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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 12:16:02
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Africa In April Festival
Africa In April Cultural Awareness Festival, Inc. celebrates 22 years of African History and Culture on the internationally famous Beale Street at Robert R. Church Park, Downtown Memphis, Tennessee on April 17 - 20, 2008.
This historic international festival is a four day event emphasizing cultural diversity and ethnicity including music, cuisine, education, economics, transportation, technology, history, fashion, demonstrations, arts, crafts, and creative performances. Each year a different African country is selected showcasing a multiplicity of mediums. The 2008 honored country is The Gambia.
Local participants from Memphis City/Shelby Schools, parochial schools, colleges, universities, community organizations, and institutions will attend and enjoy a diverse cultural Vendor's Marketplace. Additionally, corporate sponsors and partners are encouraged to participate locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Video Footage of Past Events
Info: http://www.africainapril.org/
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 09:35:19
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| This is often a huge fanfare. I used to attend when I lived in Memphis, TN years ago. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 10:11:54
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This short poem captures my stint in Memphis and features 'Africa in April'. This is an old poem, though.
A WORLD ALL BY ITSELF :
BY KAYJATTA.
At 5 A.M. Memphis is in REM
They dialled a number at the telephone booth
And a male voice answered
He 'd been expecting 'em
A Somalian cabby delivered a package
To the address on 5887 Strauss Court
To a tall , scrawny figure in late thirties
The sun came "tiptoed on a jocund day "
Garba showered and had a coffee
The discussion at the table was politics , politics , politics
Remember Nkrummah's maxim
Seek ye the political kingdom first
The mall of Memphis is located on American Way and South Perkins
There 's Dillards , J. C. Penney , Sears , Footlocker, Radioshack, ...
You would not miss Oak Park Gallery
That immortalize Africa in wood
Tepeca 's a young African -American Rastafarian from Chicago
And played "gembe"
Tina 's the older child of the Thompsons, Stephanie the younger
Today the older drove in from Nashville
She lives and go to school there
She loved stuff from Dairy Queen
And thinks I 'm too quiet , even shy
But she once gave me a ride
Steve Thompson's a huge tall man, of several dimensions:
From humble beginnings in Mississippi to life experiences in West Africa
Served in the army and Vietnam
A really pleasant fellow, he owned Oak Park Gallery
And has Marcia , a truly sweet lady like Einstein's Elsa
Tirfe 's the one I 'm most fond of
She 's from the Ivory Coast , once very stable economy
She goes to the university and braids hair
L.A. pursues a masters in English at Old Miss
And had a stint in Malawi as a peace corp
Always wearing a generous smile , and a great body
Though she 'll be remembered more for her brains
Knowledgeable in African literature, the works of Wa Thiongo and Achebe ...
It's a lot of fun
Lots of people come to the mall , well just looking for something !
And then there 's this kid , very troubled
Won't talk to anyone, everyone wished she just leaves
She did ; lately carrying a baby to where I worry a lot
Americans are generally very interested in foreigners
But they never seem to solve the myth...
And because ordinary Americans hardly
Receive accurate information about the outside world
Ameica is a world all by itself !
Mine is the focal point
And the thought of it flatters me :
Renner; Kay ; T.J; Ceila;Mr . Johnson, the moslem; Hydrodeen, the Bosnian
Barry; Veda : and this Pakistani....!
Renner could easily pass for a super model
In the class of Naomi Campbell
She 's a much younger man to tame her wild flames at fifty
They go to the Beales, right to the threshold, at the Peabody
On the day of "Africa in April , Beales is a huge fanfare. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 07 Apr 2008 13:01:33 |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 13:27:59
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| quiet insightful for some of us who don't know much about the festival. good poem kay. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 00:22:29
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| Thanks Santa. |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 04:11:36
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Uncle Suntou,
Indeed a touching poem solely meant to show a very diverse environmental gathering in America. The title of the poem, 'A world all by itself' points to America as he so beautifully put it in the stanza below:
quote:
Americans are generally very interested in foreigners
But they never seem to solve the myth...
And because ordinary Americans hardly
Receive accurate information about the outside world
Ameica is a world all by itself !
Mine is the focal point
According to the author, Kay Jatta, thus: The Americans, so informed of the negatives of elsewhere are taught just that, though their interest in immigrants knows no bounds. The struggle in the different works of life by different nationalities all trying to enjoy at a meeting ground is a success story. Perhaps ‘Africa in April’, a 4-day event helps to bring the taste of Africa to those Memphis many interested in knowing about African culture but never were blessed with the golden opportunity. To the African participants, it is nostalgias and mementoes of the good old days in African land, like the Fulani historians will ask: Which one is older? The frog or the chameleon? In other words what proceeded? The ridges or the flat earth?
The display of the varieties of food, different music, different participants, et cetera just sums it all -diverse, smiley,peaceful, humorous, enjoyable, transquil, et cetera...
The author Kay recognized his relation with key characters, some of which played a pivotal role in shaping his Africa's nostalgia over an event that created a home environment, thus: “Home away from home.” To Kay, a character in the scene, the old poem also reminded him of his days in Tennessee as an African trapped in an American culture. The mention of African great literary brains like Achebe helps to attract attention greatly.
The poem, complex as it may be, is easier to understand with the video clip posted by Momodou. It is a clear testimony of Kay’s wonderful literary hand that over time he demonstrated in this forum without haste or hitches. The poem though written years ago is still fresh for a simple fact the environment is a continuous one. The poem truly describes the environment it was designed for.
What a small world!!!
Thanks bro Kay for a wonderful trailblazer poem.
Regards,
Dalton. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Edited by - Dalton1 on 08 Apr 2008 06:55:12 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 06:48:25
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| Brilliant analysis Dalton. Thanks for that... |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 07:02:20
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Bro. Kay,
Well, well, you just made my night.
You know well it is too many things to make one sad and croaking like a frog these days; not me tonight. I peacefully ended with your holy stanzas. I am not waiting a minute more than now.
Sound sleep & sound dreams my brother.
Regards,
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Edited by - Dalton1 on 08 Apr 2008 07:05:37 |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 09:41:38
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Kay, i am not at all a 'connaiseur' unfortunately, but i have to tell you: your poem above might have been an old one, but i liked it better than any other poem i ever read here before. You gave us very vivid images, the people you were describing came alive! I could see you sitting in the middle, writing down your observations as they came into mind.
Well, if this is your 'old' style - try it again. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2008 : 09:48:29
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| Thanks Anna, and thank you Dalton. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 08 Apr 2008 09:49:45 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 01:22:20
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quote:
Originally posted by anna
[Well, if this is your 'old' style - try it again.
Anna,
Rightly put! Over time, he forwarded a lot like the one above.
Another one you can check on the archive -'pendulum'. From that poem, you will give him a hand in the sciences as well.
Much love
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 07:19:23
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Dalton1, for once i was willing to take your advice  , so i read the Pendulum poem again. But i think 'A World All By Itself' is far more cleverly done. I was wondering though: if Kay calls this one 'a short poem', how many lines would there be in a long one  (but maybe true poets like you guys wouldn't use the word 'lines')??
Give me Japanese haikus anytime, very short but so complete.
Live in this moment
the stars in the sky are simply there.
Where else could you be?
(A Zen poem by Myochi)
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When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 08:02:27
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Anna, this poem is actually a very long one; it is in three parts. It is part two that I posted here. Do you wanna see part three?
I like free verse, but I would rather settle on a limerick...Thanks both of you. |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 09:57:30
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| OK Kay, show us parts one and three! I look forward to reading them late tonight, because i'm off to work and it's going to be a long, long day. Gives you ample time to print all those stanzas ;-) !! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 10:21:41
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Are you sure, Anna?
Okay check your private mail... |
Edited by - kayjatta on 09 Apr 2008 10:22:11 |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2008 : 22:29:50
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| Kay, why keep this from the others? Whatever happened to the first part? I have more questions for you, having to do with this brilliant poetry that you wrote in ..96/97 or maybe later. Thanks!! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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