Monday, January 25, 2010

African Scholar; Bata drum and dance master Jeleel Ojuade






Voices from Africa: The evolution of culture.


I have been away from the blog for bit these days due to my commitments in New York and the constant grind required to get the word out about the good work. I have been wanting to introduce the work of a fine artist and scholar for a while now. He is an expert on Yoruba Bata and Dundun dances with many years of experience in the traditional practice and a body of research on the language of the dance and the drum.


Ojuade, Jeleel Olasunkanmi is a Lecturer I and Researcher with the Performing Arts Department, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. An expert dancer with emphasis on Yoruba Bata and Dundun dances, born 40 years ago. He holds a B.A. (Hons) from the Performing Arts Department, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State (1993), M.A. (African Studies) in Dance at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State (1997), LL.B. (Hons) Common Law (2003) and MBA in Business Administration (2006) from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State respectively. He belongs to a number of local and International organizations including Association of Professional Negotiator and Mediators (APNM), International Dance Council - CID-UNESCO, International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR/FIRT) and the Society of Dance, History, Scholars (SDHS). Currently, he teaches dance with the Performing Arts Department, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State and a Ph.D Candidate in Dance at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan


Publications:

1. Ojuade, Jeleel Olasunkanmi "Dance Culture and Development in Nigeria: A Study of Gese Dance of the Yorubas",
2. Ojuade, Jeleel Olasunkanmi "African Dance in Diaspora The Yoruba example from Nigeria",

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Enyenison Enkama; Abakua inspired paintings.

Jose Orbein is a Cuban painter residing in Miami florida. His series entitled Enyenison Enkama was inspired by the landmark recording of the seminal New York Abakuá group of the same name, representing the ten songs that comprise the release entitled Ecobio Enyenison. The debut was celebrated with Abakuá music and dance, including masquerade, at the Walter Gallery of Miami on December 29th. Jose Orbein has traced his ancestral lineage back to Calabar, Nigeria. When interviewed for Wynwood Art Magazine in 2008 he had this to say about his work:

"Orbeín began painting intuitively. This aptitude was encouraged by his maternal grandmother, who lacking the resources to provide him with materials, gave him cardboard and craft paper, so that he could paint on them with charcoal or anything else he might find; elements that the author has taken up again in many of his recent works. Orbeín confesses that it was painting that saved him from a difficult childhood and an adolescence marked by delinquency and marginality. He did not study arts formally; instead, he had possibly the best of all masters, the Cuban painter, Humberto Peña. Friendship with this creator provided him with theoretical training and a solid upbringing."





Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bate Nico Music video from Cameroon.

Happy New Year!!. I have been wanting to get some of these videos from Calabar , Nigeria and Cameroon on here lately and here it is. Finally!. I hope you all enjoy it. I remind all of you to please check out the Cuba Calabar Radio podcast and make sure to subscribe for constant streaming of Cuban abakuá and African Ekpé music.



About Bate Nico:

Bate Nico and Nkongho Regina his wife are Manyu Born Folklore Artist and hail from Kembong and Ossing(cameroon) respectively.They have been in the entertainment industry since 1990 and are now one of the most charming, dedicated Manyu rising stars and folklore Singers.

They have since recorded 3 Albums in Kenyang and Ejagham. Their imagination,creativity, and a combination of blended taditional and cultural lead vocals / local musical intruments thril thousands of fans everyday. Some of their popular tracks include if man no die,mmon aree mmon, wube bi zi eba. Nyen a nob, Ndaack.

It should be noted that Bate Nico was classified as the best folklore Singer in 2006 by the " Amongst Youth Magazine".

Monday, January 18, 2010

Happy New Year!

This year we look forward to more posts about Ekpe culture in Southwest Cameroon and Calabar Nigeria. Dr. Ivor Miller is in Nigeria right now traveling through Ekpe land. Here is a new podcast of Ekpe music that I hope you will enjoy. I have entered the titles of the tracks as more information becomes available. I invite all to subscribe to our blog, podcast and youtube channel as well. Please feel free to email me the names of your favorite artists from Calabar. We will be posting many more Ekpe music videos from our archives this year as well.