I’m really digging Theophilus London‘s song Rio. The Menahan Street Band are working a seriously serious groove: the type of groove that seems to provide the perfect soundtrack to a humid, breezy cool summer night; that perfect groove that draws you into its layered syncopation, but is self-assured enough not to require you to get up and dance to fully appreciate its depth. Browsing through my previous posts, you may notice I’m a huge fan of Nigerian designer Maki Oh. When I saw Oroma Elewa dancing, pouting and shimmying away as only she can in the video while wearing Maki Oh my joy knew no bounds.

Culled from June 2013 Conde Nast Traveller article by Jane Bussmann

On Christmas night, a friend’s car screamed up outside my window [in Mombasa]. ‘Do you know where your passport is? And how much cash have you got in US dollars?’ he asked, grabbing jerrycans of water. ‘Has the revolution started?’ ‘What? No! We’re sailing to Tanzania for Boxing Day. Come on, we can be over the border by morning. Jambo’s moored.’ Jambo is a wooden sailing dhow.

Talk of Africa’s “image problem” has been swirling about the ether with increasing intensity over the past few years. With Africa’s stablizing political scene, increasing middle class, and renaissance of appreciation of local culture (especially by African youth), the apparent imbalance between how Africa is perceived abroad and on-the-ground reality has driven a campaign (sometimes formal, but mostly informal) of redress, primarily from within the continent. Rarely have I ever come across a re-brander from outside the continent (business men and women with more obvious motivations aside). More often than not, the voices behind the clarion call for Africa’s renaissance have been of African descent (as one would expect). I came across this article below in the June 2013 issue of Conde Nast Traveller, which gave a Western voice to the Afropolitan dream. In the article Jane Bussmann takes aid organizations to task for, in her view, misappropriating Africa’s image for their commercial benefit.

I was struck by Ms. Bussmann’s narrative, weaving scenes of that Afropolitan lifestyle we’ve read about over and over, heard about from family and friends back home; that lifestyle that may cause you to question why you haven’t hopped on the next flight to your African city of choice to start living a club-hopping, sunshine laden, cash-soaked dream cum reality. Ms. Bussmann paints the exact same scene, but with a Westerner’s voice. Somehow, this was extremely striking to me. For example, she describes landing at Mombasa’s Moi airport and discerning a “good times” vibe in the air.  Hopping into a friend’s “battered hatch back. She opened a mini bottle of Champagne with her teeth and we werere off, horn blaring at taxi touts who cursed her in Swahili“. The extent to which she sticks it to aid organizations is, in itself, also fascinating. It was only a few months ago Nigerian journalist Tolu Ogunlesi took Oxfam to task for an ad campaign which, in his view, reflected a condescending representation of Africa.

What is even more curious is the presentation of this article in Conde Nast Traveller, which typically avoids the political and has relied on what some may refer to as more cliche representations of Africa (safaris, Massai posing with smiling Westerners, sprinting cheetah, etc., etc.). Ms. Bussmann does make the (common, but no less irksome) mistake of constantly referring to “Africans” when, in portions of the article, she’s speaking of specific nations (that which is true in Kenya is not necessarily true in Morocco, the Gambia or South Africa).

I’ve scanned and uploaded the article as I couldn’t find a direct link on the CN Traveller website. What do you think about Ms. Bussmann’s portrayal of “the real Africa”. Click to enlarge.

Emancipation 150: All Ears with Terrance McKnight

A discussion and performance with

IMANI WINDS, ROY EATON, DONAL FOX and JOE DAMON CHAPPEL

Hosted by WQXR’s Terrance McKnight and Q2 Music’s Helga Davis

Monday, April 29 at 7:00pm

Live webcast available at www.thegreenespace.org and www.wqxr.org

On Monday, April 29, WQXR’s TERRANCE MCKNIGHT and Q2 Music’s HELGA DAVIS co-host an evening of music and conversation about the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in classical music, featuring IMANI WINDS, North America’s premier wind quintet; pianists ROY EATON and DONAL FOX; and bass-baritone JOE DAMON CHAPPEL in The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space.

On the Emancipation Proclamation’s 150th anniversary, The Greene Space presents a thought-provoking multi-platform series, EMANCIPATION 150, as part of The NEXT New York Conversation to discuss one of the most important documents in American history, examine its legacy and reflect on the state of emancipation for African Americans today.

A live webcast can be accessed at www.thegreenespace.com and www.WQXR.org.

What: Emancipation 150: All Ears  with Terrace McKnight

When: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 7:00 PM

Where: The Green Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York, NY

Tickets: $20 at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9743317

Imani Winds – Libertango

New York Public Radio is New York’s premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC, WQXR, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio, as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org, www.thegreenespace.org and www.njpublicradio.org. As America’s most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City’s cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WQXR is New York City’s sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC and WQXR produce content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station’s street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. New Jersey Public Radio extends WNYC’s reach and service more deeply into New Jersey. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.

SOUNDCHECK LIVE:

TALIB KWELI

Hosted by Soundcheck’s John Schaefer

Wednesday, April 24th at 9:00pm

Live webcast available at www.thegreenespace.org

(New York, NY—April 23, 2013) On Wednesday, April 24, WNYC’s Soundcheck presents an intimate conversation and performance with Brooklyn-based rapper TALIB KWELI, who will release his fifth album, Prisoner of Conscious, this May.

Soundcheck host John Schaefer will join TALIB KWELI at The Jerome L. Green Performance Space for a conversation about the territory between the personal and the political –and about his myriad projects.

Both as a solo artist hip-hop duo Black Star (with Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def), Talib Kweli has become known for his broad-ranging lyrics and rapid-fire delivery throughout his 20-year career. His latest album includes guest appearances from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Melanie Fiona and Busta Rhymes.

A LIVE webcast can be accessed at www.thegreenespace.com. For those in New York, a limited number of tickets are still available.

What: Soundcheck Live: Talib Kweli

When: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 9:00 PM

Where:  The Greene Space (44 Charlton Street, NY, NY)

Tickets: $15

Webcast: access at www.thegreenespace.org

Mos Def + Talib Kweli – Definition

Talib Kweli – Get By

New York Public Radio is New York’s premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC, WQXR, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio, as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org, www.thegreenespace.org and www.njpublicradio.org. As America’s most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City’s cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WQXR is New York City’s sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC and WQXR produce content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station’s street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. New Jersey Public Radio extends WNYC’s reach and service more deeply into New Jersey. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.

I stopped by the newsagent to pick up a bar of white chocolate and pretty much did a double-take when I saw Segun Agbaje, MD & CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank (Nigeria), on the cover of World Finance. It isn’t often we see Africa on the cover of less mainstream, more industry-focused finance publications, especially when the subject is presented in such a manner as confident, chic and self-possessed as Mr. Agbaje appears. I am extremely glad my local newsagent is still carrying stock of the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of World Finance all the way in the hinterland of April 2013. Otherwise, I would have missed out on The Cover and related article on recent growth of Sub-Saharan banks and Guaranty Trust in particular.

For the non-finance inclined, you may be interested to know Mr. Agbaje plays a unique role in the renaissance of (the perception of) Nigerian culture, having sponsored (via Guaranty Trust) numerous events/programs showcasing Nigerian culture both in Nigeria and abroad. To name a few, Guaranty Trust sponsored the Ndani Pop-Up Shop at Selfridges last year, supporting the presentation of various Nigerian designers at the luxury department store; established the Across the Board project with the Tate Modern, showcasing contemporary African art; and sponsored the much-touted Lagos Edition of Monopoly, about which Mr. Agbaje said “we realize the enormous potential the game has at boosting the financial literacy of players and inculcating in them the financial discipline and responsibility which aligns with the Bank’s business objectives.” Guaranty Trust also sponsors Ndani TV, an online channel of original content spanning scripted drama, interviews and cultural programs (it took a couple of episodes, but I’m really into Gidi Up), and the Lagos International Polo Tournament. A lot of the presentation of Nigerian culture we see today owes a great deal to the sponsorship and patronage of Guaranty Trust.

For the finance inclined, you can read the entire article accompanying the cover story online at WorldFinance.com.

]]> http://cherchezlacurl.com/2013/04/04/segun-agbaje-world-finance/feed/ 0 cherchezlacurl Segun Agbaje _ Guaranty Trust http://cherchezlacurl.com/2013/04/03/new-york-new-york-the-high-line/ http://cherchezlacurl.com/2013/04/03/new-york-new-york-the-high-line/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:54:51 +0000 Cherchez la Curl http://cherchezlacurl.com/?p=4454 ]]> I am slowly reacclimating to life post holiday: the demands of day-to-day responsibilities, the extended English winter, the fact that I no longer have the freedom to sleep & eat at will…lol; I kid. Having spent a few days in NYC, essentially dipping my toe in pretty much every corner of Manhattan and some points in Brooklyn, I’ve developed a newly found respect for the city and her residents. There is as much to love about NYC as there is to question, if not despise. Whilst there are various niggly bits that keep non-natives like me perplexed by the self-induced suffering of locals who choose to live in the city, and NYC off Monocle’s Quality of Life survey, there is a certain something about New York. A very intangible, indescribable, but certainly palpable something that burrows into your heart and leaves an apple-shaped hole when you leave; a sort of dull, aching desire to return.

The High Line park is definitely one of the highlights of NYC, for me. After having eaten profound quantities of food (my hotel offered an complimentary mini-bar stocked to the hilt with candy, cookies, and all manner of delightful snacks that throw a spanner in the wheel of progress), taking a stroll along the length of the rail-road track, turned park was a welcome form of exertion. Starting from the Meatpacking District, we wended over and above the city on a >1-mile path that gave the Madonna of cities yet another interesting perspective for observation. As is becoming my way, I was too lazy to bring my Nikon along on the walk (unlike previous trips, I actually remembered to bring my camera but never bothered taking it out of my suitcase). The views, however, practically willed me to take photos so I pulled out my Samsung Galaxy mini (no iPad or iPhone this time around) and decided to see what kind of photos I could take. As expected, there’s not much flexibility in terms of aperture, focus, etc. but I found my phone could take some pretty decent pics. Below are some shots I took of the city from the High Line using my Samsung

El Anatsui (Ghanaian mixed-media artist, based in Nigeria) exhibit on The High Line.

As a big fan of contemporary West African art, I was very pleased to this piece on the High Line.

I liked the sort of wonky, slightly vertigo inducing perspective of this photo

This final photo was actually taken at the start of my trip, as my plane approached JFK and we flew over The Rockaways.

The High Line Park, New York City Source – TheHighLine.org

Actually no fishing will be involved. Just a lot of eating, sleeping & walking. To mark my trip to the Big Apple (by the time this post is published I will likely be asleep on the plane, head dangling in the aisle, tongue forming a runway for a line of drool whilst I receive nasty looks from my seatmates, which I won’t mind seeing as I’ll be asleep…), here’s one of my favourite songs from Norwegian singer/songwriter Thomas Dybdahl One Day You’ll Dance For Me, New York City. The song is achingly beautiful; sort of otherworldly. I wore the album (similarly titled) to the ground (if the album were a pare of shoes, it would have various holes in its soles from overuse); same thing goes for That Great October Sound  and Science.  If you haven’t listened to his music before, I implore you to check it out . He recently performed some new songs on KCRWs Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Source – Spotify

P.S. Whenever I think of New York City, I think of this classic Pace Picante Sauce commercial…the result of a childhood spent watching far more television than I’m sure is healthy

A community forum featuring
Newark Mayor CORY BOOKER and Schools Superintendent CAMI ANDERSON,

As well as Teachers, Community Members and New Jersey Journalists

Hosted by WNYC’s BRIAN LEHRER

Wednesday, March 20^th, 7:00pm
New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Update! March 21st, 2013.

Full Audio of “Which Way NJ: School Reform in Newark. Click here to listen.

Education reform in urban public schools has been promised by a succession of presidents, governors and mayors, yet progress has been slow.

NEWARK MAYOR CORY BOOKER joins a distinguished panel on March 20^th at 7pm at NJPAC to take on this very subject and to discuss what is next for Newark, NJ.

Joining Mayor Booker will be Schools Superintendent CAMI ANDERSON, CEO of Newark Charter School Fund MASHEA ASHTON, Veteran Teacher and VP of the Newark Teachers Union MICHAEL DIXON, Parent Activist SHARON SMITH, Managing Editor of New Jersey Public Radio NANCY SOLOMON, and NJ Spotlight Founder Editor JOHN MOONEY.

WNYC’s BRIAN LEHRER hosts.

The panel will discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• Newark’s progress in improving its public schools

• How charter schools are performing in Newark

• The infusion of large private donations from Wall Street and celebrities 

• The implications of New Jersey’s new teacher tenure rules

•  City versus state control of education reform

Excerpts from the event will air on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on Thursday, March 21^st at 10am, on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820 and streaming at www.wnyc.org

For more information visit www.WNYC.org/events

WHAT: Which Way NJ? School Reform in Newark
WHERE: New Jersey Performing Arts Center (1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102)
WHEN: Wednesday, March 20^th at 7:00pm
ADMISSION: Free, rsvp required at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9760155

New York Public Radio is New York’s premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC, WQXR, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio, as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org, www.thegreenespace.org and www.njpublicradio.org. As America’s most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City’s cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks NPR, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WQXR is New York City’s sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC and WQXR produce content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station’s street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. New Jersey Public Radio extends WNYC’s reach and service more deeply into New Jersey. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day.  As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.  Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.  NJPAC has attracted over seven million visitors (more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.  Visit www.njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.

Source – New  York Times

WQXR presents
BILL T. JONES WITH THE ORION STRING QUARTET

An Evening of Dance, Live Music and Conversation

Monday, March 18th at 7 pm
The Greene Space at WQXR

On Monday, March 18, at 7pm at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, WQXR, New York City’s all-classical station, presents an evening that pairs modern dance and classical music in a celebration of the brilliance and breadth of MacArthur Genius Award winner, Bill T. Jones.

WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, whose radio special “A Musical Biography of Bill T. Jones” traced Jones’ life through music, will sit down with Jones to continue the conversation with a focus on the choreographers’ relationship with the European classical canon. The evening will also include solo dance performances by members of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, set to chamber music of Mozart, Schubert, and Ravel performed by the acclaimed Orion String Quartet.

Choreographer Bill T. Jones has been creating modern dances of profound urgency and relevance for decades, engaging issues of identity and expressing social commentary in ways that have transformed the face of American dance.  “Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music,” opening at the Joyce Theater this spring and also featuring the Orion Quartet, will commemorate his thirty years of creativity and impact with a special program focusing on the delight of musicians and dancers working together.

What: Bill T. Jones with the The Orion String Quartet
Where: The Greene Space (44 Charlton Street, between Varick St and 6^th Ave)
When: Monday, March 18^th at 7pm
Tickets: $25 tickets at http://www.thegreenespace.org/

Source – Last FM

WQXR 105.9 FM, which streams live at www.wqxr.org, is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life. WQXR presents new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the New York Philharmonic, among other venues. WQXR also broadcasts essential destination programs including the Metropolitan Opera Radio Saturday Matinee Broadcasts, New York Philharmonic This Week, and the McGraw-Hill Companies Young Artists Showcase. For listeners in search of the new, WQXR operates Q2 Music, an online music stream dedicated to contemporary classical composers, cross-genre adventures, and performances from New York City’s edgier venues. Operavore is WQXR’s opera site featuring news, interviews, and commentaries from the world of opera, as well as a 24/7 all-opera stream. WQXR.org provides essential playlist information and online listening, as well as original content, host blogs, NYC cultural news, videos, and a free app allows listeners to take WQXR with them wherever they go.