Visages - Art in Remembrance by Joseph C. Randall

"Madiba"



"Thurgood"



"Brown Bomber"



"Baldwin"



"This is NOT Mogadishu"


Joseph C. Randall's art will be featured in the spring edition of Aesthetics 6250 A.U. and of course on the Arts and Aesthetics Collective site.

Afrakans in the United States of America History Month - Profiles Part 3

Egbé Ijoba Maroon Kilombo - Society

Founded in 1997, Egbé Ijoba Maroon Kilombo has a distinguished history of service both to the Òrìsà and Afrakan community. Our programs are multidimensional and include not only worship experiences that are unique in Afrakan life but also activities that are social, educational and communal in nature.

Most significant is the fact that we are a kilombo (community) and that we take with great seriousness what we feel is a special responsibility to pursue sovereignty and righteous living on the personal, family and kilombo level. Guided by tradition on the one hand, and by necessity and creativity on the other, we offer avenues of approach to Afrakan life and ritual in a manner that supports, strengthens and sustains personal needs, as well as the collective commitment of our membership.

Ultimately, our kilombo is founded on and dedicated to a sustainable community concept of sovereignty and righteous living. Our mission consists of three (3) interrelated parts:

1. Personal- to create an safe environment where ReAfrakanization (Rediscovery, Redefinition and Revitalization) occurs and where people can live and develop fully as human beings.

2. Family- to facilitate the formation, maintenance and growth of healthy, holistic and functional families.

3. Community- to pursue full, uncompromised sovereignty for Sankofaman (Afrakan World Community).


For more info visit: Egbesankofa.org

Afrakans in the United States of America History Month - Profiles Part 2

Ijoba Shule - Private School

The Ijoba Shule's mission is to teach students to be responsible handlers of power in service to the Divine, nation, community and family. We believe that a life is meaningless unless it is lived in service to something greater than oneself, hence one of our school mottos: Not for oneself alone.

There are four (4) major tenets that support our mission:

1. Character/moral development
2. A values-based, demanding, but nurturing academic environment
3. Development of a strong, positive Afrakan identity
4. Nation-building mindset

Traditionally educated in a nurturing but challenging environment, Ijoba Shule students radiate confidence. The foundation for students development is the Yoruba concept of "Amaluwabi," which weaves together year-by-year and subject-by-subject the components of an Ijoba Shule education. Studies in music, dance, art and various languages are offered in the lower grades and gain rigor and nuance as our students mature. Math and Science move from acquiring facts to mentally challenging theories that require proof. Values and the character they impact are nurtured grade-by-grade.


In addition to our character-building and academic mission, The Ijoba Shule, as an outgrowth of Ile Iwa-Pele (House of Gentle Character) spiritual community, is fully committed to the sentiments and practices of traditional Afrakan values, which are integral to the life of the school and our community. The traditional influence manifests itself daily in the practice of libation, ancestral remembrance and respect and Pan-Afrakan confraternity to name a few. The Shule is under the care of Egbe Ijoba.

We trace our roots to the existence of the nations first segregated post-Bellum, one-room schoolhouses through to the growth of Independent Black Institutions (IBI) in the 1960s and 70s. We opened our doors for instruction in Fall 2005.

For more info visit: Ijobashule.org

Afrakans in the United States of America History Month - Profiles Part 1

Odunde Festival

ODUNDE, has gained a reputation as one of Philadelphia's brightest cultural jewel. The word ODUNDE originates with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa. It means "Happy New Year". The ODUNDE festival is an occasion marked by joy and hope, a joy which is highlighted by a colorful procession to the Schuylkill River (at noon) where offerings of fruits and flowers are made to Oshun, the Goddess of the River. The religion, called IFA, embraced by the Yoruba people is very old. It involves the worship of one God and 401 orishas. Included in its three tiers of worship is “ancestor remembrance” in the offering of libations, divinations and other such acts.
OSHUN is one of the orishas worshiped in the Ifa religion. She is one of the youngest orishas and is a female energy. As orisha of the river, she represents beauty, vanity, sensuality and attractiveness. Everyone is invited to participate in the revered processional to the river.
The offerings to OSHUN is one of the sacred aspects of ODUNDE, During the processional to the river praise is given to all orishas, in the Yoruba language, especially to OSHUN. Oriki, (songs) are sung in a particular order with the BATA, special two headed drums used only for special occasions.

Once the processional reaches the bridge, incantations and prayers are offered in Yoruba. The Priest or Priestess ask OSHUN if our offerings are acceptable. Once a positive response is interpreted participants are given instructions to make their offerings.

For more info visit: Odundefestival.org

PKDG 2K11 SAVE THE DATE: What's New with Aesthetics Magazine?

Aesthetics 6250 A.U. is open for submissions!

In 2K11 PKDG's Arts and Aesthetics Collective is doing something new with Aesthetics Magazine. In addition to receiving submissions for art and fashion we are now accepting prose. Articles, essays, poetry etc. So spread the word. For more info and to see past issues, see the link below.

Aesthetics 6250 A.U. - afrakan axis. expression unlimited.

http://pyakule.com/magazine.html

Black Panther the Animated Series Now Available on DVD

Myself, several friends and a cousin purchased the dvd on the first day. Everyone loved it, even the ones not into comic books. The music video was fantastic. We wanted a longer version of the song and now we have it. Reg's interview was spot on and a welcomed special feature. I constantly watch the trailer and have viewed all the episodes half a dozen times. Love the cover inside and out as well as the dvd label. I've waited a long time for the Black Panther to have a cartoon and this was worth the wait.


Here's the trailer. The DVD is availabble January 18th 2011. Next stop, live action feature length film.

Kwanzaa at a Glance

Kwanzaa, created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and celebrated from December 26 through January 1, reflects an ancient tradition of first harvest celebrations, and is a time for "ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration." The celebration was created in part to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people. It was designed to be an ingathering to strengthen community and reaffirm common identity, purpose and direction as a people and a world community. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one so it is available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths.

Kwanzaa promotes the seven following principles:

1) Umoja (unity)

2) Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)

3) Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)

4) Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

5) Nia (Purpose)

6) Kuumba (Creativity)

7) Imani (Faith)

This stress on the Nguzo Saba is an emphasis on the importance of African communitarian values in general, which stress family, community and culture and speak to the best of what it means to be African in the fullest sense. They are a foundational value system for building family, community and maintaining culture.

5 Easy Ways to Celebrate Kwanzaa

1. Griots and djembes:

Invite Afrakan storytellers, musicians, and artists to your gathering to inspire your guests as they eat aperitifs and mingle.

2. Take Kwanzaa on the road:

On each day of Kwanzaa get together with your friends, coworkers or gather up the little ones to demonstrate that particular principle for the benefit of others. For example, on the day of Ujima promote a clothing & canned food drive door to door in your neighborhood to benefit underprivileged youth or the elderly of your community. Remember to wear traditional African garb, and say "asante sana" after they load up your baskets.

3. Our ancestors - the first ones to reap any harvest:

There would be no harvest for us without the hard work of those who nourished our parents, grandparents and so on in order for our families to continue. Honor the efforts and challenges of our forbearers by fasting on only fruit and water from noon to sunset each day. On the final day, walk in silence with your family to a body of water and offer fruit as you all call out the names of cherished loved ones who came before.

4. Wisdom of the old ways:

In many African traditions, a child's purpose and challenges are determined while it is still in it's mother's womb. This way the family can prepare to give that child what it needs to succeed and fulfill it's mission. It is never too late to realign with one's purpose. On the day of Nia, consider having a qualified priest/ess perform a reading for each of your family's members and for you all as one family whole. Take heed of and take pride in the wisdom you gain.

5. A feast fit for royally:

On the final day, have a grand feast featuring traditional African foods and preparations. After dinner, watch an African-centerd film like Quilombo or a Warm December. Listen to the music of Fela Kuti or Miriam Makeba. Enjoy each other as you light the final candle and committ to another year of cultural, familial and community-wide adherence to the Nguzo Saba.

Sherekea limbuka!

Enjoy the fruits of your celebration!

Remember to set up your Kwanzaa alter. Click here for the procedure: Lighting the Kinara and more

Referenced from Dr. Maulana Karenga and the

officialkwanzaawebsite.org