elmiincolour-blog

[elmiincolour-blog]

RIP.

Thanks to medical advance Dr. Mohsin can now say that the Egyptian people specifically should munch on beans.

Further more Dr. Mohsin says, "surely meat is poison. It increases stomach diseases and habitualises robbing. Causes man to sleep more and screws up all his appointments.” ...

[elmiincolour-blog]

Who are you because I think I love you.

I am whatever you say I am... And such..

[elmiincolour-blog]

read the rest of the article below 

http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black/the-black-blog/2012/07/night-blindness

[elmiincolour-blog]

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), The Scarlet Letter

[elmiincolour-blog]

DNA. By Mazen Maarouf

There’s one way

to scream..

remember that you are Palestinian.

One way to scrutinize your face

in a bus window as date trees and porters flicker past

and break your reflection.

One way

to reach the ozone layer

lightly, like a helium balloon

or to cry

because you’re a bastard.

One way

to place your hands over the breasts of the one you love

and dream

of faraway things:

a small flat in a suburb of Paris, the Louvre,

loads and loads

of loneliness and books.

One way to die:

inciting the snipers

in the early hours of the morning.

To call your cheating girl

a whore.

To smoke weed in a lift,

alone, at eleven o’clock at night;

to write a miserable poem in the bathroom.

One way

to scream in the gutter

where your face waves again

in a toxic puddle

where you remember, in one way,

you are definitely nothing

but

Palestinian.

Arab Poets in Engilsh Series

Copyright Mazen Maarouf

http://mazenmaarouf.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/dna/

[elmiincolour-blog]

A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by a common hatred of its neighbours.

 — William Ralph Inge (1860-1954)

[elmiincolour-blog]

In a society obsessed with imagery, it's not just what we wear that comes under scrutiny

Crane TV interview of

Michael Salu

Artistic Director Granta

[elmiincolour-blog]

ON THE ISSUE OF BEANS AND MEAT

Thanks to medical advance Dr. Mohsin can now say that the Egyptian people specifically  should munch on beans.

Further more Dr. Mohsin says, "surely meat is poison. It increases stomach diseases and habitualises robbing. Causes man to sleep more  and screws up all his appointments." And generally it is known that those who eat meat  go to hell forever! Dear chubby Dr. Mohsin Mr irresponsible source! Your one of our great minds and the world is in great need of your mind what is your esteemed opinion of,  that crazy man who screams? Leave us to die eating meat and you can keep the beans.

By. Ahmed Fouad Negm 

Arab Poets in English

Copyright Ahmed Fouad Negm

[elmiincolour-blog]

This is an official introduction to my new series inspired by Al-Jazeera's Poets of Protest. in response to this incredibly enlightening short documentaries on Arab 'revolutionary' poets I have decided to post a series of poems by Arab poets that have been translated in English.

Enjoy

Elmi Ali

[elmiincolour-blog]

Long Live The Dead Queen

By South African visual artist Mary Sibande

Mary lives and works in Johannesburg and her Johannesburg Art City World Premiere Annual Exhibition Premiere. 'Long Live The Dead Queen' launch in 2010 to coincide with the World Cup and consisted of 19 giant billboards (building-wraps) placed around inner-city Jo'burg converting the city into a gallery.

[elmiincolour-blog]

We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.

Livy, Roman historian (64 or 59 BC-17 AD)

[elmiincolour-blog]

The Famished Road

In the beginning there was a river. The river became a road and the road branched out to the whole world. And because the road was once a river it was always hungry.

There are ‘somethings’ about great books that stick with you long after you have put them down. And even when you think you've forgotten about them that ‘thing’ creeps up on you in the weirdest places. Like the faces of new acquaintances having a peculiar familiarity because they reminds you of a character you read about or being overcome by a sudden urge that manifests into a memory or idea.

A bit weird I know, but to my defence I did meet a lady the other day that reminded me so much of Madam Koto from the Famished Road that I thought it was some sort of Déjà vu. What’s even weirder is that she owned a pub in East London! I imagined her filling out kegs just as meticulously as Madame Koto Poured palm wine.

Back to great books – though I never abandoned the topic too much. It - The Famished Road - has been described as political commentary, fantasy, magical realism even animist realism! I say, read it from any angle, with an open mind and you will find it very hard to not to enjoy the book.

The Famished Road by Ben Okri is written from the point of view of Azaro an Abiku (spirit child) and opens with the magnetic scene of him in his pre-human form contemplating his birth. It traces his life, split between our own world and that of the spirits. Keeping us hooked with his incessant curiosity and detailing explicitly the life of a new nation from the eyes of the ones that have no choice but to endure its growing pains.

He wades effortlessly through his parent’s and neighbours’ struggles with day to day riddles. Their search for rent and garri (the staple food). He struggles to understand politics, politicians and his relationship with Madame Koto - the superstitious but fearless pub owner; known for her no nonsense approach to business and love for magical charms and money.  

The book is a must read for any dreamer looking for kinship in literature. Azaro will be a worthy friend I assure you.

The Famished Road won Ben Okri the book prize for the year 1991 and is the first volume of trilogy published by Vintage.

 By Elmi Ali

[elmiincolour-blog]

Ah, les bons vieux temps ou nous etions si malheureux! (Ah, the good old times when we were so unhappy!)

French saying

[elmiincolour-blog]

http://www.wahaca.co.uk

[elmiincolour-blog]

The strength of a faith misguided is still a strength!

Niccolo Machiavelli 

[elmiincolour-blog]

The Joy of Mexican food (In London?)

Stack a few freight containers on top of each other in front of the Thames; fill them with minimal and tasteful deco that compliments the view. Have about half a dozen, walking-talking efficiency for staff. A kick ass menu, and as if that is not enough, fly in a few Mexican Artists (real ones all the way from Mexico) to paint on the proverbial icing on the cake and what you have is The Wahac Southbank Experiment - one of the newest entrants to the café and eatery laden Southbank Centre and a very welcome worthy competitor that is carving out a niche for itself at the venue.  

Serving Mexican finger food designed for sharing. With a menu complete with staples, like their mean nacho and guacamole number - perfect with or without the salsa. If you fancy a visit and are brave enough, try my favourite thing on the menu the Chili Quesadillas promising to make you explode into a ball of tears-and-snot like all good hot food should! And with your bill, they give you chili seeds to grow at home!

Wahaca will only be open for 18 months starting June before moving to another location.

http://www.wahaca.co.uk

Image courtesy of:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/softroom-wahaca-southbank-experiment

By Elmi Ali