Latest news with #Sankofa
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Thandiswa Mazwai says she would've accepted invite to national dialogue had Ramaphosa sent it
Thandiswa Mazwai's music often has social and political commentary On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the date and names of those invited to the national dialogue, where some of the country's pressing issues will be discussed. 'There have been many of these over the years, and I have attended some,' Thandiswa Mazwai tells The Citizen. The renowned singer-songwriter says she wasn't invited by Ramaphosa, but says she would've accepted the invitation had it come. 'There is much to be legislated in our industry and much to be done to protect artist rights, livelihoods and dignity,' shared Thandiswa. ALSO READ: Ready to dazzle: Afro-soul singer Thandiswa Mazwai releases 'Sankofa' album Singing truth to power In the art and creative space, the president invited elders Dr John Kani and author and poet Gcina Mhlope. The dialogue has drawn mixed reactions throughout the country, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) describing it as a 'meaningless publicity stunt by a limping president who is leading a limping former liberation movement'. Through her music, Mazwai has provided social and political commentary, often targeting those in power. Her song, Kunzima: dark side of the rainbow, is a perfect example of her sharp melodic criticism. 'Fools for leaders, their minds left destitute by greed, no souls to speak of, they cannot be redeemed, fiends for war…' Thandiswa sings on the song. The politically charged song is part of Thandiswa's Sankofa album, which was released just over a year ago. Thandiswa spoke to The Citizen ahead of her performance at the Lyric Theatre at Johannesburg's Gold Reef City, where she will celebrate a year of Sanfoka. 'This show will exclusively cover the music from Belede and Sankofa,' she shares. ALSO READ: 'I cannot believe it's been 20 years' – Thandiswa Mazwai on new album and 20 years of 'Zabalaza' A year of Sankofa Sankofa was released on 10 May 2024. Before its release, Thandiswa had last released a body of work in 2016 with Belede. Despite the long break between her albums, during which the world had changed, Thandiswa said she wasn't nervous about how her music would be received. 'Not at all,' she says. 'Even though I haven't released new music, I have been performing a lot, and the audience has been getting exposed to all the things I experiment with. Especially Jozi audiences, who can sometimes get impromptu rock performances or a set with a DJ.' She says the release of Zabalaza in 2004 taught her that people can grow with her sonically. 'Sankofa is a very layered and lush album, and I know there is an audience for that. It has also been very masterfully put together by all the musicians who were involved.' The word sankofa is derived from the Akan Tribe of Ghana, which can be translated into 'go back and get it'. The essence of the meaning symbolises going back in order to move forward. This was somewhat literal for Thandiswa, as she delved into the International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Rhodes University, an archive of African sounds. The launch of the album at Carnival City's Big Top Arena last year was more than a musical experience; it also offered itself as a safe space for black women in particular. Thandiswa's concerts inevitably become a place of healing, love and a safe space for her core fans – a significant part of that fandom is the queer community. She preceded the performance of her latest single, Kulungil, by sharing a bit about her past traumas − her backdrop was an old photo of a young Thandiswa in the rural Eastern Cape. She even revealed that on the day the photo was taken, she had experienced something traumatic. It was more than just a music show for black women. It was a safe space for them to be. Her performances at last year's Bushfire Festival and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz were equally appreciated by a more diverse demographic. 'We have really enjoyed playing this music along with the rest of the discography around the world. It's always such a trip watching people sing new music back to you,' says Thandiswa with gratitude. ALSO READ: Collaborative Wouter Kellerman bags Grammy nomination as Thandiswa's 'Sankofa' misses out Awards and such Sankofa lost out on a Grammy nomination and also failed to win at the Metro Awards, where it was nominated in the Best Jazz category. 'I don't usually win awards,' Thandiswa says. 'I'm experimental, and awards require very constant ideas on what constitutes genre. For instance, Sankofa was nominated in the jazz category, but it really isn't jazz. It is a sound all on its own, and it definitely has jazz influences, but it also has deep Xhosa and Senegalese influences.' The Metro Award went to saxophonist and composer Linda Sikhakhane for iLandi, whom Thandiswa congratulated. The Grammy nomination, which saw Mzansi's Wouter Kellerman nominated and eventually win, is a lot trickier, where Academy members vote for entries in two rounds. 'This was our first attempt, and we enjoyed the experience, but I am acutely aware of the fact that we don't need these awards for validation,' she shares. 'So as long as it's all good fun and not a bar to measure our worth, it's all good.' Thandiswa has a wide range of fans, from the youthful ones who were aware of her performance on Tiny Desk and cheered her on, to the more senior ones who aren't able to navigate YouTube. 'It feels good to be seen. It feels good to be appreciated. It feels good to be affirmed and reminded that you are indeed doing what you were called to do.' NOW READ: Thandiswa Mazwai creates a safe space for black women at Carnival City
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sankofa 2025: Elevating Live comes to New Bern Civic Theatre
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) — New Bern Civic Theatre set to showcase Sankofa during Juneteenth Celebrations. The show is in partnership with Cynthia M. Evans-Robinson and the Creative Team of Sankofa 2025 – Elevating Live. The show encompasses African heritage & culture shown through the lens of spoken word, music, dance, mime, and martial arts. The newest edition to this original artistic piece can only be seen at New Bern Civic Theatre on Friday, June 20th at 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 21st at 2:00 pm and Saturday, June 21st at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale at the New Bern Civic Theatre Box Office at 252.634.9057 or online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
27-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
"Sacred Spaces" exhibit at Annapolis museum honors legacies of prominent Black Marylanders
Preserving history through art is the theme of "Sacred Spaces," a new exhibit at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis. The art show, which opened in mid-February, celebrates and honors historic landmarks and prominent Marylanders whose legacy should never be forgotten. "Sacred Spaces is really an exhibit delving into the importance of cultural spaces that are particularly important to African Americans," said Martina Dodd, the curator of collections and exhibitions at the museum. "We have to be in charge of the narrative that empowers us." Dodd said these spaces and prominent figures can get lost, and the goal of the three-floor art show is to remember their legacies. Jabari Jefferson is a Washington, D.C.-based visual artist who uses recycled material, clothing and even soil in his more than 15 works included in the show. His work not only shows the history of the museum but also the lives of Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. "I was quite shocked of how many awesome people, historical legends, were born and came through this land," Jefferson said. "It truly was being influenced by a wow factor of history I never learned…We have to talk about these people. We have to make it about Maryland." The art show is housed in a sacred space itself. The museum is located at the site of the former Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Church, which was founded by freed Black slaves in the late 1800s. The house of worship was almost destroyed 100 years later, but after a preservation act, it was saved and turned into the state's official Museum of African American History and Culture. It reopened in the 1980s. "We think it's important that we are in this space that has so much history and legacy because it speaks to the importance of preservation," Dodd explained. The show's centerpiece is an 18-foot tapestry that hangs over the former altar of the church. Jefferson said he worked with neighbors who brought in their own materials to repurpose in the piece, which depicts a library scene with a Sankofa bird at the center. It's the only bird that can fly forward while looking back. "Through the installation we were able to include the public, include the people of Annapolis, include the people of Maryland, to actually walk with me step by step in my process in how I go through collecting these recycled materials, breaking them down and turning them into a work of art," Jefferson said. Jefferson and the museum hosted several workshops to allow members of the public a chance to participate. Jefferson said all of the recycled materials in the show are from Maryland. The tapestry also features an augmented reality video created by Raunjiba Creative in Baltimore to preserve the history of the church. When art lovers arrive, they will see a QR code on the wall. After scanning it, an app is downloaded on their phone. Through the app, visitors can "scan" the tapestry, and an animated video will pop up, explaining the history of the building, its origin as a church and how it became a museum. "The history of the museum, like so many other components of African American history, went through these trials and tribulations of burying it…in other words, erasing what it had been and what it had stood for when it was erected," said Scott Tucker, creative director of Raunjiba Creative. "This not only gave us an opportunity to show that, but also the success." The museum and Sacred Spaces seemingly run parallel to each other, both celebrating and honoring the people and places that laid the foundation. "African American history is Maryland, and American history," Dodd said. "The more that we can connect with others, the more we can learn about ourselves, the more we can learn about our state, and then we can also really think about how we can build as a community." Sacred Spaces is open through December 2025. The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum also has programs and other events as part of the exhibition.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Affordable housing projects in Springfield in the works
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The lack of affordable housing in Springfield continues to be a drawback for residents, but some projects are coming to address that. On Monday, Springfield City Council was introduced to a proposed zoning ordinance that if approved would create 32 single-family residential homes on a plot of land near Talmage and Grant. 'The comprehensive plan highlighted that Springfield currently has a shortage of housing units that are only attainable at the lowest income levels, and this shortage disproportionately impacts renter-occupied housing,' Senior Planner Michael Sparlin said. 'By encouraging higher density residential development, the city can provide a higher range of unique unit types sizes and price points within future development.' It's an updated plan for developer Mike Stalzer, who in 2023 was open to buying the plot of land from a local church and not just building homes, but also turning an old gym on the property into apartments. Chimney Rock neighborhood development passed by Springfield City Council 'We were going to redevelop the gymnasium into apartments, but I decided it probably would be better just to demolish the building and go with the single-family homes,' Stalzer said in a Planning and Zoning hearing last month. When Ozarks First originally covered the story in 2023, several neighbors were voicing concerns about the increase in traffic and the proximity of the building to a nearby school. At the January P&Z meeting, one woman spoke and said her concerns were addressed with the updated plans and another still voiced opposition to the project as a whole. At the first reading of the bill to Springfield City Council on Feb. 10, no one spoke before the council. Stalzer's project isn't the only one going on in Springfield looking to address affordable housing. Last week, members of The Vecino Group broke ground on their effort called 'Sankofa,' a four-story development aiming to bring affordable housing to C-Street. '[Sankofa] integrates both a business incubator and a street-level retail. It's going to deliver 42 brand new, affordable homes that serve as households, serve households at below 60% area medium income, and the idea of it will be to provide a strong path forward through job and business counseling for residents,' Jordan Gibson with The Vecino Group said. 'The incubator space will be managed by the Multicultural Business Association to focus on the success of minority-owned businesses for Springfield, and this is the first new from-the-ground-up development for Commercial Street in more than 50 years.' Springfield City Council passes bill that criminalizes storm drain obstructions The Vecino Group specializes in affordable housing. 'We have over 60 communities that we have developed in the past 14 years,' Gibson said. 'We have lots of different affordable housing options for just different populations and different needs, and we have supportive services that we offer on-site with local non-profits in those areas to help provide the services for those individuals and their needs.' Jordan says affordable housing isn't just a Springfield issue, but a nationwide one. 'I think the state of affordable housing in Springfield is the same as it is across the US. It's the national crisis, prices of rent, housing, utilities, essentials,' Gibson said. 'Everything is just really going up these days and it makes it very difficult from the cost of living perspective and people are able to bring home from an income to provide the basic needs for their ultimate thriving of their lives. To be the best version of yourself that starts with stable, affordable housing.' Sankofa is expected to open in 2026. Springfield City Council is expected to vote on the Talmage/Grant project on February 24. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
