Sandra Nkaké
French touch: Sandra Nkaké
It had been quite a while since I introduced you to some French artists and I am finally featuring an amazing artist I have been wanting to put under my spotlight for a very long time. I don’t really know what took me so long and I hope you won’t be too mad at me for not sharing this treasure earlier. In case you have never heard of Sandra Nkaké, I highly recommend you read the following paragraphs and more importantly you listen to her music. Why? Here is a beginning of explanation…
I can’t remember exactly how and when I discovered the incredible Sandra Nkaké, but she is one of those artists I feel like I have known forever. She exudes such an energy and has such a character that makes you think she could be a friend or even a family member. She is strong, proud, bold and beautiful. I may also feel a connection with her because she was a fellow English student. In any case, she is a wonderfully talented woman you need to discover if you have never heard of her before.
She has an incredible presence, a mixture of strength and sensitivity, and she definitely knows how to touch you with her words. She expresses her thoughts and feeling beautifully and poetically but at the same time with a sort of bluntness that can’t left you unmoved. Mother, lover, daughter, she is, like many women, a multi-faceted individual who infuses her music with all the different sides of her personality, her qualities and weaknesses, all the while being very honest and at times “raw”.
What makes her stand out, apart from her charisma and the great quality of her lyrics, is her warm, deep and powerful voice. This voice carries her story, but also that of her ancestors. Sandra Nkaké is the representative of both Cameroonian and French legacies and she weaves her music with all the aspects of those cultures, making it very personal but at the same time universal. There is clearly something spiritual about her art, something that takes you on a journey and makes you reach higher levels of emotion and understanding. I don’t think it is possible to listen to her music and not feel your heart beating faster, as it is quite unlikely you will hear her voice and not feel goose-bumps all over your skin. This is definitely how I feel every time I listen to Mansaadi (“little mother”), her debut album.
This gem contains songs both in French and English and is a testimony of the woman that she is, her experiences of life, love and loss, her darkness and her rays of light. It is deep, sad, inspiring, positive and entertaining. It will bring you to tears and will put a smile on your face. It will make you feel strong and ready to achieve your dreams. Quite simply, it is a ride on the rollercoaster that life is. And if you’re ready for the journey, you will probably not regret jumping on board.
Now, to convince you of the lady’s exceptional talent, I will share with you some videos. If you’re not hooked after that, I’m sorry but I can’t do anything else to help. First, one of my favourite videos from her is a cover of D’angelo’s “Higher”. Taking the classic and making it her own, she gives a beautiful heartfelt rendition of the track and makes it very powerful and emotional.
Then, a very inspiring track and one of my favourites on Mansaadi is the beautiful Stay true. This is really the kind of music you should listen to when you’re feeling down. It will most probably help raise your spirits.
Finally, another one of my favourites is the wonderful I believe. Enjoy!
Now, please go check out the album on iTunes (this is the US site but you should be redirected if you’re living elsewhere). Oh, and spread the word!
Sandra Nkaké is working on her second album, Nothing For Granted, which should come out soon. In the meantime, stay tuned on her website, Facebook & Twitter.
via carminelitta.com
Voice of Nigeria
Undergraduate Essay Competition 2012
Education Support Services Ltd in collaboration with Voice of Nigeria is calling for entries for its 2012 essay competition for undergraduate students of all Nigerian universitiesTOPIC: ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES ENVIRONMENT: UNIVERSITY OF
ESSAY TO COVER: The Social Environment, Political Environment, Academic Environment, Infrastructure, Research Opportunities, Cult Activities, Religious Activities, Accommodation, Feeding, Students’ Unionism, University Administration, Impact of University on Host Community and The Total Environment of the University.
ESSENCE: The competition is to create awareness of what a present/prospective student is likely to encounter during his/her stay in the University; Guide Parents and Guardians in choosing university for their children/wards; Guide foreign embassies in recommending Universities to their home countries and the total environment of the University as seen by the students themselves.
PRIZES:
- The Best overall Essay: N100, 000.00
- The 2nd Best Overall Essay: N 75,000.00
- The 3rd Best Overall Essay: N 50,000.00
- Consolation Prizes for the best 30 Essays from 30 different Universities: N 20,000.00
The Best Overall, 2nd Best, 3rd Best Overall and the Best Essay from 30 different Universities that qualify for publication will be published as part of the book ‘‘ THE NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES ENVIRONMENT’’ without any further obligations to the contributors.
SUBMISSION OF ENTRY: send entries (hard and soft copies) to: (a) Hardcopies to PMB 21638 Ikeja and(b) Softcopies to essvon@yahoo.com within 12 weeks from the date of this publication.CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: essvon@yahoo.com
For submissions: essvon@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.voiceofnigeria.org/
Grain Magazine's 24th Annual
Short Grain Writing Contest
(For the list of past contest winners, click here.)
Whose company do you want your writing to keep?
Grain is the most exciting literary magazine on the Canadian and international scene...the one that everyone wants to be published in! Recent issues have featured the work of such literary luminaries as Xi Chuan, Tim Lilburn, Guy Maddin, Miriam Toews, Zsuzsi Gartner, and Eleanor Wachtel. And you could join them in the pages of Grain!
This year's contest judges, Lawrence Hill and rob mclennan, are literary stars in their own right...with impeccable taste!
Enter Short Grain! Open new doors! Make new friends!
Contest Guidelines
Contest prizes donated in part by Cheryl & Henry Kloppenburg, Barristers and Solicitors, Saskatoon.
DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2012 (POSTMARKED)
$4,500 in prizes to be won! Each entrant receives a FREE subscription to Grain Magazine!
Two categories to enter:
Poetry: (to a max of 100 lines) Poetry of any style including PROSE POEM up to 100 lines.
Fiction: (to a max of 2,500 words) Short fiction in any form including POST CARD STORY, to a maximum of 2500 words.3 prizes will be awarded in each category:
1st Prize: $1,000
2nd Prize: $750
3rd Prize: $500And the Judges are...
POETRY: rob mclennan
Author of over 20 trade books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, including Glengarry (2011) and wild horses (2010).FICTION: Lawrence Hill
Author of The Book of Negroes and winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book.Entry Guidelines:
1. The basic fee for Canadian entrants is $35 for a maximum of two entries in one category. The fee for US and International entrants is $40, payable in US funds. Make your cheque or money order payable to: Short Grain Contest.
2. Every entrant receives a one-year (four-issue) subscription to Grain Magazine.
3. All entries must be POSTMARKED by April 1, 2012. Entries postmarked after this date will not be accepted.
4. Each entry must be original, unpublished, not submitted elsewhere for publication or broadcast, nor accepted elsewhere for publication or broadcast, nor entered simultaneously in any other contest or competition. Work that has appeared on the internet is considered published and is not eligible.
5. All entries in this contest will be judged anonymously, on merit alone. The judges' decisions are final. Judges reserve the right not to award a prize in a given category if no entry is of sufficient quality to warrant publication.
6. Entries must be accompanied by a maximum of one cover page, regardless of the number of entries submitted, and must provide the following information:
a) Your name, complete mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
b) Title of your entry (ies).
c) Category you are entering: Poetry (to a max of 100 lines); Fiction (to a max of 2,500 words)
d) Word Count (Fiction) / Line Count (Poetry). An absolutely accurate word or line count is required.Judging is blind. Do not print, type, or write your name on the text pages of your entry.
7. Your entry must be typed (double-spaced for fiction) on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. It must be legible. Faxed and/or electronic entries not accepted.
8. Entries will not be returned. Keep a copy of your entry.
9. Names of the winners and titles of the winning entries of the 24th Annual Short Grain (with Variations) Contest will be posted on the Grain Magazine website in August, 2012. Contest winners will be notified directly either by telephone or by email prior to the website posting.
Make your cheque or money order payable to Short Grain Contest. Send your entry or entries to:
Short Grain Contest
P.O. Box 67
Saskatoon, SK
Canada, S7K 3K1NOTE: Entries by email or fax will not be accepted.
DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2012 (POSTMARKED)
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. When you say, "...a maximum of two entries in one category..." does that mean I can enter one piece of Fiction and one piece of Poetry with one $35 entry fee?
No. For each $35 entry fee, you may enter one or two pieces of Fiction OR one or two pieces of Poetry. If you do send one piece of Fiction and one piece of Poetry, we will choose one of them at random to be considered. The other piece will be recycled.
2. Can I enter more than once?
You may enter as many times as you like, provided you include another entry fee for each entry beyond the first. Therefore two Canadian entries would cost $70.
3. If I enter twice (for $70), can I enter two pieces of Fiction AND two pieces of Poetry?
Absolutely! Or you could enter four pieces of Poetry. Or two pieces of Poetry and one piece of Fiction. But not three pieces of Poetry and one piece of Fiction. See how this works?
4. Do I need to send a separate cover page for each piece of writing I enter?
No. Send only one cover page that includes all the information for every piece of writing you are entering. Don't forget to include your complete contact information!
5. And what happens to my free subscription if I enter more than once?
Your Grain subscription will be increased by four issues for each entry fee received beyond the first. So, if you enter twice, you will receive a two-year (eight-issue) subscription to Grain Magazine. If you already have a subscription to Grain, we'll simply add another four issues to your current subscription for each entry fee received.
6. What if I enter something that's over the word count? Will that piece be disqualified?
The contest judge will only consider the first 2,500 words of each piece of Fiction. If you enter a piece of Fiction that is 3,000, for example, only the first 2,500 will be considered. The last 500 words will be discarded. The same rules apply for Poetry entries over 100 lines.
7. Will entrants be notified of the winners?
No. Winners and the names of the winning pieces will be posted on this website in August, 2012.
via grainmagazine.ca
The £10,000 Dundee International Book Prize
(for unpublished manuscript)
Deadline: 1 March 2012The Dundee International Book Prize has established itself as the UK’s premier prize for debut novelists. The £10,000 cash award together with publication, make The Dundee International Book Prize highly valued by tomorrow’s great new writers seeking to break into the publishing world. The award, now running for the eighth time, is for an unpublished novel on any theme and in any genre. Dundee is a city which embraces writers – A.L. Kennedy was born and bred in the city and Douglas Dunn, Kate Atkinson, John Burnside, Bill Duncan and Rosamunde Pilcher are amongst the “glitterati” who have drawn on the City of Discovery for their inspiration over the last two decades.
Rules
- Manuscripts will only be accepted in electronic form. Submission packs must contain three separate documents; the full manuscript, an entry form and a synopsis (maximum 500 words). All documents must be double spaced in Word with each page numbered in sequential order. Any submissions made without following these requirements will be rejected.
- Manuscripts should not contain the name of the author or a pseudonym anywhere on the manuscript or synopsis. The name of the author should only appear on the entry form.
- The closing date for entries is 1.00pm, March 1st 2012.
- All submissions should be made to bookprize@dundee.ac.uk
- The winner will be announced at the 2012 Dundee Literary Festival.
- The entry must be a novel, in English and an original work of fiction.
- Only one manuscript per entrant and authors must be living at the time.
- There is no limit on the length of the submitted novel.
- Submissions represented by an agent are acceptable and we ask that the agent make the submission.
- Any submission found to have been self-published or published before in print by any party shall be disqualified.
- Submissions that have been self-published on Kindle or ebook format previously will be accepted.
- Submissions may not be under current consideration by another publisher before March 30th 2012. Any submissions found to be under consideration will be disqualified.
- Novels for children or young adults will not be accepted.
Prize
- The winning entry will be bound by the conditions of a publishing contract set out by Cargo Publishing (UK) Ltd. The contract will stipulate that the winner of the Dundee International Book Prize shall grant, in return for £10,000 prize money and a net receipt royalty of 10% on book sales, Cargo Publishing (UK) Ltd full UK & Commonwealth rights to the novel and the right to make editorial changes to the content in consultation with the author. The contract will be available on request to entrants to the prize.
- The prize money is set at £10,000.
- The winner shall be informed by 1st June of their win.
- The prize is not open to members of the judging panel, their families or any member of Cargo Publishing (UK) Ltd.
- The prize is judged in two rounds. Round One of entries is judged by Cargo Publishing (UK) Ltd. Round Two is judged by a judging panel of established authors and commentators.
- The panel’s decision is final.
Download entry form >>CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: bookprize@dundee.ac.uk
For submissions: bookprize@dundee.ac.uk
Website: http://www.dundeebookprize.com
Watch Episode 3 Of
Dennis Dortch's New Series
"The Number"
(Or The 1 Thing
You Never Discuss
w/ Your Fiancé)
Features by Tambay | February 23, 2012Continuing on with episode # 3 of Dennis Dortch's hilarious new web series titled The Number, or "the one thing you never, ever discuss with your fiancé."
Written and directed by Dennis, and produced by Numa Perrier and Jeanine Daniels, it stars Chasen Allen and Jessica Shelby... and now Issa Rae (aka Awkward Black Girl; I love to see collabs like this; Dennis also directed an episode of Issa Rae's series by the way; Issa was also featured in the last episode of The Number).
Episode 1 debuted back in November of 2011 (I embedded it again below for those who missed it); and it's followed by episodes: #2 and #2.5 from about 2 weeks ago; and underneath those you'll find the current episode, #3.
Here's episode 1 titled The Intro:
Here's episode 2 titled Meet Lisa, Sister-In-Law:
And here's episode 2.5 titled Meet Mike Williams:
And here's the current episode - episode #3 titled The Engagement Party, the longest one yet:
"Being: Teena Marie"
To Air On Centric TV
To Mark What Would've Been
Her 56th Birthday
(Watch Preview)
Television by Tambay | February 25, 2012
In celebration of what would've been Teena Marie’s 56th birthday (she died December 26, 2010), Centric TV will air the docu-series special BEING: TEENA MARIE on March 5, which will chronicle her 30+ years in entertainment.
The program includes interviews from Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, Shanice Wilson, and Smokey Robinson.
Watch a 6 1/2-minute preview below:
Published on Saturday, February 25, 2012 by Center for American ProgressDebunking Poverty Myths
and Racial Stereotypes
A Better Understanding of Social Benefit Programs
Race baiting has been a focus of debates in various media outlets about programs aiding those whose income is at the pit of that debate. Below are some of the most startling facts that debunk some of the poverty myths and racial stereotypes that surround social benefit programs.
1. President Barack Obama is not a “food stamp president.” According to recent figures, more food stamp recipients were actually added under President George W. Bush than under President Obama. Under President Bush the number of recipients rose by nearly 14.7 million.
2. Blacks are not the primary recipients of assistance through federal benefit programs. 35.7 percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients and 43 percent of those on Medicaid—two of the largest public benefit programs—are white.
3. The main reasons why people living in poverty are not employed are illness and inability to find work. Approximately 56 percent of those who did not work in 2010 did not work due to illness, disability, retirement, or an inability to find work.
4. Social Security benefits have saved many senior citizens from poverty. If Social Security were excluded from income, 14 million seniors over the age of 65 would fall into poverty.
5. Many Americans receiving public benefits paid for them. Thirty-nine percent of Americans receive benefits they paid for through payroll taxes taken out of their own paychecks.
6. More white Americans live in poverty than any other group. In 2010 31.6 million white Americans lived in poverty, more than any other racial or ethnic group.
7. Many people of color who receive Social Security benefits do so for survival. Forty-five percent of all black beneficiaries and 58 percent of “other” beneficiaries (those who are neither black nor white) use the program for its survivor and disability benefits, not for its retirement benefits.
8. Social benefit programs like Medicaid really do serve those most vulnerable. Two-thirds of Americans living in poverty are not enrolled in Medicaid because single individuals and childless couples are largely excluded from Medicaid coverage.
9. Many beneficiaries of low-income public benefit programs are elderly, children, or disabled. Among American households receiving food assistance under SNAP, 75 percent have an elderly or disabled person or a child.
10. The federal government does not hand out checks. Only about 10 percent of all federal dollars committed to public benefit programs for low-income Americans are paid in cash, and the majority of cash assistance programs are focused on those who cannot work.
© 2012 Center for American Progress-->
via commondreams.org
The Baobab Fruit …
An African Treasure for Skin
In the last few years many natural ingredients, especially from the Amazon, have been touted for their antioxidant and cosmeceutical properties. An African natural—Baobab—also has a tremendous amount to offer the skin.
Baobab is an exotic natural that tightens and tones the skin, moisturizes and encourages skin cell regeneration. Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata) are special and distinctive features of the African savanna. The trees can live for up to 1,000 years and are some of the largest in the world. The tree survives prolonged droughts by storing up to 30,000 gallons of water in its massive, fibrous, sponge-like trunk, which can be up to 30 to 60 feet in diameter. To access this water, the Kalahari bushmen use hollow pieces of grass (much like a straw) to suck the water out. Hollowed out baobab trunks in the vicinity of villages are used for water storage. Thus, the Baobab tree is also known as known as the “Tree of Life”.1
The Baobab tree has also been called “the upside-down tree” because its weirdly shaped branches resemble roots. The fruit of the African baobab tree is particularly appealing to baboons, hence its other nickname, “monkey-bread tree”. Although the tree is not native to Egypt, the fruit was known in the herb and spice markets of Cairo as early as 2500 B.C. It was made famous in the West by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s French fable “The Little Prince.”2 The baobab was approved for European markets in 2008, and FDA soon followed suit. The fruit’s dry pulp is now sold as an ingredient for smoothies and cereal bars.3
The tree’s white, powdery fruit is classed as a functional food, rich in specific nutrients and phyto-chemicals, and are promoted as being able to improve health condition and/or disease prevention. The fruit is bottle or cucumber shaped and has a woody outer shell covered by velvety yellowish, sometimes greenish hairs. The fruit pulp is split into mealy agglomerates that enclose several seeds. The Baobab tree is a vital food source for many local tribes, cattle and game; the fruit contains both pulp and seeds which are eaten. The pulp can also be mixed with water and made into a drink; the seeds of the baobab tree can be eaten alone or mixed with millet and seedlings and young leaves are eaten like asparagus or are used in salads.
The Baobab fruit has six times as much vitamin C as an orange, 50 percent more calcium than spinach and is a plentiful source of antioxidants. Its antioxidant activity is four times that of a kiwi or apple pulp. The leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum and phosphorus, and the seeds are packed with protein.4 Vitamins A and B1, B2, B3, B6 and dietary fibers are also present in Baobob.5 Baobab oil is a clear, golden yellow oil that with a slight nutty odor. The oil is obtained by cold pressing or Co2 extraction of the dried baobab seeds. Baobab oil contains fatty acids (omega 3-6-9), sterols, proteins, potassium, magnesium calcium, iron, zinc and amino acids. Topical application of this nourishing, antioxidant oil can help alleviate chronic dry skin and chronic bruising by improving skin elasticity and boosting epidermal softening.
Recent studies in Europe have revealed a multitude of skin benefits of Baobab. Leaf and bark extracts tighten and tone skin, while oil from the seeds moisturizes and encourages skin cell regeneration with vitamins A, D and E.6 Studies carried out in the laboratory showed doses between 400 and 800 mg/kg determine a marked anti-inflammatory effect and are able to reduce inflammation induced in the animal limb with formalin. This activity may be attributed to the presence of sterols, saponins and triterpenes in the aqueous extract.7 Clinically, skin care companies have found Baobab fruit and oil combats skin aging, helps improve skin firmness and strength by boosting the elastic quality of the skin, diminishes the look of facial lines, evens out skin tone, and refreshes and hydrates the skin.
Baobab has already been incorporated into several well-known skin care lines and has also been used in several French hair treatment gels and lip balms. Thus we can see that while Baobab has been discovered by some skin care companies, many more have yet to be introduced to its wonderful properties.
Jeanette Jacknin, M.D., (JJMDSkinCare.com and DrJacknin.com) is a board-certified dermatologist. She is a well-respected physician, entrepreneur and author with a passion for nutricosmeceuticals and holistic dermatology. Dr. Jacknin’s is the author of, “Smart Medicine for Your Skin”, published by Penguin Putnam. She is available for consultation. Contact her at jjacknin@gmail.com.
For a list of references, e-mail amarrapodi@vpico.com
A Soviet postage stamp of Ghanaian leader from 1952 to 1966, Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was a profound supporter of African socialism and pan-Africanism.
BLACK POWER
Ghana Becomes Independent
Pandora’s Box: Black Power [BBC 1992]
Produced by Adam Curtis, this documentary explores the rise and fall of Africa’s first black President Kwame Nkrumah and his commitment to technocratic development as a means of industrialising Ghana. Nkrumah had a vision for Ghana and a vision of a united Africa that as a Pan-Africanist I applaud. However, Nkrumah’s vision for Ghana suffered as he solicited foreign aid and influence to fund the building of the Akosombo (Volta) Dam and other development projects in Ghana. Therefore despite his intentions and public ridicule of imperialism and condemning of foreign private investment, Nkrumah’s development model led Ghana to became trapped by political and economic imperialist forces. Nkrumah’s intention was for the foreign capitalist machine to mobilise Ghana’s workforce and fulfil his socialist agenda of wealth distribution and greater opportunity in Ghana. Yet, the complexities of international politics and Nkrumah’s inability to assert leverage in his final days as President eventually led to bankruptcy and growing poverty in Ghana. Nkrumah’s government was eventually disposed of by a CIA supported coup d’etat in 1966.
via blackacrylic.net