughter does the opposite sideling expectations of family and cultural heritage. By the time it was all over she has earned a degree, returned back home and changed her Christian name, Grace, to Ahamefule, and found out the idea of leaving one's country in search for a better life did not add up and was not worth it. There is no place like home. And home has always been the best.

After my narratives on Adichie, he cut in and was becoming erratic. He had a frowned face eager to let off all the stuff in his chest. I knew what was about to happen. I gave him his time. He calmed down, murmured and scratched his head. I found out he was ready to release what had been bothering him. He said, clearing his throat, "are you finished?" I shook my head as a gesture of being done. He began his part of the observations as I questioned.

On Nd'Igbo he said they are -- cough, cough -- finished; that it is too late to start thinking otherwise, that it is up to the newer generation, the ones that do not speak Igbo and have no clue about Igbo culture to take over the mantle of leadership and do whatever they want to do with it; and that it might work since they have no one to favor or anyone to influence them for they have nothing to lose.

On the situations in Nigeria, he said "forget it." He paused and took a deep breath on the ground whenever the country is mentioned he feels like throwing up. He loathes the country for many reasons. A country that is 48-years-old with enormous hunman capital and abundant natural resources yet has nothing to show for its existence since its birth. A country corruption is institutionalized and nothing works except by way of illegal activities.

He spoke with anger regarding Nigeria. That the schools left by the missionaries are vanishing from normal operation. That the industries and infrastructures set up by the "founding fathers" have not been maintained to standard and in some cases left abandoned. That the hospitals are messy with no equipments, questioning the medical errand boys who take credit for doing a wonderful job from their medical missions to save the sick. He said the next fifteen years Nigeria will cease to exist from a whole lot of complications, citing the wrong choice of electing a sick man who coughs persistently and smokes like a chimney, having no time to take responsibility in the affairs of state. I mean, this guy kept talking and talking with bitterness to a point blaming the opportunists who had helped adding insult to injury.


And who are the opportunists when I asked. He paused again and took a deep breath with anger all over his face. The opportunists, according to him, are the errand boys who are here in Diaspora, who use their access as conduits for money laundering and looting of public funds by the "elected" officials, who supposedly should be held accountable for raping the treasury of a people. And that it originated from the fabricated red cap chiefs na eri awoof and that these corrupt "chiefs" have deliberately destroyed all that our forebears left behind.

Boy, this guy never stopped talking. He talked about how bad leadership had made the Naira worth nothing and uncompetitive in the global market economy. He talked about the growing cases of pollution while the civilized world is talking progressively about the green movement. That 'Nigeria' cannot claim to be a democracy when bribery and corruption is still widespread, when government officials and politicians who engage in criminal activities are not prosecuted to the limit of the law, when revenue allocation is not proportionally distributed, and when the power holders are not living up to the creed of a concocted constitution as a result of a failed judiciary.

On the educational system, he said it was a "total failure." That what need is the education when college graduates can't find work or have government assisted programs whereby individuals who feel like running their own businesses can do so under supervisory programs by government regulatory agencies. That, until there is a political revolution or somehow, a radical step, that 'Nigeria' will never be better; and that, to do so (effecting change) "will take men with liver."

He went on to say that a country that tends to forget its past has no history, citing the pogrom in which over two million souls perished, and that up until now, no form of apology has come forth.

Again, citing another era of humankind, he used the Jews as an analogy citing how powerful the Jews has become from the lessons of the Holocaust. That books are published every second about the concentration camps, about Adolf Hitler and his atrocities, about cities in Europe where the deaths were carried out, about Treblinka, about Auschwitz, about Adolf Eichman, about Polish confrontations with Soviet power during the Holocaust, about Nazi rule meaning death to all Jews, and about Anne Frank.

He was bitter and wished Igbo could do something. Nothing was funny, at all. He asked how an infallible and confused bunch of Igbo Diaspora have no legal team to defend its own who's been unjustly incarcerated. And we have "high profle lawyers." And we have "millionaires around the block." And we have "visionaries." And with all that, what do they have to show for it?

It is a tragedy and the saga continues!

Culinary Correctness: The Korean Eatery On Vermont

My friend and I had pub-crawled until the wee hours and still wondered where we might end up for after hours. The City of Angels and its glamour coupled with all that Hollywood wannabes is what keeps this amazing metropolis jamming, and without a doubt, it is happening all around the city 24/7; and you bet, if you get trapped you are then on your own.

As it happened, I had decdided to try something else to fill up my empty stomach which I do every now and then, that is, when the ofe olugbo, bitter leaf soup, egusi soup, okra soup, and all the nkwobi and ngwongwo got to be supplemented. Whenever I am in the need to supplement all the African dishes, I go for something entirely different, and that is how I found myself at Yong Su San Restaurant on the 900 block of South Vermont Avenue in Korean Town, and right inside the hub of the Wilshire Corridor. This normally happens after the all night pub-crawling.

And landing at these restaurants not of my origin has always been an attempt to free myself from the regular isi-ewu, goat meat, nkwobi-ngwongwo ritual.


When we found parking, we walked in and the waitress offered us a table which at all times makes me feel indulge. The've seen my face before so it wasn't a problem for them to think otherwise, I mean, wondering what the heck a black guy and his friend would be doing in Korean Town at 2-something a.m., especially during unholy hours. The waitress was nice, though. She served us well and was all smiles.

When I want a damn good Korean barbacue in Los Angeles, I know the best joints and Yong Su San Restaurant is one of them. The brisket, marinated boneless ribs, tongue and baby octopus plus that burning charcoal that helps you prepare the barbecue your self is just beautiful and nothing is as good as that. In addition, we had some spinach, roasted mushroom and some other vegetables I had no idea where they came from. We topped the entire dish with steamed rice, and of course, some Korean wine imported somewhere from South Asia.

The place sits a lot of people and it's always packed, and as usual, a hangout for University of Southern California students who are known to party hard. So far, I haven't seen the hood rats there. Check it out and tell me about it!

Obamanian Politics, Books and What's Up

[Drawing courtesy of Once Made]

Whew! another week gone by and with March Madness in all aspects of life, I think it's quite fascinating how we deal with the scheme of things and what to expect in President Barack Obama's first hundred days in office. It's tough, ain't it? The president is optimistic about the paralized economy bouncing back sooner or later. And methink he's doing the best he can neverminding what conservative Republicans are up to in throwing all the bad stuff that is seemingly negative to the affairs of state in an economy gone so bad they should be blamed for as a result of a bad managed Bush 2 era.

Actually, I read Elizabeth Drew's elegantly written piece on Obama's code of conduct and his boys -- "The Thirty Days of Barack Obama" -- in the White House, in the March 26, 2009 edition of The New York Review of Books which pinpointed how Obama really wants to change the way business is done in Washington.

Drew's essay spoke volumes. She spoke to a whole lot of insiders and notably pointed out how a Obama close observer has seen the president as "the boys are running the White House." The "boys" are Rahm Emmanuel (Chief of Staff), David Axelrod (Chief Campaign Strategist and Senior Adviser to the president), Jim Messina (Deputy Chief of Staff), and Patrick Gaspard who heads the office of Political Affairs in the White House.

Interestingly, Obama is using his executive orders and pen swiftly to do stuff.: "the memos of John Yoo," George W. Bush' measures on the "war on terror," "justified torture and lenghty detention without trial were nullified," writes Drew.

Also, interestingly, Drew wrote on Obama's mistakes and choice of appointments --the appointments of Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle -- which she described as "rookie mistakes" and "as the results of sheer fatigue and overload."

For some reasons, the books are popping up and myself being the non-fiction kind of guy book reader, I tend to shoot it straight with reality -- life's true events and personal experiences even though the online book bash and its fifth annual Tournament of Books is full of upsets but quite novel.

I'm still sticking to books that are based on facts and issues that I can relate to. Books of inspiration, and perhaps that's why books of inspiration are popping up all over, especially those of Abey Lincoln who unquestionably inspired President Obama. Oxford University Press has released two books on Lincoln" "Abraham Lincoln," by the Pulitzer Prize Winner James M. McPherson and "Lincoln and his Admirals," by Craig I. Symonds. And in Hollywood, David Welky's "The Moguls and the Dictators: Hollywood and the coming of World War II" had Morgan State University's Thomas Cripps put it up this way: "There have been other works that treat this area, but few match the quality of interveaning the worlds of movies, diplomacy and tghe temper of the times (especially as seen in the minds of the 'moguls')." In short, too many fascinating books in the world of Spring and especially the "March Madness of Books."

In the meantime, I have browsed through G. Pascal Zachary's memoir "Married to Africa," after reading its review by Megan Harlan in "Love and Marriage for an American Ex-Pat in Ghana." Good read and it's all about Zachary's obsession for the woman he loved and never looked back. A strange love affair. A humble beginning. A middle-class upbringing. A marriage put together. A real understanding. And, a generation apart.

What's up? My readers are wondering what's going on, especially with the "About Me" on my blog and what's up with that. I'm not revealing anything for now but I'm quite sure they must have figured out who the picture is since I pulled the first one out. There's been a whole lotta noise about Rita Edmond and her velvet voice that is now capturing jazz music lovers. As a jazz enthusiast, I was one of the guys that picked up her debut CD "Sketches Of A Dream" and after going through all the gigs in Los Angeles Rita had this to say about her love for Jazz: “I am sketching out a lifetime dream of what I want to do vocally. I love jazz and the standards are some of the most beautiful songs ever written. Jazz is the most liberating free form of music there is; I call it free flowing music..."

On the other beat, the women at WOWOWOW are not taking anything for granted. Celebrating its first year anniversary, a whole lot is going on for them and they seem to be equal to the task, and the vibe looks good. Yes, the vibe looks good.

They love Obama and Obama seems to be winning their votes which increasingly is disturbing to conservative Republicans. I, in particular, do not know what these folks think they are conserving in a fast changing world. The world has changed and we better admit it and deal with it. These so-called neocons have made the hoodrats look like gurus and intellectuals; and for sure, they are not thinking right.

It's a "New Dawn" and the world must get better!

Weekend in the City of Angels

Oh, boy, L.A. is the place, believe it or not. Los Angeles is just a drama on its own, and a whole lot seems to be making the City of Angels the craziest of all metropolis, especially when one becomes a target of who you are, "where you from," your lifestyle (drug addicts, alcoholics, blogaddicts, armchair quarterbacks, basketball fanatics, barebodied hotdog eating football fanatics, aloofed Hollywood wannabes and what have you) you must have done something wrong why someone is for no reason saying something about you (good or bad) for the fact it is a tradition that life goes on, no matter what.

As it happened the past weekend in Los Angeles was something I think I should talk about for many reasons. I had trooped to many places and it's just a whole lot happening the coming months before the Summer jams. I mean, the line up is so huge I'm beginning to wonder if President Barack Obama is just simply a magician. The guy is loved and the press has adored him. Every 'damn' thing is going on well now one begins to wonder why in heavens places George W. Bush and his White House gangsters deliberately decided to destroy the finest place on Earth. But that's over with and definitely "change has come to America." It is a "New Dawn," and without a doubt America is back.

But anyways, it's all good and the pop-ups is a sign of good feelings. The Playboy Jazz Festival announced last week the line-ups for this year's Summer jams at the Hollywood Bowl, and being my kind of hang out, I spoke to many of what should be expected and how "change has come America." Just hanging out as usual, the 31st Annual Playboy Jazz Festival marking its 50th anniversary salute to Miles Davis' class album "Kind of Blue" by Jimmy Cobbs So What Band scheduled for June 13-14 at the Hollywood Bowl became an interesting topic with regards to the "New Dawn." The festival will feature one of my all time favorites and friend Wayne Shorter whom I have watched uncountable times, Kenny G., the Neville Brothers, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Norman Brown, the John Faddis Quartet, the Jack Sheldon Orchestra, the New Birth Brass Band, the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, Cos of Good Music, Patty Austin, the Dave Holland Big Band, Oscar Hernandez and the Conga Room All-Stars, the Anat Cohen Quartet, Alfredo Rodriguez and the North Hollywood Jazz Essemble, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble.

What a line-up!

That's not all. It's weekend in Los Angeles and I had dabbled into Tayo Okulaja and the talk was, again, "change has come to America," and it is a "New Dawn." Yep, a "New Dawn." The Playboy Jazz Festival was part of our gist and the Owambe, Juju music King Sunny Ade is in the list, too. He will be slamming his "Synchro Systems" vibes at the Hollywood Bowl and I'm quite sure he will deliver. As Okulaja and I began to see what is making news in Naija, it came out "Naija still get long way to go" and not in our generation will change come to "Nigeria." Unfortunately so, and who cares, though?

Okulaja, another crazy dude, knows a whole lot about music, too. The legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter popped up. "So you know about my man Wayne Shorter?"

"Ah ah, which one you dey now? Abi you think say man no know what's up?"

"That's not what I mean."

"Wetin you mean?"

"I meant The Playboy Jazz Festival which I have not skipped for the last 15 years and it's becoming better and groovier each year notably as Bill Cosby always serves as master of ceremony."

Interestingly, Okulaja knew much about my man, Shorter who is still looking good at 75. Still energetic and jiving. Shorter, like we all know had started with ace drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, then with Miles Davis' 60's Quintet and Tony Williams, Ron Carter and another of my favorites, Herbie Hancock. When cultural/jazz fussion popped up in the 70's as Modern Jazz Quartet and Creed Taylor's Crew at Kudu Studios began changing the theme of Jazz in what critics called crossover, Shorter connected with Austrian keyboardist Joe Zawinul in what would be an amazing journey in Jazz music. I love the man and his music is like baked in my genes. The tracks "Speak no Evil," "Juju," "Native Dancer" and "Jungle Stuff" from the days of Weather Report are all masterpieces.

Okulaja kept me talking and jazz had been the theme and I never stopped talking about jazz greats from Satchimo to Shorty Rogers. I'm still not sure who is the greatest sax player. I'll give it to John Coltrane and "African Brass" unquestionably remains my best.

The weekend did not end without Obama being on top. The bailout and all his packages has taken over in every nook and cranny of Los Angeles and people are beginning to wonder why. It's just simple. The guy has vision and "change has come to America." It is a "New Dawn."

And as always, L.A. is the place!

It Sure Rains In Southern California

Who made that song "It Never Rains In Southern California"? Well, you go figure that one out because I'm not in the mood to trace it all the way back when Tony, Toni Tone, the Oakland-based group had it going on in the nineties cracking us up that no rain in Southern Cali. They sure brought the rain and ever since it's rain, rain, rain. Now we are all like, rain, rain go away.

It's been pouring here like crazy and the City of Angels is all wet. Since Monday, December 15, the rain would not just go away and driving is not pleasant under the rain. It has slowed me down and I'm not doing much to catch up with my schedules. But don't get me wrong though; I love the rain and it seems to be the best weather at this time of year when the spirit of Christmas is all over and the feel of winter gives us hope that life is just good never minding all that's been going on with the Global economy as a turmoil Christmas approaches.

Oh, Christmas is just eight days away and I'm writing as if I'm done with my Christmas or Holidays shopping, whatever that means. The markdowns have seen its lowest in years and it's quite interesting shoppers are not even excited for the woes a bad economy brought to their families coupled with the shenanigans at Wall Street. Wall Street shenanigans have made the third world countries, especially Naija, look like saints.

Anyways, the rain in Los Angeles will probably soften our hearts and we'll probably kind of take different meassures on how we do stuff and how things could come up better. And that is strategy. The point of making life meaningful by loving, sharing and caring.

Not much has been going on these days except this week's predicted rain and my tailing of filmmaker Pascal Atuma whose agents are on the trail for a lead male role in his upcoming movie "No More Bloodshed" about to start shooting here in Los Angeles beginning March 2009. I also spoke briefly with the style guy, Ike Ude who should be hitting my neck of the hood soon. There are series of stuffs coming up, too. Interviews and interesting episodes of my line -- I am not going to say what it would be looking like; just keep watching out -- and not anything close to the hood rats who did change the way things are done. Is it called popular culture? I like "them" hippie era and all that stuff that changed our world.

However, the rain is here and we should do the best out of it as the spirit of Christmas comes along with it the spirit of good feelings in a troubled world and economic mess.

A Barack Obama Campaign Diary

“Yo, What you think about da Obama guy, man!?” I’m getting pissed with the crazy ass white folks, man!”

“Hey, that hardball politics ain’t gonna fly, man!” “You feel me?”

“I feel you, dawg!”

“Obama ain’t black. He ain’t got no clue what been happening in the hood, man.”

“I hear you my brother. I ain’t voting for nobody. Nothing’s gonna change, man! You feel me?

“I feel you dawg!”

Another voice would pop up and say, “Hey, man, you listening to the damn liars? They ain’t nothing but liars, man. They ain’t got nothing for you, and you better quit dreaming, man! You feel me, though?”

“I feel you dawg!!”

“Ammo take it like it is man. I’m a hustler hommie and I don’t give a damn about what you guys say. Ammo hustle man to keep food on the table. Ammo do anything to survive, man. I’m a soldier, man. I got five little kids, hommie. Ammo hustle and buy dem bad ass rims, hommie. Dem lying politicians ain’t gonna buy toys and clothes for my kids, man. ‘Am a hustler hommie and ammo keep it straight. Ammo keep it straight, man! You feel me?”

“You da man!! You da man!! You da man, and I feel you dawg!!!”

“Hey, you guys ain’t real, man. Obama is the man and he is giving us hope that one day we shall overcome our predicaments. You see what I’m saying? And that’s for real man. Obama ain’t no educated fool. He got game and he is for real, my brother!”

“I hear you dawg!”

“Come on, man, you guys just don’t get it. Ammo tell you why. Obama ain’t black and he ain’t white either and you guys better quit playing the race card. He ain’t got nothing against anybody. He just wants the damn crooked politicians to get out of the way so America can be a better place for us all. Obama is the man and he got my vote. You feel me, man?”

“I feel you dawg!”

“You guys been tripping. What’s all the fuss about da Obama ain’t black or white? Ammo tell you guys something. I need money. I need a job. I need to hang out in the hood and do my thang. I need to cruise in my Chevy Impala low-rider with dem tight chicks on Crenshaw and no damn cop chasing me cuz I’m black. I wanna be free, man. You feel me?”

“I feel you dawg!”

“Ok, let’s be real guys. Ammo go out there and vote for Obama. I don’t care what you guys say cuz I know Obama is for real man. I know and you know Obama gonna change America. And If I vote and you vote we know he’s gonna win and that’s all we need my brother. You feel me, man?”

“I feel you dawg!”

“Okay, guys, why don’t we agree on one thing. The Clintons and the Bushes been running this country for a while and ain’t nothing happening but lying to the people, man. They been fighting and throwing bombs here and there making America look bad, man. They been throwing bombs all over, man. They been killing my brothers in Africa, man. They been taking all our treasures, man. These white folks are bad, man. Let’s give the black man a chance and you see what’s gonna happen. You feel me?”

“I feel you dawg!!”

“Look man, I don’t know what you guys been talking about. Ammo stick to the dude about dem tight gals and low-rider on Crenshaw, man! Dem cops been chasing us around cuz we been driving while black. You see what I’m saying? For real man, they been all over us cuz a brother been making some little change, hustling, man, hanging out in the hood with dem gals. I got to hustle to help my baby mama put food on the table, man! I don’t care about no damn politician. He ain’t gonna put food on the table, man!! You feel me?”

“I feel you dawg!!!”

That’s the story of the gang banger and hustler who is getting by on a daily basis doing the best out of a very bad situation which is typical with the “hood rats” in the projects and South Central Los Angeles. Some of them with records beyond imagination and they wonder how change is about to come, all of a sudden, with a black president who was raised under humble circumstances and had no clue what’s been going on in the projects with majority of these kids not knowing who “their daddy is.” They wonder how a polarized system can change all that.

It is a sad reality when one thinks about it. The 18th Street Gang. The 48th Street Crips. The East Los Angeles Gang stretching from Boyle Heights to Alhambra, the Gangs of South Central Los Angeles, Watts, Compton, Long Beach, Lynwood, Hawthorne and the Crenshaw District are areas of political interest now that “change” has become the keyword in this fascinating campaign. What kids in these gang infested neighborhoods are calling for is a profound leadership that would give them a sense of purpose, to rise above the limitations imposed on them for a better future. And the Obama campaign team should put this into perspective and make it a priority with regards to “change” and “yes we can.”

Though Obama is talking about change, and perhaps, it’s about to happen, that is, if he gets the mandate in a polarized American culture. I’m not sure if he has taken that into perspective throughout his campaign that seemingly would change America for good and California in particular, dating back to the Gold Rush when aggressive slave power was the subject matter and when a financial oligarchic class took laws into their own hands.

The fears expressed by these young kids in the ghetto, and programmed projects as in welfare state would definitely not change anything considering the fact that these underprivileged kids have been programmed through all sorts of government regulated social programs to have limited abilities to unshackle themselves from the bondage that is coupled with a government which has persistently maintained the status quo with limitations imposed in the hoods, and associated with widespread crime waves that has no end in sight.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Obama and I want him to be the next president of the United States with no color lines but for the fact American is desperately in need of change and the time should be now in order to get rid of a very deceptive and corrupt administration typical of Ulysses Grant, Warren G. Harding administrations, respectively. The George W. Bush administration has destroyed America, in its entirety, and nobody is really sure how long a new democratic administration, be it Clinton or Obama, would administer in putting America back on track in terms of its economy and its relationship with the Western World and other relative global leaders.

And we hope if Obama wins, a new age of prosperity and the “era of good feelings” would resurface which is why Obama should be given the chance on the ground he was raised a common man knowing in detail what it means surviving the odds. He had gone through Occidental College in Los Angeles, Columbia University in New York and Harvard University in Cambridge, all in quest for a “common purpose” Americans like him needed. Are the “hood rats” listening? I hope so!! Are they? I hope so, I hope so!! I definitely hope so!!!

Just at the end of 43rd Place and Degnan Boulevard that stretches down from series of black businesses at Leimert Park in Black Township, if you are a tourist or just poking around, you will notice one thing typical as the political campaigns heats up with Barack Obama posters here and there hyping up the idea that a black president is around the corner. And it has been atmospheric like introducing the next president of the United States, Senator Barack Obama. The name is all over the place and one can tell a second generation immigrant has shown that it is possible, and of course, “Yes we can.”

So when I bumped into black fellas from all walks of life at this historic place known for its thriving businesses relating to African cultural heritage – Papa’s West, African Treasures, Kumasi Gift Shop, World Stage Performance Gallery, African Heritage & Antique Collection, Hisam’s African & Urban Wear, Eso Won Book Store, Zambezi, Ackee Bamboo Restaurant, Lucy Florence Cultural Center, 5th Street Dick’s Coffeehouse, Leimert Park Eye Wear, etc. – I had the ultimate feel that Obama has arrived and it’s about time for the white folks to show some respect after hundreds of years of slavery, the separate but equal Jim Crow ballast and the Civil Rights Movement from around which blacks went through hell in America.

Of course, Obama is the “man of the hour,” never mind the “hood rats,” though their point remains very relevant because it is perceived to be the “same old song,” over and over again, which is typical of political campaigns. But Obama has changed a whole lot and we are beginning to see a difference since the history of political campaigns in an America that survived slave labor, segregation, Civil War, free speech, annexation and international conflicts.

I have not digged into Obama and all that campaign slogans with Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator John McCain until browsing Shelby Steel’s new book “A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win,” which is about an emerging black president, even with the debates and tabloid sensationalism as I have thought I should make a sketch and caricature that comes along with cocky politicians of our day, checking my mailbox during the course of my usual runs, was March 2008 edition of Ebony Magazine and guess what, Obama was on the cover with bold prints, “IN OUR LIFETIME: ARE WE REALLY WITNESSING THE ELECTION OF THE NATION’S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT?”

I read every bit of the story starting with “How Team Obama & Black America Are Making History,” a detailed campaign run covered by Sylvester Monroe, Kevin Chappell & Brian Monroe exclusively for Ebony Magazine. The tale – without tell-flaws -- was electric, Shakespearean, and amazing with an interesting opening act. 30-year-old Karen Richardson who studied law at Howard University had in 2005 interned at Senator Obama’s office in Washington D.C. She got hooked with “Obama fever” and abandoned every other project in her ensuing career committing herself to some great stuff when called upon to take the position of political director in Iowa State. That leadership role gave Obama Iowa without qualms. And so the story goes.

Richardson doesn’t have many words to explain her excitement when picked to run the show in Iowa. Well traveled and dedicated to change she said:

“When they asked me to stay on, I was sort of on a different course. But I looked at Barack and the way he interacted with his staff. I knew he was brilliant, and I looked at his character. There are a lot of smart people, but being on the Senate staff with him, you knew there was something special happening. All that combined to keep me there. It just felt right.”

What is more touching to me in the Obama for President Campaign is the drama at the barber shops. I did have to poke around and do some crazy stuff notably with the interest I have picked in this energetic and brilliant man who has survived all battle wounds growing up not knowing much about his father. Barber shops to me are like the comedy clubs where if you can’t control your emotions you will leave with cracked ribs.

My first point of call was a newly opened barber shop called Total Body Retreat Barber Shop on La Brea and Florence just around the corner from Inglewood’s bubbling Civic Center where everybody is talking about politics, the coming of age in the 21st Century and precisely “change” that would perhaps turn things around based on a new generation of voters. Obama’s sign graced every lawn in this barber shop and loquacious clients and youngish barbers had begun to engage in the kind of politics never seen before in a generation that is beginning to get the awareness of why “my vote should count in effecting change.” A new generation has popped up and like the saying goes, “politics make strange bedfellows.” The coinage should be rather “new age politics make good buddies” feeling how these kids are sticking together for change.

There was not much ado about the other barber shop – Magic Artistic Barber and Beauty Salon – down the street just by the Inglewood Car Wash on La Brea and Hardy. It was kind of mellow, lacking enthusiasm with old school flavored politics. Though politics was discussed but it had a nagging and who cares kind of flavor typical of the old guards the youngish entrepreneurs are clamoring for its change.

But the TV talk shows and radio commentators on both sides of the political spectrum – the left and the right, or perhaps the progressives and the neo-cons – doesn’t really matter in what has been going on at these barber shops as these young generations deals with reality, on a day-to-day basis, with all hopes being dashed by an outrageous administration. They have seen the downsizing, the ridiculous hike in gas prices, the increasingly crime waves in the neighborhoods, the slowing business activities as a result of the so-called “Bush Doctrine” which only benefits the rich, widening the gap between the haves and have-nots, and the whole concept that America is falling apart with every situation “not getting any better.” They have seen the “American Dream” slip away by hopelessness.

About a decade ago, not too many black folks were interested in voting to decide who the next president of the United States would be on the basis an election would not “change anything,” that the same old politicians and their sugar-coated mouth would continuously be the story, and that once these politicians are elected into office, the story changes and nothing gets done. But now, this new generation of “progressives,” from about a decade ago which seems to be diminishing the strength of the Baby Boomers are doing something different. They now belong to the political elite class. They have been raised humble from the past baby booming years, and they are beginning to realize American destiny should be in their own hands, thus the desperate need for a change of the guards. They want out of the old school kind of politics. And they mean it. And that is one of the reasons why they are now totally engaged in making sure change comes about with a new kind of leadership.

So, when one delves into the Obama campaign camp, it has increasingly become obvious that a new generation of political pragmatists have emerged sounding off on the continuous cliché of “change.” Nonetheless, the black vote is very relevant and just like Professor Ronald Walters of University of Maryland observed, “The Black vote is extremely important. The problem is that it is more powerful when it coalesces. It is weaker when it is divided. The name of the game is power not representation.”

Of course, “power” is the keyword and if Blacks should come out and vote en-masse for “change,” a derailed “Bush Doctrine” will be history in American politics just for the economical damage it has caused the American people.

For the last few months, anybody reading the newspapers and journals or watching talk or political TV shows could only conclude that the way of American politics has changed and Obamanian quest for change is spreading across America. It has been very interesting! It has been interesting, indeed!! And we hope it gets more interesting as the conventions draws nearer.

And with Obama defeating Clinton in the Vermont primaries some hours ago as I wrap up this piece, Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island is now up for grabs to probably determine the party's presidential nominee. Whatever happens and who ever gets the ticket, we hope they will practice what they have preached all along, that is, in the event any of the democratic nominee wins the presidency.

For Obama, "yes, we can!"

"So, yo, go out there and vote, dawg!!!"

BOOKSHELF: The Bond

Last week at Esowon Books in the heart of Leimert Park's "Black Township," Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis signed copies of their new book The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect with Their Fathers which is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Pact sharing their relationship from growing up without a father figure in their respective lives.

In this brilliant book, The Three Doctors as they are now known tells the story of how life could have been different had they been nurtured by a father while growing up. When interviewed by Amy Cox Williams of The African-American Connection, Dr George Jenkins had this to say:

"one thing I'd add to what both guys said is that our friendship was essential to our overcoming the conditions and disadvantages. We taught each other lots of things that allowed us to grow and fill the voids left by our fathers. We made each other better students and better men through our frienship."

On the other hand, Dr Sampson Davis who spoke eloquently at the book signing ceremony on the parking lot across the street from Esowon Books and in his interview with Cox Williams said:

"Fatherlessness is the nucleus for many social ills in our society. When looking at the studies and statistics, a case has been made that crime, high school drop out rates, drug use, and involvement in gangs can be often directly attributed to a young person growing up fatherless. Very often, mothers do a great job raising today's youth, but based on our own experiences, we know how important a father's contribution is for children."

Dr. Rameck Hunt who was more emotional for not having that bond with his father while growing up noted the following in that interview with Cox Williams:

"The interesting thing about all this is just that--none of us are fathers. Before any of us decide to make that decision we want to make sure we are ready. We refuse to repeat that cycle of fatherlessness... A big part of the message in The Bond is to break that cycle."

To sum it all up, The Bond is just one powerful book and straightforward.

On the Sidewalk with Harold Hisam: Colloquialism Is Best When Done With Style

I have received series of e-mails indicating my writing style has changed, and that I am becoming more blunt the way I use my words. I often wonder why it seems to be a big deal when what one says reads a different meaning to people who think they must monitor how one uses his pen to make his point when there are varieties of ways to do that especially of style, related to technology and the internet.



Why are my readers curious about my writing style? For instance, I use to be a political junkie and would do anything to set things right in keeping my political focus appropriate in terms of political correctness. But what folks do not know is that a change in my writing style was necessary to put into perspective what the internet is, which is being the conduit of getting the message across, just like running into Harold Hisam, owner of Hisam's African And Urban Wear in the heart of the "Black Township" who said to me that "these mutchafuckers think I'm running a museum or gallery where they can take a tour without knowing I've got bills to pay."



"You see what I mean? That's saying it like it is, and ain't nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, I took this entrepreneur to school and had a lively chat with him in the language both of us were totally connected. We were both on the same score and patently without him thinking I was just square, and not a brother who should not be hanging around the hood. He was blunt and here we go:



You are the owner of this boutique, and tell me something, how's business going?



Man, you know what? Business is ok, but this people around here think my shop is a museum, a Disneyland or something where they can take a look without spending a dime. Ain't that something, man?!



Are you saying shoppers and tourists shouldn't take a look or take a tour of your store since this place has become a tourist attraction?



Hey man, these mutchafuckers need to know this place ain't Disneyland. You see what I'm saying? I mean, they walk in here dig into my stuff and walk away just like that. Now you tell me how can I open up this mutchafucker everyday and nobody wants to buy something? You see what I'm saying? How am I gonna pay the damn bill, man?



Your inventory show you've got over $100,000 in stock. You must be doing

good.



Bullshit! How can I be doing good when these mutchafuckers ain't buying shit? You see what I'm saying? I think ammo go back to the basics, man! Ammo start growing organic stuff in my backyard and leave this shit alone. You see what I'm saying?



Grow like what?



Tomatoes, fruits and things like that, man!



Where you gonna sell em?



Sheeeet! Farmers market, man. Dem folks at the markets are making some big money, man! People got to eat and that's the real deal man! You see what I'm saying?



I wish you luck!



Thanks, man! Ammo try!

Jena 6 Rally @ Leimert Park, Los Angeles

For some reason, I thought Los Angeles area gangbangers had caused a commotion within the Crenshaw Boulevard thoroughfare of the "Black Township." That was not the case as I drove by the area running series of errands. It was the "Jena 6" rally to protest Jena, Louisiana District Attorney Reed Walters charging of six black students with second degree attempted murder for a fight that occured in school premises. A boys will be boys fight notably of teens growing up turns out racial in Jena, Louisiana.

Good thing, I was able to get a glimpse of the action and seeing all the TV trucks with cameras and microwaves recording and reporting the demonstrations, I couldn't but park my car on the huge 25 Cents an hour metered parking lot to get a piece of the action.

Thousands trooped in black to show their support with placards reading "Free the Jena Six," "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," "Slavery is over and racism is back," "No more Jim Crowe Laws," sending a powerful message that America should live up to its creed.

The traffic jam could be seen all the way from the Washington Boulevard Corridor stretching to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall to Degnan Blvd. at 43rd Street where Leimert Park sits. Meanwhile, as the peaceful demonstration was carried out without incident, vendors and store owners around Leimert Park area made brisk business selling t-shirts and other accessories to show support for the Jena 6 and their families. To be honest, I have not seen a rally in recent times where black folks came out enmasse, united to protest the trial of a seventeen year old convicted in an adult court by an all white jury for something that doesn't make sense.

I was really impressed with the move, the togetherness shown by a community that wants freedom and justice to prevail in a democratic society.

To help support the Jena 6 you can sign the petition at Color Of Change and make a donation to the legal defense fund, or buy a "Free the Jena 6" t-shirt. You can also call the Louisiana State Governor at 866-366-1121, or 225-342-7015, telling her to use her executive powers to intervene in the case. There is also the Free The Jena 6 website where you can donate, follow the case, take action and support the cause.