FAN Wrapup

I have not given out news in a while because we have been so busy here at casa africa but the FAN is now over and we are getting ready to prepare Fest’Afro Brazil so I thought I’d let you guys know wassup before I go back neck deep into work…

First of all the bar staff has been rejuvenated with my man Tiago holding down the barman position

And a new band Macumba that do percussion lead afro-samba with clarinet to boot

So the Espaçio Thiossane was being set-up to welcome 3 groups of 100 kids per day in the FAN space at Casa do Conde

Excellent work by our resident designer Rubem in a beautifully set-up educational gallery space

The best part about this is that we get to keep these pannels for CasaAfrica afterwards

The artwork Kuta and the others had been working on was finally set up in its rightful lugar

Looking good

Finshing up the final touches

The Casa do Conde space is great and we are lucky to have it as the host for our upcoming festival

I loved this grafitti piece

There were a ton of great events and concerts all week

Tartit from Mali sent out incredible Touareg rythms and chants

The Jant-Bi dance troup killed shit with a very contemporary dance choreography backed up by powerfu traditional percussions

Speaking of percussions outdoor shows slayed this category

Tizumba and Tambolele (featuring the aforementioned Sergio Perere) had the crowd going nuts since they are local legends

They put on a great show

Then we heard a rumble in the back of the crowd

The sacred drums of Burundi were making their entrance

Powerful shit

But the festival also had some casa africa organised event such was the case with BaileBlack a party dedicated to Black Music (funk,soul,jazz,etc)

I designed this flyer and set up a projection detailing the history of black music from the 40s (slave music,blues,gospel) 50s(rock-n-roll) 60s(jazz) 70s(civil rightsmovements,funk,soul) and 80s(hiphop)

The night was an immense success and lasted till 6 am

With DJ Asma holding it down

I learned a lot during this FAN experience and it will come in handy as I am officially the executive producer of the upcoming Fest’Afro-Brazil

More on that in a minute

take care folks….

BIG THINGS!

In one day two incredible things happened for Casa Africa…

Making my work here more complex and simply more in terms of mandate but about a milion times (if thats even possible seeing how much I love this project) more interesting

The day started off with the France Brésil meeting featuring one of the ugliest logos in the history of mankind

I had spent the whole day before preparing Ibra’s speach on Africa-Brazil-France cooperation and the powerpoint (yes folks even the pros do it)

well it was big ass event

Mayors of Rennes and Nantes were present as well as federally elected officials from Mali and Brazil, our friend Rodrigo had made us the special guest at this round table and we had 30 min to present our acomplishements and future senegal roject as well as bring some afican history in the mix

Ibra killed it

Both elected officials closing statements commented exlusevily on his presentation and we made some valuable contacts along the way….

especially with the city of Nantes…

Mariam another senegalese getting mixed up with CasaAfrica had projects to start up her own Casa Africa in Nantes a city that is known for its decentralized policies…économie solidaire support and left leaning political body… and many exchange programs with Senegal

Mariam does incredible work with children in the cités and african dance…she is best friends with Tiken Jah Fakoly… and just gleamingly energetic…we had to get the most projects together working out

We invited everyone of the french delegation over to live the Casa Africa experience

And it worked like a charm

The mayor of Nantes is opening up a partnership with us and we are full of other projects with Mariam and France… including a Tiken tour

Me and Ibra are in the office talking over all these developments when he suddenly jumps out his chair screamin WOOO! from the top of his lungs…it was because of an email informing us our festival project had been accepted for the sum of ….

100 000R$…..BALLIN!

We had planned the event around comnity activities since we had no money now we can make it something BIG….

One big evening

Some days things are seemingly meant to happen together…

We were preparing all week for our big Noite do Griot show…its format is to honour the long lasting oral tradition maintained in africa of the griot as the master orator and distributor of ancient knowledge.

We offer an intimate concert of african artists where they speak on their life/musical path and answer questions from the audience, each word inspiring a new song, a new discussion…

The show was great but there was another important event taking place in the same palacio das artes just hours before and casa africa was invited

An incredible evening to commemorate some legends of brazilian culture (including Tom Jobim and Jorge Ben) with the ministry of culture Gilberto Gil and President Lula himself…

I was starstruck with all those people in the room and casa africa got a chance to present its program…we have a meeting scheduled with Mr.Gil in Brasilia (political capital) so things are looking up

Now back to the show…it wasa simply a wonderful experience…Perere has a powerful voice and he played many instruments including the charango

and talking drum

 

The show really started to lift off once Perere started conversing with the audience

I was truly inspired by both his lyrics and his message/life path

A great candid moment came when he invited his 12 year old nephew on stage

The kid killed it on guitar (ive gotta raise my kids like that 🙂

Then Perere son just crawled up on stage

All in all a wonderful show..one of the best Griots apparently

FAN also had its official launch with an exposition of african artifacts

A cool event with Gilberto Gil present once more

Ive been planning the France Brazil meeting all week with Ibra (a real political consultant i am becoming) we have a speach ready, and mini DVD business cards that are badass (a little inovative idea from yours truly)

We are also getting ready for FAN… I am actually planning an event FestaBlack where there will be a famous Brazilian DJ, break dancers, a graffiti vs Kuta paint battle,

 

 a photo exhibit documenting the evolution of black music thourghout history and to open things up a world renowned canadian DJ

I am off to Ibras once again so take care people

ciao gente

After the sunshine…

Here this is the case… super hot beautiful day…brief torrential downfall…rince…repeat

To illustrate the case I’ve decided to share with you guys 2 polar opposite african music mixes…

Tristeza is a mix full of slow-burning sad lament songs…complaints about the state of life in africa and songs that call to the times past…Angolan and west-african songs that I adore. Here emotions can be felt and the lament style of cabo-verde resounds..the first track is killer…great stuff

The second mix is light slow and soulful songs comparabe to the sound of waves and the faint echo of kids on a Dakar beach..sit back relax and enjoy the soft sounds…

Also to summerize my weekend in a few words…work..play.long hours

I worked the regular Samba shift at casa africa that ended with a nice little jam session

Then went out to smaller neighborhood Santa Tereza. I love that place and the music was incredible…i then went out for food…late night style but here you have a full restaurant access with like130 diferent plates at 4:30am…

Needless to say nut much sleep

he next day i was up working at Ibra’s…finishing deadlines..

Great food as always

Kuta as always

till like 11pm… as alwyas 🙂

And thus another week begins…

Take care of thyselves people and enjoy the music

Dia feriada

There are a lot of holydays these months in Brazil..;but there was just too much to go through so we set up the office at Ibrahima`s house…so necessary!

Outdoor escritorio (2 laptops and a tower)…

Enrique and Kuta were working hard on the FAN scenes (peep the progress)

Really cool stuff I dig Kuta`s style…

I was busy mixing music too creat an enchanting african musical vibe for the kids that will go through the village represented by those scenes…

But I was also busy cooking up a storm… making the Senegal national dish..Yassa!

Ginger-Garlic and minced oignons in a lime marinade…where the chicken stays for a good couple of hours…

 With a TON of oignons…

Let it simmer (this was a different tandoori glaze for the chicken breasts) grain pepper is key…

Ibra was prepping the churasco

The chicken is grilled

And the oignons and lime juice boil up into a chicken reduction sauce

the end result

It was a environment place to work in…

for the communication staff…and the painters/scenists

with Cantora chillin…and this crazy bug

We worked hard into the night

and I´im still here in the office mixing…

Ciao gente…

Dia na cidade…

Ive been working hard on these radio mandates all week (I actually got them done..with the courrier bike-boy waiting at the door… a lil stress of my shoulders but I still gotta a ton to go… however I love what I am doing so I am glad de trablhar duro…

Here is a snapshot of the regular lunch meal here…kinda great..usually its rice, feajõn (beans), grilled meat..but today was tropejo..feajõn mix with manioc flour and chirizo sausages

Speaking tropejo I was told I had to try the tropejau minerau at the state stadium and after work I went with Leo and Daniel to go see the CAM (Club Atletico Mineiro) football club match that evening

My first day here in Minas Gerais Daniel shared with me<There is one important thing here…>

I was immediately converted into a fan of Galo….

We left for the stadium hyped up…

But there was NASTY traffic

It was absolute blockage everywhere…we were as stuffed as the people in that bus…

speaking of buses

After 2:15 drive we got there and it was insane I wish i could have taken shots of the rushing amount of fans filling each entry of this gigantic stadium (80 000) and especially when i climbed the stairs staring at the firework lit sky a line of CAM faithful admiring as well

 The game was ON!

Just to give you an idea of what it was like try to see how many people are in this bad shot of the crowd

that`s on 20th of the stadium

The famous meal was indeed incredible..especially for sporting event food… I mean damn!

The game was just as great..

and GALO won