#uganda world music

[burlveneer-music]

Nihiloxica - Source of Denial

Source of Denial is the second LP from Nihiloxica, the Bugandan techno outfit hailing from Kampala, Uganda. It comes after more than three long years since Kaloli, their acclaimed debut on Crammed Discs. The album points a (middle) finger at the hostile immigration and freedom of movement policies implemented in the UK, as well as across the world. Fueled by their frustrations with this intentionally convoluted system, the group have produced their most cataclysmic effort to date. The only spoken words we hear throughout the album, outside of studio outtake Preloya, are computer generated. They speak of application processes, character backgrounds, and accountability, blasted through crackled phone speakers. The effect is a Kafkaesque feedback loop: an avalanche of constant call tones, uncanny British accents and rigorous interrogative questioning. The frustrations are a problem the band, a defiantly global outfit, has faced continuously. A whole UK tour was cancelled in 2022, and recently, a UK show had to be performed with only three members due to problems with a certain conglomerate visa agency who “provide services” for the UK, as well as a growing number of countries. “We wanted to create the sense of being in the endless, bureaucratic hell-hole of attempting to travel to a foreign country that deems itself superior to where you’re from. We’re focussing on the UK as that’s where we’ve had the most trouble, but the problem goes much, much further. In this system if you have a certain passport or have even visited a certain country then you’re an appropriate subject to be interrogated and insulted time and time again just to prove that you’re worthy to enter, and normally this involves proving you have a good enough reason to want to leave again! The arrogance of it is unbearable. This album was a way to express our disdain towards it... What exactly is the source of your denial? Your passport? Your bank balance? Your skin colour? You’ve paid huge sums of money to be thrown from one profit-driven “service centre” to another, each denying responsibility, each limiting your right to freedom of movement as a human being. Despite some other serious humanitarian shortcomings, Uganda accepts some of the highest numbers of refugees in the world. Meanwhile the UK is trying to send them away to Rwanda. That says it all.” - Nihiloxica Nihiloxica is: Henry (Isa) Isabirye, Pete (pq) Jones, Henry (Prince) Kasoma, Jamiru (Jally) Mwanje and Jacob (Spooky-J) Maskell-Key. Produced by Spooky-J and pq at Nyege Nyege HQ in Kampala. Artwork by Vicky de Visser

[womensmusiccanon]

From Qaraami to Dance-Pop - Women of East Africa

Starting our journey off in... Eastern Africa! Yeah, alright, maybe spoiled slightly in the title of the post.

I've had so much fun with this over the last few weeks, and the result of that is brought to you here through some of my top picks. A moment of silence for the albums I wanted to include but didn't due to not being easily accessible </3

The list is not ordered or ranked in any way, though I will admit I've a certain fondness for Saba and Khadja Nin in particular <3.

For ease of access, here's a playlist of some top tracks from each album (ca. and hour and a half), here's an extended version with additional tracks from some artists not featured on this list (ca. two and a half hours), and here's a playlist of the full albums (ca. seven hours), for all your shuffling needs.

Saba - Jidka (2007) Spotify Youtube - A fun and playful somali italian-influenced pop record with some elements R&B, uplifting and a joy to listen to. As a side node, Saba's life story is definitely a google worth, imo.

Mim Suleiman - Umbeya (2012) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - An obvious inclusion in my book, just a great beat / electro album with some elements of soul. You really fall into the world of this album.

Aster Aweke - Aster (1989) Spotify Youtube A lovely Tizita album, a gem of ms. Aweke's sizeable discography (which you are definitely encouraged to dig into <3). I am so in love with the horns and little flourishes, and the rhythm is just... mwah. Aweke ties it all together really well.

Khadja Nin - Ya Pili (1994) Spotify Youtube - A already mentioned my fondness for Ms. Nin, but damn if it doesn't bear repeating... By all accounts an incredible record that really should be on your list.

Faytinga - Numey (2006) Spotify Youtube - The steady rhythms and Faytinga's distinctive vocals makes for a great experience certain to draw you in. Impresseive record from an equally impressive person.

Muthoni Drummer Queen - She (2018) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - A bubbling hip hop album with some flavors of R&B and dancehall. The production on this is great and Muthoni is an incredibly engaged performer. It's just overflowing with life and so, so definitely worth a listen.

Sophie Nzayisenga - Queen of Inanga (2021) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - The album title says it all, really. Even as someone who's not traditionally drawn to the acoustic for the most part, I really enjoyed this album.

Maryam Mursal - The Journey (1998) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - An unavoidable inclusion on a list like this, and for good reason. A poppy qaraami record with some jazzy notes that deserves all of the acclaim it's gathered over the years - Mursal clearly knows what she's doing and she does it well.

MC Yallah - Yallah Beibe (2023) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - Ending here with a very recent release, MC Yallah's latest is just such a solid hip hop record. It flows really well, and the industrial undertones really worked for me, which is rare. Definitely someone to keep a look on, imo.

... and that's the list!

Do you have any favorites not on here? Please (please <3) feel more than free to share! Have fun!

[soapdispensersalesman]

This gotta be one of the best DJ sets I've seen in a while, this man turned it into a piece of performance art, looking at us with wide open eyes while playing the DJ controller on top of his friend's head, the sound guy at this venue needs a well deserved retirement

[mafia1tornado]

Mafia1Tornado, Abaana Bagetto -Official audio

[readyforevolution]

DR Congo 🇨🇩

Facts about DR Congo, the richest Country with Natural Resources in the world 🇨🇩

1. Music is its biggest export

2. Kinshasa is world's second largest French speaking city.

3. Locals eat mayo with everything

4. Kinshasha and Brazaville are the world's closest capitals.

5. The Wildlife is Phenomenal

6. The Congo isn't overrun by the Ebola Virus

7. Congo played a role in World War II

8. DRC is one of the Countries in East and Central Africa where one can find the Mountain Gorillas and the Eastern Lowland Gorillas.

9. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa. It borders nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

10. The people of the DRC represent over 200 ethnic groups, with nearly 250 languages and dialects spoken throughout the Country.

11. DRC has more than 450 tribes , one of biggest hydro dam in the world, the biggest stock of water, second large river in the world, second biggest forest after amazonia, has the oldest and biggest park in Africa( virunga), is the only one country in the world with okapi animal, biggest world s minerals's stuff: copper, lithium, cobalt, gold, coltan, cassiterite, nobium, gold, diamond, uranium.., one of the peaceful and kind population in the world, hiroshima & Nagasaki nuclear bomb were made by uranium from the south EST of DRC, has the second biggest island in africa( Idjwi, island) second deepest lake in the world after baikal lake in Russia, 12 national parks with all types of wild animals,. and so on

[bellakwan]

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King is an animated Disney film released in 1994, directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. It tells the epic coming-of-age story of Simba, a young lion cub destined to become king of the Pride Lands, a vast African savanna. The film is set against the backdrop of a lush and vibrant landscape, rich with African-inspired imagery and culture.

In what ways does the film’s score situate the story with its narrative context? 

Hans Zimmer's score for The Lion King plays a crucial role in situating the story within its narrative context. The use of African-inspired instrumentation, such as drums, flutes, and vocal chants, evokes the landscapes and cultures of the African savanna, where the story is set. This musical backdrop helps immerse the audience in the world of the film, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and reinforcing the themes of family, identity, and the circle of life.

The presence of African languages, particularly Swahili and Zulu, plays a significant role in situating the context of the film within the African setting. Swahili, a widely spoken language in East Africa, including countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, serves as a linguistic element that enhances the authenticity and cultural richness of the narrative. Zulu, a South Africna language, is present in the beginning of the classic song, "Circle of Life," provided by Lebo M., a South African composer.

2. How do songs use character performance to push cultural authenticity in the film's diegisis?

The songs in The Lion King not only advance the plot but also serve to deepen the film's cultural authenticity through character performance. For example, the character of Rafiki, voiced by Robert Guillaume, performs the song "Circle of Life" in a manner that draws from African musical traditions. Rafiki's energetic and spiritual rendition of the song reflects his role as a wise and mystical shaman within the Pride Lands, adding layers of cultural richness to the film's diegesis.

It's important to recognize the potential for misrepresentation, appropriation, and perpetuation of stereotypes. Robin Armstrong's exploration of musical colonization and appropriation in films like "Moana" provides a framework for understanding how colonialist perspectives can manifest in the portrayal of culture and identity in cinema.

One of the primary concerns with the colonialist lens is the tendency to exoticize or essentialize cultures that are depicted in film. In the case of The Lion King, while the film draws inspiration from African landscapes and cultures, there is a risk of reducing these diverse and complex traditions into simplistic or stereotypical portrayals. This can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce Western perspectives of Africa as a monolithic entity, rather than recognizing its diversity and richness.

Moreover, the colonialist lens may lead to the appropriation of cultural elements without proper understanding or respect for their significance. While the film's score and visual aesthetics draw from African musical traditions and imagery, there is a danger of these elements being co-opted for the purpose of entertainment without meaningful engagement with the cultures from which they originate.

3. In what ways does the film use musical “framing” to structure the score within familiarized styles?

The Lion King utilizes musical framing to structure its score within familiarized styles while incorporating African influences, creating a blend of familiarity and exoticism that appeals to a broad audience. This approach allows the film to maintain accessibility while still immersing viewers in the African setting and cultural context. Robin Armstrong's exploration of musical colonization and appropriation in films like "Moana" provides a lens through which to analyze how this framing functions within The Lion King.

One way in which the film employs musical framing is through the use of Broadway-inspired arrangements and melodies. Many of the songs in The Lion King, such as "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Be Prepared," feature catchy tunes, dynamic orchestrations, and theatrical vocal performances characteristic of Broadway musicals. This familiarized style helps to engage viewers and draw them into the narrative, creating a sense of excitement and emotional resonance.

[adventuresofcandymareinvrchat]

“Following the advice of @a-spoonful-o-generosity my Uganda knuckles are known as a dead meme so they really aren’t effective even corrupted . So to add to my army I found a meme that was still active and evolving .”

“From the small .”

“To the large I was welcomed with open arms sorta “

“In exchange for helping them relocate their base and opening the multi dimensional portal so they can go to other worlds and spread their love with everyone .”

“So welcome your new neighbors and friends everyone because their coming to a place near you . @a-spoonful-o-generosity I sent a butler one to tend to you I hope you enjoy him since you inspired the idea . I wonder if trixie would like one , I already sent a few to @ask-bananapie-blog

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday another quality Scottish Actor, James McAvoy.

Born April 21st 1979 in Glasgow, McAvoy is currently one of the hottest properties in Hollywood, the charismatic Glaswegian had actually intended joining the navy or the priesthood before he stumbled upon acting as a career. James was 16 when the actor and director David Hayman visited St Thomas Aquinas school in Drumchapel to give a talk on Shakespeare and ended up being heckled by some class troublemakers. "I felt bad for him," recalls James. "So I went up at the end and said, 'Thanks very much. That was very interesting,' and asked him if I could make the tea, do some work experience, if he was ever doing another film." McAvoy was taken by surprise when Hayman called back four months later asking him to audition. He tried out and won a role in the feature film The Near Room.

McAvoy hadn't planned on becoming an actor, even when he got the part in the movie, but admitted later he changed his mind when he got a crush on co-star Alana Brady. A small role in the TV movie An Angel Passes By followed, and soon after, McAvoy decided to train at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. To pay his way, for two years he did the early shift at a bakery as a trainee confectioner before heading off to school each morning. In 2000, at the age of 20, he moved to London and soon after, landed a plum role in Steven Spielberg's acclaimed mini-series, Band of Brothers.

Since then he has appeared in the brilliant Shameless which he starred opposite Anne-Marie Duff, whom he later married, the couple divorced in 2016.

Other roles, before and after Shameless include, Foyle's War, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, State of Play and Shakespea Re-Told.

On the big screen he was excellent dodgy cop, Bruce Robertson in Irvine Welsh's Filth, which I watched again the other night night, before that he was in The Last King of Scotland as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, over the pond is more well known as the young Charles Xavier / Professor X in several X-Men flicks.

James voiced Hazel a new TV series adaptation of Watership down in 2018, He also appeared in Glass, the third in a series of films, the others being, Unbreakable and Split. He ended 2018 on the small screen featuring in His Dark Materials as well as finding time to star in National Theatre Live: Cyrano de Bergerac in the title role.

Fans of James will be happy to see him back on the silver screen later this year in his latest movie, The Book of Clarence. Inspired by classic Hollywood epics set in biblical times, Legendary’s The Book of Clarence tells the tale of Clarence played by LaKeith Stanfield, a down-on-his-luck denizen of Jerusalem embarking on a misguided attempt to capitalize on the rise of celebrity and influence of the Messiah for his own personal gain. The popular Benedict Cumberbatch, also appears in the film.

James McAvoy has always had a generous side, he once did a "terrifying" BASE jump from the world's tallest hospital building in a bid to help raise money for Ugandan children's charity Retrak, an organisation which assists children on the streets. Additionally, he is a celebrity supporter of the British Red Cross with whom he travelled to Uganda to raise awareness of the projects there. He had become involved with the charity after shooting The Last King of Scotland there for several months and was shocked by what he saw. In February 2007, he visited northern Uganda and spent four days seeing projects supported by the British Red Cross.

In 2015, McAvoy pledged £125,000 to a 10-year scholarship programme at his former drama school, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. McAvoy has also supported several other charities both at home and abroad.

[rapeculturerealities]

11 African Books To Read in the Wake of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Law

We find that books are a great way to process social and political events that seem very confusing and even disheartening. Books expand our knowledge and help us take informed and ethical position on issues. This week’s list responds to the recent anti-gay law passed in Uganda. We’ve put together 9 books by African writers that bring light to the struggle for LGBTQ freedom.

On March 21, Uganda passed the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which criminalizes same-sex relationships in one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws. According to this bill, people identifying as LGBTQ+ or promoting homosexuality in any way could be put in prison for up to 20 years. Further, any social behavior that falls under the category of “aggravated homosexuality” will result in a death sentence.

We have been thinking about what these anti-gay laws mean for African writers sharing queer experiences through literature or memoirs. In a Twitter conversation we had with Kenyan poet and activist Shailja Patel, Patel explains that the law will certainly stifle creative work centered on LGBTQ experiences:

The bill outlaws the “promotion of homosexuality,” and imposes criminal sanction on anyone who “advertises, publishes, prints, broadcasts, distributes” material, including digitally, that can be regarded as “promoting or encouraging homosexuality.” This is a blanket ban on LGBTQ characters or stories in Ugandan literature and culture…If queerness, queer people and queer expression can no longer exist in Ugandan literature, TV, films, music, art, theatre, dance, and media, then Ugandan culture is immeasurably impoverished.

We hope that this harsh and unfortunate law gets rolled back. In the meantime, here are 10 African books to read that powerfully celebrate the diversity and spirit of queer life and culture in Africa.

[soulmusicsongs]

Soul Around The World in 33 songs

Soul music became popular around the world, influencing countless artists across the world. We’ve put together a list with awesome soul tracks form Africa, Asia, Europa and Latin America.

В Свобода Бе Роден Ти - Трио Обектив И Естрадния Оркестър На Българското Радио (Да Танцуваме = Non Stop Dancing, 1979) - Bulgaria

Africa Is Home - Joe Mensah (Joe Mensah, 1975) - Ghana

Akale Wube - Getatchew Mekuria (Getatchew Mekuria And His Saxophone, 1972) - Ethiopia

Alabeke (Part 1) - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band Of Aba (Alabeke (Part 1) / Alabeke (Part 2), 197?) - Nigeria

All Of My Life - Jack Kane (Blackjack County Chain / All Of My Life, 1970) - Canada

Black Man's Cry - Lever Brothers Gay Flamingoes (Secrets Of The Pan, 1973) - Barbados

Cocaine Blues - W. Ambros (Nie Und Nimmer, 1979) - Austria

Dankasa - Uppers International (Dankasa/ Neriba Lanchina, 1973) - Ghana

Ebolo - Bell'a Njoh (Bell'a Njoh, 1978) - Cameroon

El Fen - Aït Messlaïne (Yémma / El Fen, 1976) - Algeria

Gaccia Ad' Avè - Leone Di Lernia E La Sua "New Rock Band" (Canzoni Rock Tranesi, 1975) - Italy

Hijack - The Cliques (Salsa Hits, 1975) - Philipinnes

Hold On, I'm Coming - Zoo Nee Voo (The World Of Zoo Nee Voo , 1968) - Japan

Ifetayo - Black Truth Rhythm Band (Ifetayo "Love Excells All", 1976) - Trinidad

Kadia Blues - Orchestre De La Paillotte (Volume 2, 1967) - Guinea

Kenoru Lebitcha - Alemayehu Eshete (Tikur Gissila / Kenoru Lebitcha, 1972) - Ethiopia

Lupita - Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc. (Ritual, 1971) - Belgium

Nina - Afro 70 (Em Moçambique, 1977) - Mozambique

No Intension - The Yoruba Singers (Ojinga's Own, 1974) - Guyana

Oh Baby I Don't Love You Anymore - Wolfgang Dauner Quintet (The Oimels, 1969) - Germany

Ole - The Black Santiagos (Ole/ Adan Egbomi, 1972) - Benin

Pygmy - Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffalos (Uganda, 1972) - Japan

Quit Hold - R. Conrado, A. Scuderi, P. Montanari (Bass Modulations, 1973) - Italy

Samari Bolga - Uppers Chapter Two (Walahi Talahi / Samari Bolga, 1976) - Ghana

Shando - Xoliso ‎(Shingwanyana, 1974) - South Africa

Soul House - Max Greger (Hifi-Stereo, 1970) - Germany

The Spoiler - Vigon (Greatest Hits, 1972) - France

Stasera Canto Io (Funky Broadway)- Patrick Samson Set (Sono Nero, 1968) - Italy

Tenkim Kpoho - Mary Afi Usuah (African Woman, 1978) - Nigeria

That's How I Feel - Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media (In The Groove, 1973) - Japan

El Tiempo Apremia = Time Is Tight - Los Lazos (Como Has Hecho, 1970) - Mexico

Vamonos - Elkin & Nelson (Elkin & Nelson, 1974) - Spain

Yaraal Sa Doom - Super Jamono De Dakar (Ndaxami, 1981) - Senegal

More Soul Around the World

Soul Around The World in 34 songs

Soul Around The World in 27 Songs

Soul Around the World in 20 tracks

Soul Around The World in 22 tracks

African Funk from the Seventies

Jamaicans Got Soul

Funk from Peru

Funk from Belgium

Caribbean Soul: 20 awesome tracks

[emmanuel-katto-uganda-blogs]

I Emmanuel Katto shares Uganda's Thriving Music and Dance Scene: From Traditional to Contemporary

Uganda, a country in the center of East Africa, is home to many different cultures and traditions. The music and dance scene there is one of the liveliest examples of this diversity. Uganda's music and dance culture is an enthralling voyage through time and tradition, as a Uganda’s native and journalist I, Emmanuel Katto always enjoyed the indigenous rhythms resonating through the hills and the throbbing beats of modern Afro-pop.

Celebrating Tradition: The Musical and Dance Traditions of Uganda

Uganda is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, all of whom have a strong cultural connection to the country's traditional music and dance. Many groups, such the Baganda, Bakiga, Banyankole, and others, have distinctive musical traditions that are frequently accompanied by dance displays that depict their culture's history, heritage, and daily life.

The rhythmic foundation of these performances is provided by traditional instruments like the adungu, engalabi, and ndingidi. Musicians and dancers dress colorfully to express their pride in their culture. As a result of the colorful energy of these performances, Uganda's cultural festivals attract tourists from all over the world.

The Development of Modern Ugandan Music

Uganda's current music sector is creating waves both locally and globally, in my opinion as a journalist, I Emmanuel Katto aka Emka Uganda would like to say that even if traditional music is still a treasured component of the nation's cultural heritage. Ugandan musicians have perfected the blending of traditional music with contemporary rhythms, resulting in a distinctive and contagious musical style that crosses national boundaries.

Afrobeat, dancehall, and reggae are three genres that are hugely popular in Uganda's modern music industry. Not only in Uganda but also throughout Africa and beyond, musicians like Eddy Kenzo, Sheebah, and Bobi Wine have become household names. In a world that is changing quickly, their music frequently addresses societal concerns through narrating tales of tenacity, love, and hope.

The Dance Revolution

An essential component of Ugandan music culture, the Dance Revolution Dance has seen substantial development in the modern music scene. Ugandan dancers are pushing the limits of creativity and expression with everything from traditional dances like the Bakisimba and Ekitaguriro to contemporary dancehall and hip-hop routines.

Dance competitions and showcases have grown in popularity, giving budding dancers a place to present their talents. Traditional and modern dance styles have been combined to create a distinctive kind of dance that enthralls audiences with its vitality and inventiveness.

Conclusion!

The thriving music and dance industry in Uganda reflects the nation's cultural variety and creative development. Although Ugandan musicians have been propelled into the world stage by the modern music industry, traditional music and dance are still valued traditions. Uganda's music and dance culture is a dynamic force that keeps evolving and captivating audiences throughout the world because to the blend of old and new, tradition and creativity. Therefore, Uganda has something to offer any music and dance fan, whether you're tapping your feet to the beats of traditional drums or dancing to the beats of modern Afro-pop. It's a celebration of the traditional and modern, old and new—a harmonious symphony of civilizations.

[mosaicofdreamsanddragons]

Traveler from a Distant World

Wilbur went to Utah, back where he came from. How did he leave in the first place?

Wilbur Soot was always Isekai’d.

                                                                                                                                Wilbur Soot was born in Utah in 1978.

Jimmy Carter was president. Scott M Matheson was governor. And nothing of note was happening.

It was a hot year. But it always was. Utah was in the middle of the desert after all.

He grew up in that desert. Nothing remarkable about it.

The most remarkable thing about it was that he was the only non-Mormon in the area. All the other kids hung out at chapel and he didn’t. He was always missing something that happened every weekend. Trying to catch up just got exhausting. So he didn’t have a lot of friends.

He stopped trying to have friends after a while.

He wasn’t good in school. He wasn’t terrible, he just had all the wrong skills.

He wanted to do music, to sing his heart out to the world and find fame and fortune. But you don’t do music for a career in small towns in Utah. Who are you going to sing to?

He wanted to be a sailor, sail off to distant lands and have adventures. But you don’t become a sailor in a small town in Utah. Where were you going to sail?

He wanted to be a politician and change the world. But you don’t vote for the one weird kid with no friends, so what chance did he have?

He considered being a solider, running off to join the marines. But he never could get over the fear of dying.

And then he graduated.

Every boy his age left. All getting missionary assignments and heading out into the world.

But Wilbur wasn’t Mormon.

So when the closet thing he had to a friend got assigned to Uganda and wrote home about how amazing the music was. When the boy who sat next to him geography got sent out to England and learned to love the sea and the rain. When the boy who sat behind him in history when to a remote got sent to Taiwan and got to be there for the first election…

Wilbur was back home. In his small town. Working in a gas station.

He had hoped dimly, that he might have a chance with some of the girls. All the other boys were away after all. It was just Wilbur Soot.

He would like to have a family. His own was gone now.

But none of the girls were interested in dating the one weird kid from high school who wasn’t Mormon, especially with all the boys two years their seniors just getting back from far off places with hundreds of stories to tell.

So it was just Wilbur. In his gas station. In the heat. Stuck. Unable to make anything of himself.

So when he was walking home, when he didn’t see that bus filled with screaming football fans turn the corner until it sent him flying…

…in that split second of weightlessness all he could think was:

“Is that all I was ever meant to be?”

                                                                                                                                 Wilbur Soot died in a tragic bus accident in 1996. It was blamed on the newfangled headphones being so loud. It was made a demonstration of why you should be mindful of traffic safety. And it was forgotten.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  There was nothing all around him. He could hear nothing, see nothing, feel nothing. And then a voice spoke. And he could hear it. Hear her.

“A singer and a sailor and a little politician! Oh and you want to be a fighter too! So much to live for, nothing left behind. Oh, you’re perfect.”

Wilbur had never been perfect before.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “You’re perfect”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Wilbur opened his eyes in a world of blocks.

A man with great blocky black wings stretched behind him was staring down at him, “Kristen, I thought…”

“That I couldn’t have children? Well I can’t. I made this one just for you from a lost soul. A baby. Our baby.”

“Our baby,” the man says. He has an awe in his eyes as he picks up Wilbur. “Our baby. Hello little guy.”

“His name is Wilbur Soot.”

“Wilbur, Wild Boar. Named after Technoblade. He’ll thrilled.”

Kristen just laughed softly but Wilbur couldn’t see her. All he could see was the great blocky face coming closer and close to him as he heard him whisper, “Hello Wilbur, you’re going to do great things one day.”

And Wilbur believed him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “You’re going to do great things one day.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Wilbur Soot Minecraft was born in a small town in a quite server in 1996.

The Antarctic Empire had fallen years before. Technoblade still dominated the charts at Hypixel. Nothing of note was happening.

It was a hot year. Unusually hot. But his father was confident it would cool off soon.

He grew up near a river. Surrounded by green hills and lush forest. Where monsters came out at night. Learning to sword fight as soon as he was able and mine as soon as he could walk.

This was not considered remarkable for this blocky world.

Wilbur was by all accounts an unremarkable child. He was dearly loved by his father, the Angel of death and his Mother the Goddess of death. His Uncle was a reigning champion. But he himself was given all the luxuries of normality. Time to learn music and sailing and speeches and fighting.

But Wilbur was not an ordinary child. He could remember a world without blocks, though it was distant.

But somethings never faded.

“You’re perfect”

“You’re going to do great things one day.”

Wilbur always knew he was destined for greatness. He always knew he had more to gain from his second chance. He knew he had to be someone this time.

To make up for who he’d been before.

Ordinary, unremarkable, alone.

So he set out to see the world:

He went to play his music and win over hearts. Singing his heart out to the world. Discovering all sorts of new sounds.

Then one day he found the coast, in a port filled with rain he met a shapeshifting pirate named Sally. She offered him a chance to see the whole sea. And well, he’d always wanted to be a sailor.

When homesickness started to overtake him, distant half faded fears of being alone again dredged up when Sally abandoned and their child, he sought out family. He had a family a wonderful family of a father, a mother, and an uncle/brother/twin. But it had not been enough so to that family he added every little brother he could find. One in a box, one in a garbage can.

And he was happy to take them around the world in a van. Seeking out adventure and greatness.

And when his drug van started to take off, a dream of independence starting to become a reality in the sparkle of his youngest brothers eyes, he sat down and decided, “I never did get to be a politician. Or a solider.”

Greatness was ahead of him.

He just knew it.

[lboogie1906]

Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka Rashid Lynn (born March 13, 1972) known by his stage name Common, is a rapper, actor, writer, philanthropist, and activist. He debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained an underground following into the late 1990s, after which he gained mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. His first major-label album Like Water for Chocolate received commercial success. He won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for the Erykah Badu single "Love of My Life". His album Be was a commercial success and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. He received his second Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Southside", from his 2007 album Finding Forever. His best-of album, This is me Then: The Best of Common was released. He launched Think Common Entertainment, his record label imprint. He had released music under various other labels including Relativity, Geffen, and GOOD Music. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his song "Glory" from the film Selma, in which he co-starred as Civil Rights Movement leader James Bevel. His acting career includes roles in the films Brown Sugar, Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, American Gangster, Wanted, Terminator Salvation, Date Night, Just Wright, Happy Feet Two, New Year's Eve, Barber Shop: The Next Cut, Run All Night, Being Charlie, Rex, John Wick: Chapter 2 and Smallfoot. He narrated the documentary Bouncing Cats, about one man's efforts to improve the lives of children in Uganda through hip-hop/b-boy culture. He starred as Elam Ferguson on Hell on Wheels. He is a Christian. He served as spring commencement speaker at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and was awarded an honorary DFA degree, he attended FAMU for two years and majored in Business Administration. He is part of the "Knowing Is Beautiful" movement, which supports HIV/AIDS awareness. He is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be contributing citizens and strong leaders in the world. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CpusZe6OTSl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[burlveneer-music]

Afrorack - The Afrorack - Brian Bamanya presents “Africa's first DIY modular synthesizer“

"For a human being to be fully functional, it has to have a brain that's working and eyes and ears and arms," says Ugandan synth builder and producer Brian Bamanya, aka Afrorack. "Which is the same with the modular synthesizer: you have an oscillator, a VCA and all these envelopes. For it to create something meaningful, everything has to work together to create harmony." Bamanya is responsible for building Africa's first DIY modular synthesizer, a huge wall of home-made modules and FX units that he dubbed, fittingly, The Afrorack. His reason for embarking on this difficult project was simple: as he began to investigate the world of modular synthesizers, he realized it would be difficult to acquire the technology in Uganda. Not only were there relatively few retailers across the whole of Africa, but the modules were often prohibitively expensive. After quick search online, Bamanya realized he could easily download circuit diagrams and buy the required parts locally, so he taught himself electronics and constructed a CV-controlled system that's been evolving ever since. "The Afrorack" is Bamanya's debut album and displays the producer's untethered creativity and restless energy. He's all too aware that these modules were developed with European and American musical styles in mind, so developed his own musical methodology and language to coax the system into suiting his needs. His starting points are often abstractions of acid and techno, but Bamanya curves East African rhythms and different scales into these familiar structures, splintering them into fractal shards. "I believe Africa is at that point where people are getting new tools which were not available to them, and then experimenting with them in a different context, because Africa has its own traditional music," he told Pan African Music back in 2019. This attitude is most evident on 'African Drum Machine', where Bamanya uses a Euclidean rhythm sequencer to divide his CV signals into complex algorithmic patterns that mimic the polyrhythmic structures that exist in many East African musical forms. If you're not listening closely it might sound like 4/4 techno, but focus your attention and you'll hear different layers of drums and jagged oscillators bouncing between each other creating hypnotic new rhythms. Bamanya takes a similar approach on 'Why Serious', fuzzing dubby basslines and plasticky percussive sounds into a frenetic hybrid of abstract electronics and fwd-thinking East African club sounds. At times, Bamanya's meditative, bass-heavy compositions echo the psychedelic sounds of Shackleton or Adrian Sherwood's African Head Charge, particularly on tracks like 'Inspired' and 'Last Modular'. With lysergic tonal shifts and precision-engineered drums, both tracks sound defiantly metallic, but sculpted by a producer who's always completely in control as he introduces risky eccentricities like feline groans and videogame blips. And on less beat-heavy tracks like 'Osc' and 'Rev', Bamanya makes a conscious nod to the history of modular music, approaching the kosmische universe of Popol Vuh, Klaus Schulze and Emeralds, augmenting it with East Africa's idiosyncratic rhythmic intensity. "The Afrorack" is the beginning of a conversation that's been long overdue. Artwork by Kid Gringo

[readyforevolution]

DR Congo 🇨🇩

Facts about DR Congo, the richest Country with Natural Resources in the world 🇨🇩

1. Music is its biggest export

2. Kinshasa is world's second largest French speaking city.

3. Locals eat mayo with everything

4. Kinshasha and Brazaville are the world's closest capitals.

5. The Wildlife is Phenomenal

6. The Congo isn't overrun by the Ebola Virus

7. Congo played a role in World War II

8. DRC is one of the Countries in East and Central Africa where one can find the Mountain Gorillas and the Eastern Lowland Gorillas.

9. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa. It borders nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

10. The people of the DRC represent over 200 ethnic groups, with nearly 250 languages and dialects spoken throughout the Country.

11. DRC has more than 450 tribes , one of biggest hydro dam in the world, the biggest stock of water, second large river in the world, second biggest forest after amazonia, has the oldest and biggest park in Africa( virunga), is the only one country in the world with okapi animal, biggest world s minerals's stuff: copper, lithium, cobalt, gold, coltan, cassiterite, nobium, gold, diamond, uranium.., one of the peaceful and kind population in the world, hiroshima & Nagasaki nuclear bomb were made by uranium from the south EST of DRC, has the second biggest island in africa( Idjwi, island) second deepest lake in the world after baikal lake in Russia, 12 national parks with all types of wild animals,. and so on

[divinum-pacis]

Paddy Nyonjo Hazelton – Paddy the Trad Man

Paddy is a 30-year-old professional bodhrán player, born in Uganda in 1991. He came to Ireland aged 14 months old when adopted by his Irish mother. Photographed in the mists of Sligo’s Gleniff horseshoe, a contemporary Irish man in an ancient landscape. ‘I’m not your typical Irish Paddy. Irish music has taken me places all over the world. The people I’ve seen and friends I’ve made have stood to me. I’ve been lucky to have been blessed with a rhythmic gift, since my mum got me involved with Irish music. I’m very proud to be a Ugandan-Irishman’

Photograph: Ross O'Callaghan. 2022.