African films, alhamdulilay!!

This is a really special chance to see some films by Ousmane Sembene, one of the most brilliant storytellers, artists, and activists of the 20th century. They're all really good and loaded with dark humor, satire, subversion, and some pretty raw commentary on religion, neocolonialism, the ineptitude of and corruption within third world bureaucracies, even female circumcision. (They're juicy) Faat Kiné is great, all about changing roles of women in Senegalese urban society. So bummed out I'm missing this :(
PS, Brookline booksmith also has a couple African cinematic gems downstairs .... You can also find Sembene films at the BU Krasker film library.

Where: Harvard Film Archives, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St. Cambridge
When: September 7th - 10th
Tell me more!!: 617 495-4700 or http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/general_info.html

"Ousmane Sembene – In Memoriam
A former bricklayer and soldier turned trade union organizer, Ousmane Sembene is widely recognized today as one of the most prolific African writers and film makers. But Sembene’s significance moves beyond the question of his productivity. He is celebrated today throughout Africa and around the world as the first African creative artist with a “virginal faith” in the redemptive and galvanizing power of art and as a filmmaker who used the barrel of the camera to restore the African self-image.

The recipient of many honors throughout his career, Ousmane Sembene, who died in June at 84, will leave his mark on world cultural history as one of the most talented storytellers of his time and as a rare and solitary African revolutionary who understood the political nature of narratives, their power in shaping our past, our present, and our future. He devoted his life to giving voice to a voiceless continent through the production of narratives countering dominant, hegemonic discourses (political and religious) of the African Islamic and postcolonial elite. Sembene wrote books and made films not for profit but for man’s sake because he believes man is culture." -- Samba Gadjigo, Professor of French, Mount Holyoke College

Tune Your World .... Fair Trade Music

Only once in a while do I come across something on the Internet that leaves me stunned, empowered, eager to learn and to act, warm and fuzzy on the inside ... Based right in our Boston backyard, Calabash is a GLOBAL MUSIC EMPORIUM (and also music producer), offering the widest collection of the world's most talented but hard-to-find musicians, as well as free downloads, radio streams, videos, etc. But here's the icing: Calabash supports a fair trade/equal exchange with artists, who directly receive 50% of sales profits (typically, musicians earn about 8%-12% in standard music industry contracts). They also own the copyright to their music and receive other opportunities to self-market and self-promote. (Calabash produces digital-only releases, so new projects are brought to the market at a fraction of the cost of producing a CD).

The gist of the calabash campaign: We're a nation recognized for our good works around the world no? One survey found that Americans think the federal government spends about 10 to 15 percent of its budget on foreign aid ... in reality, we spend less than 1%, the lowest of any industrialized nation. (This was a survey conducted by the Program for International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland. If you're interested, you can read about this, and a lot of other topics concerning Americans opinions on our government, our foreign policy, our world image, etc. at: http://www.americans-world.org/digest/overview/us_role/usrole_summary.cfm) Calabash says they have a better idea, if every American bought 10 songs by African artists, we could double the amount of aid we are sending to Africa!

"At least 50% (in some cases 100%) ... will go to African Artists, or an African relief NGO and stay in Africa. With this money, musicians will be able to buy new instruments, recording or performing equipment, complete their education, or put a new roof on their house. Together we can create a thriving music economy in places where the music industry has never worked very well. We are starting in Africa and we will be moving to other parts of the world as our work progresses."

Or if you're just looking for some new funky afro-sounds (or Middle Eastern, Asian, South American, European, etc.) look no further. http://calabashmusic.com/