#Afrikan Journey

[black2infinity]

The Afrikan Times -Hosted by Spikes

[kaiyastarz]

Third eye activation ✨️✨️✨️

[bougieblkbimbo]

how to develop a healthy sense of self as a black woman

living in a eurocentric/anti-black and colorist society where people constantly remind us that we aren’t the beauty standard (even our own family), and we face misogynior so these are things that helped me gain a healthy sense of self

- don’t be around people that have negative things to say about black women.

- love your own image. find instagram and pinterest girls that look like you and have your hair type

- take a break from dating and don’t hang around colorist people once it’s proven that’s how they are

- instead of wearing straight hair try faux locs, braids, twist, or if you get extensions do afro textured ones.

- eating healthy and working out.

- finding your self care routine (hair,nails, eyebrows, facials etc).

-don’t worry about people understanding your plight because all people do is gaslight us about our experiences.

-if you can get therapy (specifically a black woman therapist)

[pathstobliss]

Desert Giant's Journey

[itgetsbetterproject]

Some tangible Black queer history for you!

In case you needed any more proof that we've always been here - this amazing collection is courtesy of the Stonewall National Musuem and Archive!

Rafiki: The Journal of the Association of Black Gays, Vol. 1 #1 (Fall 1976)

"Rafiki was a quarterly publication from the Association of Black Gays (ABG), a Los Angeles, California gay activist group that organized through education, political engagement, and grassroots activism to improve the conditions for Los Angeles’s Black gays and lesbians.

According to the journal, the title Rafiki was chosen because it means “friend” in Swahili and “that’s what [ABG] hope to be for you.” This first issue includes an article on the history of ABG and the fact that Black gays and lesbians have been largely excluded from the political, social, and economic advances of the gay community.

Included in this issue are articles such as “Homosexuality in Tribal Africa” and “Disco Discontent” (an open letter to the owner of Studio One, Scott Forbes), as well as poetry by Steven Corbin and Frances Andrews, and book reviews. It even contains an ad for the famous Catch One Club owned by Jewel Williams, which is still operating today!"

I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities by Audre Lorde (Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1985; from the Freedom Organizing Series)

You can read this one here!

"This small twelve-page publication derives from a speech Audre Lorde gave at the Women’s Center of Medgar Evers College in New York City regarding the exclusion of Lesbians in the feminist movement and how Lorde’s identity as both a Black woman and lesbian are inextricably linked.

Primarily, heterosexism and homophobia are major issues Lorde states are “two grave barriers to organizing among Black women.” Lorde ends the essay with the statement: “I am a Black Lesbian, and I am your sister.”

Her emphasis on the duality of this identity stems from a 1960s poster that said “He’s not black, he’s my brother!,” which Lorde states infuriated her because “it implied that the two were mutually exclusive.”

Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press was founded by Barbara Smith—another Black Lesbian feminist—and Audre Lorde in 1980 to create a publishing apparatus for women of color who at the time did not have control over how they were published except through the white-dominated outlets."

Flawless! The Life & Times of T.B.D.J. AKA Tiffani Inc. AKA Mrs. … (Manuscript) by Tiffany Bowerman (July 2007, A&E Publishers)

This autobiographical manuscript traces the life of Tiffany Bowerman aka Tiffany B.D. Johnson (b. 1959), who states that she “was the first African-American Transsexual to have state issued birth certificate reissued [1990]… was the first to legally marry three different active duty military men… [and] first… to found their own Christian Denomination… The Agape-Ecumenical Christian Denomination.”

Further, she states “I have tried to put together something striking and original[,] a journey from childhood to self aware adult. A life that was and is with all regrets included.”

This manuscript is a preliminary copy of a rough draft, and contains various memoirs, photographs, legal documents, and ephemera.

Out in Black and White: A Directory of Publications By, About, For People of Afrikan Descent In-The-Life by the Broward County Library Outreach Services Department Exhibit/Programming Services with direction by Eric Jon Rawlins (January, 1996)

Out in Black and White is a directory of various serial publications (magazines, newsletters, journals, etc.) throughout the United States that are focused on the Black LGBTQ experience. According to the directory, “[t]his project was inspired by the atmosphere of strength, oneness and productivity created by the Million Man March [on October 16,] 1995.”

The Million Man March was a political demonstration that took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with the purpose of encouraging involvement in the improvement of the conditions of African Americans. Eric Jon Rawlins was a Broward County, Florida librarian who at one time was also the second vice president of the NAACP Fort Lauderdale branch in the late 1980s.

Currently, the Eric Jon Rawlins Collection consisting of personal and professional papers, as well as his 6,000 vinyl record album collection, are housed at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center Special Collections in Broward County, FL.

[3rdeyeblaque]

Today we venerate Elevated Ancestor El-Hajj Malik El-Shabaz aka Brother Malcolm "X" Little on his 98th birthday 🎉

A minister, scholar, orator, & legendary Freedom Fighter- who infamously bore the name "X" to signify our self-liberation from the shackles of a European legacy forced upon us during Slavery -, we elevate Brother Malcolm as one of THE most prolific voices of freedom, justice, self-determination, & Pan-Afrikan unity in modern history.

Born into a legacy of freedom fighters, Brother Malcolm was raised on the cusp between Black Nationalism unity & White Supremacist terror. His father was a member of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), in which he served as an orator publicly advocating for Black liberation before his murder.

Though a gifted student, Malcolm dropped out of school when a teacher ridiculed his aspirations to become a lawyer. He later drifted into a life of hustling on the streets of Harlem. He cleverly avoided the draft in WWII by making the outrageous declaration that he'd organize Black soldiers to attack their White counterparts which classified him as "mentally unfit to serve". After his burglary arrest in Boston, Malcolm faced 10 years in prison. Here, he found Islam via the NOI.

Upon his parole release, Malcolm took the name "X" as he began to serve in the NOI as a speaker, organizer, and minister. He quickly grew in his prominence & drew national attention after an expose on the NOI was aired on CBS. Both, Black & White Americans, saw the stark contrast in his/NOI views from that of other Black religious leaders/organizations of the time. Thus planting the first seeds of warped perception & fear.

Meanwhile, Brother Malcolm's personal views & interests slowly began to split from the leaders of the organization he'd come to love. Malcolm grew increasingly frustrated with the NOI's bureaucracy & outright refusal to join the Civil Rights Movement. His forbidden response to the assassination of JFK earned him a 90 suspension from the NOI; at which time he announced his departure from the organization.

In March 1964, he founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. Three months later, he founded a political group called, the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). Malcolm firmly placed Black Revolution in a global context of an anti-imperialist struggle here, in Afrika, Latin America, & Asia. This is what set him & his work further apart from any Black leader & organization in the U.S. at the time. And this is what sparked the breadth of his influence & mapped out the future of his work.

Brother Malcolm toured North & East Afrika as well as the Middle East Region in the late Spring of 1964. He met with heads of state from several countries (i.e.: Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria) before making his hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Here, he added "El-Hajj" to his Muslim name, "Malik El-Shabazz". This journey into the Motherland & Self brought Malcolm to the realization that his revolutionary vision/influence superceded any colour line.

Once he returned to the U.S, he infamously declared Pan-African unity amid struggle for freedom “by any means necessary.” This marked a turning point in Malcolm's life & revolutionary fight against White Supremacy on a global scale. He spent 6, albeit unsuccessful, months in Afrika petitioning the U.N. to investigate the Human Rights violations of Black Americans by the U.S. Government. From then on, threats to his safety and that of his family & the OUAA mounted. Still, he continued the fight until his assassination that was ultimately orchestrated & carried out by the CIA.

"If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary" - Malcolm X

Today, Brother Malcolm rests alongside his wife at the Ferncliff Cemetery in upstate NY.

We pour libations & give him💐 today as we celebrate him for his incomparable leadership, love, commitment, & sacrifice for the socioeconomic & sociopolitical freedom of our people.

Offering suggestions: libations of water, read/share his work, & prayers from the Quran

Note: offering suggestions are just that & strictly for veneration purposes only. Never attempt to conjure up any spirit or entity without proper divination/Mediumship counsel.

[elbiotipo]

I will address the quiet part you're not saying out lout: Hamas is not the ANC, and there's about 1800 years of evidence for why a Jewish population will not get the same nice treatment as Afrikaners. And if you think I'm wrong, consider taking a look at the native, pre-Zionist populations of Palestine, and how well they were treated by Arab nationalists before Israel even became a thing. By all means oppose Israel, but be honest about the body count you're asking for.

Good thing I have never equaled Hamas to the ANC. Though they do have something in common: the ANC was also categorized as a terrorist organization, or do you think Nelson Mandela was always considered an icon of peace? He was considered a terrorist for wanting an equal South Africa.

The fact that Hamas, which is an Islamic extremist organization I do not support and would be disasterous in any kind of goverment or peace process, exists at all is entirely is the fault of the State of Israel for its colonial project that has commited inumnerable crimes against Palestinians and has rejected once and again any peace processes or justice for them, even as it has completely military and state control over them. In such a case, violent organizations will arise. Do not forget that Israel supported Hamas on purpose in an idiotic tactic of "divide and conquer".

If there is no "ANC" in Palestine, it's because Israel has done its worst into destroying the multiple attempts at peace and favoring violence and oppression, with the complicity of other imperial powers. A peaceful solution is still possible, but is increasingly distant the more and more crimes are commited, the more and more violence is perpetuated by the Israeli state. The first step is ending this genocidal war now, and the second is to end the Israeli occupation of what are internationally recognized Palestinian territories. That is just the first step of a inmensenly long journey to peace, and one that can't be done as long as bombs are still falling on Gaza.

Also, this is an inmensely complex historical topic, so you'd better be more specific about "pre-zionist" populations of Palestine.

Also, don't you fucking me accuse of saying "quiet parts" or wanting "body counts". I said what I said. Read it again if you are imagining genocides in your head instead of the actual one that's developing right now.

[zhabe]

The goyishe zionists who are "just starting their conversion journey" but have already made judaism central to their identity urk me. It's giving afrikaner.

[quercus-queer]

hey, what’s up with tlou 2? I keep seeing comments mentioning how it’s related to zionism but I can’t find info on it

Im not someone who gets very interested in creators of the media I enjoy (idk what my fave band looks like or their names) and I was only a very casual watcher of tlou adaptation and gameplays. I only recently found out Neil Druckmann is a Zionist and that tlou2 was “inspired by the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

This is to say Im not the most informed and have no desire to watch the podcasts this Vice article gets quotes from, the article was more than enough information for me. There’s some reddit threads out there too but I digress.

Some excerpts that I think sum up the article, Druckmann’s bias, and explains the criticisms people have always had about tlou’s writing.

But "cycles of violence" are a poor way to understand a conflict in a meaningful way, especially if one is interested in finding a solution. The United States, for example, hasn't been at war in Afghanistan for almost 20 years because it's trapped in a "cycle of violence" with the Taliban. It is deliberately choosing to engage with a problem in a way that perpetuates a conflict. Just as the fantasy of escaping violence by simply walking away from it is one that only those with the means to do so can entertain, the myth of the "cycle of violence" is one that benefits the side that can survive the status quo

In The Last of Us Part II's Seattle, Scars and Wolves hurt each other terribly, and the same can be said about Israel and Palestine. The difference is that when flashes of violence abate and the smoke clears, one side continues to live freely and prosper, while the other goes back to a life of occupation and humiliation. One side continues to expand while the other continues to lose the land it needs to live. Imagining this process as some kind of symmetric cycle benefits one side more than the other, and allows it to continue.

As a result, The Last of Us Part II never quite justifies its fatalism.

…

This seems to be The Last of Us Part II's thesis: humans experience a kind of "intense hate that is universal," as Druckmann told The Post, which keep us trapped in these cycles.

But is intense hate really a universal feeling? It's certainly not one that I share. I, too, have seen the video of the 2000 mob killing of the Israeli soldiers in Ramallah, and it's horrific. Yet, my immediate response wasn't "Oh, man, if I could just push a button and kill all these people that committed this horrible act, I would make them feel the same pain that they inflicted on these people," as Druckmann said.

This is not a universal feeling as much as it's a learned way of seeing the world.

…

The trouble with [the story/writing/themes], and the reason that Ellie's journey ultimately feels nonsensical, is that it begins from a place that accepts "intense hate that is universal" as a fact of life, rather than examining where and why this behavior is learned.

Personally, I’ve come to understand that people who cling to the Cycle of Violence as human nature, especially concerning community/global conflict have an deep misunderstanding of humanity.

This post details an article that requires an account to access, but elaborates on a certain mentality about Landback movements:

Additionally, the casting for tlou2 adaptation has come out and it’s a shit show:

Dina (the only Jewish character in the series + her fam) will be played by a very skinny conventionally attractive Hispanic non-Jewish woman who is allegedly a Zionist

Abby will be played by a very skinny conventionally attractive 5’2” woman who is also allegedly a Zionist

Also worth noting since some redditors misunderstood: the author is NOT saying Palestinians are literally like the Scars, the entire point is that Neil created the Scars to parallel how HE (biased) sees the conflict.

[twistedsoulmusic]

A pivotal figure in the UK jazz scene, Shabaka unveils 'Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace,' his remarkable artistic solo venture that propels his musical journey further. The album echoes the ambience of his 2022 EP, 'Afrikan Culture.' It maintains a similar mellow and contemplative tone, inviting listeners to pause and reflect. Notably, the album was predominantly recorded with the flute instead of Shabaka's usual choice instrument, the saxophone. This change hints at a distinct shift in the typical soundscape and demonstrates his versatility as he experiments with different tonalities and sonic landscapes. It's a bold leap towards exploring unfamiliar territories, steering off the beaten path in favour of crafting new musical narratives.

[moviesandmania]

PEACOCK (2023) Review of gothic horror plus trailer

‘Some demons never die’ Peacock is a 2022 South African horror film about the psychosexual journey of a young woman into the dark recesses of the Afrikaner psyche and its compromised past. Directed by Jaco Minnaar from a screenplay co-written with David Cornwell. Produced by David Cornwell, Dumi Gumbi and Catharina Weinek. The Ergo Company production stars Tarryn Wyngaard, Johan Botha, Ruan…

[wise-journey]

Diving into the Heart of Namibia: A Symphony of Culture, Adventure, and Gastronomy in Windhoek

The rhythmic beating of my heart harmonizes with the echo of my footsteps reverberating against the vibrant cityscape. My soul thrums with the excitement of unknown adventures, my spirit is ignited by the vibrant pulse of life that is Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Timing Your Visit

Windhoek's climatic symphony plays its sweetest notes between July and October when the warm yet mild weather ranges from a comfortable 20-30°C. As dusk gently pulls the curtain on the city, prepare to be mesmerized by the breathtaking Namibian sunset, setting the sky ablaze in vibrant hues of purple and pink.

Arriving in the City

Your journey to Windhoek is likely to begin at Hosea Kutako International Airport, the main point of connection with the rest of the world. From the airport, a 45-minute picturesque journey will lead you to the heart of the city where the vibrant bustle of life warmly welcomes you.

Choosing Your Base

Windhoek is adorned by a plethora of accommodations. I reveled in the luxurious quarters and panoramic landscapes of the Hilton Windhoek, located strategically in the city's bustling center.

Diving into the Splendor of Windhoek

A city of many wonders, Windhoek serves as a melting pot of exciting ventures for all. Immersing in the Culture Windhoek's cultural canvas is a beautiful mélange of Herero, Damara, Nama, Afrikaner, and German influences. Immerse yourself in its rich history by marveling at the captivatingly blended architecture. Attractions such as Alte Feste, an ex-fort, and Christus Kirche, an emblematic German Lutheran church, are a testament to this city's architectural dexterity. Thrills and Spills of Adventure For the adrenaline junkies, Windhoek promises unforgettable excitement. Set off on a safari adventure into the heart of the surrounding game reserves. My encounter with a variety of deer, zebras, and even leopards in the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve was a thrilling experience that epitomized the wild beauty of Namibia. Savoring the Gastronomy Windhoek presents a unique food journey that ranges from flavorsome traditional African dishes to German-influenced cuisine. I was particularly enamored by the oshifima, a local delicacy of millet and meat stewed to perfection.

Dining Out

No trip to Windhoek is complete without savoring local flavors at Joe's Beerhouse, a crowd favorite known for its hearty meals and wide beer selection. For a more upscale dining experience, The Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro is renowned for its gourmet dishes and mature vintage wine collection.

Sights to Behold and Tours to Take

The city's cultural landmarks and natural reserves are awe-inspiring. Don't miss the breathtaking city skyline view from the top of Heroes' Acre, cherish local crafts and produce at the bustling markets, and explore the National Museum of Namibia for a dive into history.

Navigating the City: Tips, Money, Nightlife, Transport and Shopping

The currency in Windhoek is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). Most places accept credit cards, but ensure you have some cash handy for local markets. The city blooms with activity at night as bars and clubs offer live music and local brews. Taxis and minibuses provide easy transportation. For a shopping spree, visit the Maerua Mall, housing a variety of local and international brands. Windhoek is more than a city; it's an experience, a cultural symphony, an adventurer's paradise, and a food lover’s delight. This African gem beckons you to explore its manifold wonders and cherish its unique charm. Until our paths cross on another adventure... As an intrepid explorer, I'm perpetually on the hunt for new horizons and stories to share. My globetrotting journey isn't just about sightseeing; it's about experiencing the spirit of each place and sharing its soul with the world. Note: Always check travel advisories and health information before embarking on your journey. Ascertain your safety and respect local customs and regulations. Read the full article

[kaiyastarz]

In the stars

[mywifeleftme]

61: Gonjasufi // Callus

Callus Gonjasufi 2016, Warp (Bandcamp)

Gonjasufi was one of the hip finds of 2010, when his unclassifiable debut LP A Sufi and a Killer drew raves from the indie press. Flying Lotus was probably the hottest beatmaker in the world at the time, and he was at the centre of a Warp Records-affiliated scene that seemed poised to upend electronic music in the same way the Odd Future collective was shaking hip-hop’s mainstream. A Sufi and a Killer’s production was primarily helmed by Flying Lotus associate The Gaslamp Killer (with assists from Mainframe and FlyLo himself), and its scabby, phlegmy take on rap/psych rock/noise/whatever drew perplexed but positive comparisons to weirdos like Tom Waits and George Clinton.

That was as good as it really got for Gonjasufi though. He seems to have drifted out of FlyLo and Gaslamp Killer’s sphere (and the attention it brought) shortly after A Sufi and a Killer, and by his next release (2016’s Callus) he was back to producing his own music. (2012’s MU.ZZ.LE EP consisted of pre-ASaaK recordings.)  Although I haven’t checked out any interviews to confirm it, I suspect Gonjasufi grew weary of the attention/credit being paid to his starry collaborators and wanted to prove that he was the driving force behind the album that’d drawn such acclaim. The situation reminds me a bit of Cannibal Ox, the rap group forever defined by a classic collab with an iconic producer (The Cold Vein, with El-P) who went on to sporadically release plenty more good music to a diminishing cult audience.

Gonja’s 2016 effort Callus is basically a purely solo venture, aside from some guitar on a few tracks by Pearl Thompson (formerly of The Cure). Reviewers often describe Gonjasufi’s music as weedy, but Callus is more the kind of high you get from melting plastic: smoggy, a hot pulse in the forehead that will be a splitting headache later, staggering around in an interesting fashion while listening to a guy who sounds like George Clinton shooting smack in a tenement squat stairwell. It further confirms that Gonjasufi was the auteur of own sound—but also reveals how much more “outsider” his music is without the comparatively accessible sample-based beats provided by his collaborators (like ASaaK’s “Ancestors” or “Candylane”) to leaven his propensity for industrial gloom. While Gonja is clearly a spiritual man who seems to approach his music as if in a visionary trance, Callus makes for a pretty fraught psychic journey.

Despite its insularity, the LP covers a ton of ground. Opener “Your Maker” resembles an Afghan Whigs demo more than it does anything on FlyLo’s Brainfeeder label. It bleeds over into the murky trip-hop of “Maniac Depressant”; the breakcore-shaded “Afrikan Spaceship”; a thousand miles of bad dub vibes in two-minutes-and-forty-six of “Carolyn Shadows”; and finally “Ole Man Sufferah,” a doodle that sounds like post-hardcore drifting in from the next room while I wash my hair in the bathtub. Aside from the oozily sexy “Vinaigrette,” Callus isn’t an album where individual songs stand out much. On balance, it’s an album of very clangorous ambient music.

I hadn’t heard mention of Gonjasufi in quite a while, and I don’t think he’s put out anything since a 2019 DJ mix for Warp’s thirtieth anniversary. (It likely hasn’t helped that The Gaslamp Killer became embroiled in rape allegations in 2017, which limited the tenth anniversary hype cycle that A Sufi and a Killer might otherwise have enjoyed.) I did learn that Gonja had a hand in the production of Tanya Tagaq’s 2022 album Tongues, which strikes me as a great stylistic match. His IG posts suggest the pandemic has been tough on him and his people, so my fingers are crossed he’s able to get some new stuff out there soon.

61/365

[2023-512danielleheystek]

Rational:

Rational:

The typeface that I chose is P22 Mackinac. I am from South Africa and my iwi is Afrikaner. As an Afrikaner, I speak Afrikaans. To me, Afrikaans is a full, round-sounding language with lots of rolling sounds. This typeface is an excellent representation of Afrikaans. Further, the typeface looks full and has nice round curves that represent Afrikaans. This typeface also has great flat and straight edges that represent my mountain, Table Mountain, known for its flat summit. When in italics font it has curvy lines, representing my winding river- Oranje Rivier.

I chose to use this dark green colour in my type specimen booklet and digital kinetic type. The colour represents the gorgeous, luscious open fields in South Africa. I used yellow-gold thread for the stitching of the booklet and a yellow-orange video clipped behind the text because it represents the colours of the South African rugby team’s jerseys: green and gold (yellow). The text is orange because “Oranje” (Oranje Rivier) means orange. Additionally, I displayed my pepeha by using words from it throughout my booklet and as my title for the digital kinetic type. I used an image of my river that we took on a family trip for the background of my kinetic type.

I had a few ideas and inspirations for spreads that I wanted to create. I had various iterations of the same spread, trying, experimenting and changing small aspects, which made a big difference. Aspects like changing the font size of the text frames displaying the font name to a smaller point size. Having the focus on the typeface, not the headings. I made different iterations of my kinetic type. Having different coloured duotone backgrounds, different coloured text and different ways that the text came into the screen. For example, in one version having the entire title come from the top, in another version I had three letters coming from the top, and three from the bottom to form the title in the middle.

I had a great learning journey throughout the past few weeks. I found this paper difficult at the beginning and the tasks seemed daunting because InDesign, Photoshop and After Effects were new to me. As the weeks progressed and we learned new aspects and techniques of the programs like, how to use grids, how to use easy ease and keyframes, and how to create hierarchy, I got a grip on how to use the programs. The more I used and experimented with the programs, the more I learned and improved. There is still a lot for me to learn, but I am proud of how far I have come and proud of the work that I have produced.

[sistazai]

Rise and shine! Happy Black Futures Month! ❤️🖤💚 Happy Month Of Love! During this month, I’m inviting the curious and open hearted on a journey where we get to think about, feel into and share perspectives and experiences about Radical Love, or the place of love in social transformation. This image is the logo from the @papoets - Pan Afrikan Poets Cafe. It is a pop up open mic and live performance matinee that I established in 2015, with the tagline “Speak Love, Be Love.” The mic was devoted to Black voices and themes. The audience was always diverse. As a curator and a host, I was constantly but quietly reflecting on whether the Pan Afrikan Poets Cafe was indeed a place for experiencing and practicing radical love. I spoke a bit about this a little bit during my IG live on Friday, which is now up for replay. This coming Friday, I’ll go live again. This time to speak more about my own journey as a curator and poet/storyteller. What did I learn, through and during my experience with the Pan Afrikan Poets Cafe, about love, art and social transformation? Catch you then ❤️💚🖤 Happy Black Futures Month! Happy Month Of Love! https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSrQTaBRFv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=