Queen Rania demystifies being Muslim
Need we say more? Here is an example of the kind of leadership we all need more of. Jordan’s beautiful Queen Rania invites the world to ask her questions about being Muslim. Simple. Watch the video to understand the power of opening up communication, promoting understanding and demystifying that which we have been TAUGHT to fear. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFf897bUW2Y[/youtube]
South Africans, Let’s find our way. Today.
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to make the world a better place. A good starting point is always with ourselves and the question today must be, South Africans, “have we lost our way”? It seems like these days we’re more self-serving, selfish and self-centered than ever, chasing the buck, looking after number one and forgetting all about those around us, never mind those in need. These thoughts may seem negative, particularly from a website that promotes positivity, but we have to be realistic about where we are at, in order to move forward we must stop tip-toeing around issues, face facts , expose and communicate our truth. (For various reasons it is necessary to spell out that our call to action is based largely on the world which we know, which is the pulsing, moving, exciting, edgy, hectic, crazy big African city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Most Represent readers will know that already. Ed) Since when did we stop being AWARE and responsible? When did we stop caring about our human and political rights, about our neighbours, about our future? When did we stop being optimistic, when did we decide that it wasn’t our issue, that we’re prepared to give away our power, give away our rights, give up on our potential, our promise and a bright future for everyone? Why are we so de-politicized, leaving it all up to someone else, choosing to rather be placid, uninvolved and disinterested, then complaining, blaming and pointing fingers at every chance? Why do we accept to live a mediocre life and allow the MAJORITY of our people to continue to live in a horrific trap of poverty, violence and hopelessness? How did we let that happen? We have EVERYTHING we need to make our country the place we want it to be, talent, passion, people, inventiveness, resources, natural beauty, diversity, potential and a great sense of humour – everything we need is here. But we have lost our way. When I look around me at so-called ‘intelligent, educated citizens’ and listen to some of the things that come out of their mouths, I feel like shouting “WAKE UP”! But freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy and so I either swallow my frustration or on the odd occasion, when I have the energy, waste some of it challenging them. For I do believe that most people are good, many have had no guidance or lost their way, some have no backbone, no integrity and little vision, but most people are good. The saddest thing for me is to see just how successful the brain-washing tactics...
BLANK in April
Blank has a blog, they also have various events planned for April… Wednesday 9 April – Friday 9 May ONS SKRIK VIR NIKS – Studio 2666 (group exhibition) The first group show by the 12 artists from Studio 266. Be afraid. Visit the blog for more info: www.studio2666.blogspot.com Friday 11 April (18h00) THE END – Closing event for Jeremy Purén. Don’t miss the closing of this off-beat shenanigan! The watermelons are hitting the (proverbial) fan(s), Wednesday 16 April – Friday 19 April Daniel Glaser/ Magdalena Kunz Daniel and Magdalena is a Swiss artist-couple working in photographic media – currently the BLANK/Pro Helvetia artists-in-residence. Voices, the new project by Swiss artists Daniel Glaser and Magdalena Kunz, is a verbal geography that gives a voice to people to talk about their hopes and fears. At blank Glaser/Kunz will show a Talking Head, one of their video sculptures. For more info: www.blankprojects.blogspot.com blank projects 198 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town Tel: 072 198 9221 Email: blankprojects@gmail.com by...
For the makers of Mixtapes
To all naysayers who thought mixtapes were a thing of the past, na na na na nah. We present the fabulous Muxtape. “A simple way to create mixtapes” Need we say more? Read all about Muxtape at...
Represent is Loving: Muhsinah
We have our money on US singer, producer and DJ “Muhsinah”. Three words for this fresh-faced newcomer: Ethereal. Unusual. Offbeat. We’ll let you do the rest of the discovering. We recommend “Wonders” from her just released “day.break 2.0”. Listen. MySpace. or Watch. Muhsinah will apparently go on tour to the UK in April. Lucky things. MUHSINAH Pronounced [mu•sē•nə] – Singer, producer, vigilante, lover, dreamer. Having landed on the musical radar like some kind of a phantom battleship, this Washington D.C. native continues to fires away at us, sinking nay-sayers and making a name for herself at a rate which some might consider alarming. Appearing on a slew of independent releases this year, Muhsinah has earned each and every title that’s been thrown her way- engineer/producer/composer/singer/songwriter/arranger/inspiration and the like. Contrary to popular misconception, Muhsinah was not dropped off on this planet by some enigmatic cosmic force; she hitched a ride on her own star. Incontrovertibly born a slave to the rhythm, this classically trained pianist has spent countless hours honing her skills, banging on velocity sensitive pads and brushing the dust from neatly stacked records; well worn relics, left behind from her mother’s days as a dj. With influences spanning from classical to psychedelic, jazz to world and back, the freshly transplanted Brooklyn resident has gained a newfound appreciation for space and the sound within the space. day.break – The official debut from the 24 year old phenom, is a culmination of these sounds. Entirely self-produced, day.break is in a sense a heartfelt homage to her inspirations, filled with thoughtful compositions and inspired wordplay. Often times, snatching inspiration right out of the air, Muhsinah employs whatever sonic element she sees fit to complete her hip hop braised, soul compositions which appear to fall perfectly on the tastier side of experimental. “A.M.” is our introduction to day.break. With it’s swirling harp solo, reminiscent of jazz great Alice Coltrane, Muhsinah’s layers her signature reverse vocal like a golden short-stack luring us to a dream-like state where are handed this breakfast in bed… which is swiftly snatched from under our chins by a morning alarm. We are awakened to “Reconstrut”, taken from day.break bonus track, “Reconstruction”, a remix of “Construction” from Muhsinah’s self-released – The Oscillations EP of 2005. It is at this point that Muhsinah’s growth as an artist should be marked, as she exhibits her ability to reinvision “classic hip hop” as “progressive future soul”. Leaving behind the key elements the made “Construction” a song adored by fans across the board, she manages to float ethereal vocals over rotund basslines and Rhodes-like roads in a way that makes the new version...
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