Two great losses for the arts and humanity--Achebe and McKiver

I wanted to acknowledge two great gentlemen who passed while I was away on vacation. Even though late, this blog should not go without mention of their lives and legacy. Here are their New York Times obituaries.

Chinua Achebe, African Literary Titan, Dies at 82
by Jonathan Kandell, The New York Times, March 22, 2013

Lawrence McKiver, a Singer in Long Tradition, Dies at 97
by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, April 1, 2013

Panel: In praise of praise dance

Praisedance

a panel exploring the role of Black dance in Black spirituality

Thursday, May 24 (6:30-8:30pm)

Rashida Bumbray, Nafissa Shariff, Brian Polite and Michael Manswell wax kinetic as they explore the role of black dance forms, including ring shouts, traditional Old Mali folk dance, House Music dance, and Afro-Caribbean dance in Black worship and everyday transcendence. This salon is part of “Roots and Stars”, the Caribbean Cultural Center’s (CCCADI) newest program series exploring African Traditional Religions while illuminating Black spiritual practices.

Presented by Caribbean Cultural Center in association with International Communications Association

Admission: $10 at the door

Location:

Dwyer Cultural Arts Center
258 St. Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan
(Enter on 123rd Street between St. Nicholas Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard)
(directions)

Hollering space in the African diaspora

The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute

presents

Hollering Space: Ring Shout and Leadbelly Tribute

featuring two special performances:


RUN MARY RUN
Rashida Bumbray and the Dance Diaspora Collective
with Special Guest Adenike Sharpley
music by Matthew Hill and Christian Almiron

Leadbelly’s Last Dream
featuring Terence Etc. and The Et Cetera

Tuesday, November 29
Doors open at 7pm.

@Dwyer Cultural Center
258 St. Nicholas Avenue (on the corner of West 123rd Street), Manhattan
(map/directions)

Admission: $10 (free for kids)

RUN MARY RUN
Rashida Bumbray and the Dance Diaspora Collective
With Special Guest Adenike Sharpley
music by Matthew Hill and Christian Almiron

For the premiere of her new dance work, RUN MARY RUN curator and choreographer considers the complex intersections between inspiration, re-interpretation, and creative process, using the harmonic ideas and tonal vocabulary of the McIntosh County Shouters—master ring shout artists—as a point of departure. Developed in collaboration with and performed by the Dance Diaspora Collective with special guest master dancer, Adenike Sharpley, and the Dance Diaspora Collective take us on a ride through the cosmologies of the Low Country, Geechie Sea Islands, Tennessee Blues, P Funk, and Hip Hop relating the shout to the history of Black music as well as to her personal development as a choreographer.

Leadbelly’s Last Dream
Terence Etc. and the Et Cetera

Leadbelly’s Last Dream is a musical experience during which Terence Etc. and The Et Cetera relive the last dream of legendary southern folk musician Leadbelly. Through Blues inspired re-imaginings of Terence's compositions.

For more information, call 212-307-7420 ext. 3008 or email.