djafifa

[djafifa]

The Sacrifice?

West Field Gambia Tabaski Market 2024 June’s broadcast on Art Radio features “Sacrifice”, it is inspired by Tabaski or Eid Al Adha the annual Muslim celebration that commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his only son Issac to God.  Individuals and families kill at least one ram and share the meat among friends and neighbours. This broadcast of Art Radio reflects…

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What is Religion

What is Religion? I watched the wood carvers movements on the wood. I listened to the sound of each strike from his tool. The wood was solid mahagony. The wood carver was Leboh, an expert at what he was doing. Each strike revealed more and more, this was a woman carrying something on her head, hands at her side. How long would it take him to complete this transformation. In Africa the Wood…

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Uncle Bai

How are you? he said. I am a little okay I replied. My name is Uncle Bai. He was buying donouts from my friend. She sells donouts and fish in the  Bakau Fish Market. Uncle bai like “Mambai” she added. I used to sell these things, I sell to all the boys here, real silver, my woman sent them to me from Germany. He had two chains around his kneck with some rings on one. He was trying to take…

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What is art in Africa?

Bakau fish market sunset feb 2025 I watch the sun set at the Bakau fish market.In the evening many birds flock to the market. It is beautiful to see. I come here to get my cafe touba. and sometimes connect to the internet. Then i leave at about 6:30 or 7pm. My friend sells fish here and this is the first place i came when i arrived in Bakau. Looking for food to eat, i bought fish from…

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Sign up to my mailing list

Time really does fly. I have been living and working in West Africa for the past 7 months. I am currently based in Bakau, the Gambia and I work from my studio, the Sound Culture University. My explorations in art started 20 years ago. After obtaining a PhD in Sustainable Development i began to fully pursue art, now my work seeks to unearth the ways music can inspire, connect and transform us. I…

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Sounds of life releases "Mohammed"

“Mohammed” is the latest release by Sounds of Life. This 8 minutes audio documentary is available for sale on Bandcamp. The documentary was recorded in Bakau, the Gambia. Mohammed is someone i met on the beach. He has always made me think about what Europe means to African people and what it means to “create a better future” in the Gambia. Going to Europe to make money to improve your life is…

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How does it feel to live in Africa?

Next month will be Christmas. I will end the year in Africa. It is something I am looking forward to.Recently I have been trying to reconcile my different feelings and experiences. Is Africa what i expected it to be? What about the things i am seeing that i could never imagine, like what it means to live in a Muslim country. I am grateful for my experiences, I have spent time in Senegal, Gambia…

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Goree is the Story of Life?

A Courtyard area and marketplace on Goree Island Goree Island is an infamous place. It is known for its central role in the Atlantic Slave Trade. It is called the “slave island”. According to UNESCO between the 15th and 19th century it was “the largest slave trading centre on the African coast. The island was controlled by 4 European nations; Portuguese, Dutch, English and French. One of the…

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The Woman who sat beside me

How can I forget the woman sitting beside me? We did not exchange any words for the 6 ½ hours of the flight from JFK in New York to Blaise Daigne in Senegal, but I will never forget her. She seemed like an older woman maybe in her late 50s or early 60s. She seemed frail. She was occasionally mumbling to herself. I did not know how to understand her. She was not ill but something didn’t seem…

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Learning about listening in a dj Residency

The first series of DJ Residency was held at the SO((U))L HQ on Saturday April 27, 2024. The motivation behind the Dj residency was to create an event which allowed djs and music lovers to explore the idea and practice of creating interesting listening experiences. I have always been interested in understanding more about how people listen to music; what makes a selection of songs interesting to…

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Telling my story

Revisiting some of my early ideas has been crucial to directing how i move forward with my work especially after an unexpected life event. I am grateful i was able to capture my thoughts, observations and ideas in this way and i had them to look back at.  In my writing you get a snap shot of my life and you can understand what has motivated me over the years to pursue art. It also helps to put…

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WhAt is Art Radio?

Art Radio is a project I started in December 2023. After two years of not making or sharing sound projects I wanted to create a space to do that again. Art Radio is a tribute to my love for radio and inspired by the years i spent working on Zanj radio at the SOUL HQ. It is a platform for sharing music and sound art. Each week i share a new selection of music, ideas and stories with new drawings.…

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Will Reggae Heal Jamaica?

The birthplace of Reggae is in trouble. A rising and out of control crime rate is one of the main concerns. The citizens move forward into an uncertain future. If Reggae spreads the message of peace and love what role can its ambassadors (artist and industry professionals) play in restoring peace to the land of its birth? Join me for a conversation on Sunday February 25, 2024 at 6pm-5UTC. In…

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WhY is it important To talk about Afrobeats?

Afrobeats is the sound of Africa today. Internet sources locate the root of the sound in Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. Artistes such as P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Stonebwoy, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Tems, Mr.Eazi and Davido have become the face of the music internationally. The conversation about Afrobeats is important because it gives us an opportunity to reflect on…

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Fele Fele

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Many Rivers to Cross

looking for something or someone to hold on Something or Someone to catch me through this stumble Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai Thank You.

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flashbacks

Sometimes i have flashbacks. Right in the middle of doing something there comes a memory. With the memory comes a feeling of regret. I just want to reach back in time and change my actions. If i didn’t do what i did i wouldn’t be here. It feels like i caused the loss of so many things, like my actions are the reason for my current feelings of sadness and loneliness. The minute i switch out of the…