Mama G and Flavour Nabania Rock America via AIDS Concert

Article and photos By Deardra Shuler

Nigerian actress Patience Ozokwo was trying to get a few winks after having appeared at the “Live and Lets Live World AIDS” concert in America as part of the SACAIDS organization’s efforts to raise awareness for their work in introducing workshops, providing education and focusing on the plight of AIDS throughout Africa and America in an attempt to combat the deadly disease.

The Save Africa Concert Foundation for AIDS Relief (SAC-AIDS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 in the US and Nigeria with the goal of mobilizing local communities around entertainment as a tool to raise awareness about and prevent HIV/AIDS.

The main mission of SAC-AIDS is to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS through comprehensive prevention programming, utilizing behavior change education as well as entertainment as a form of community mobilization and education "edutainment".

Seizing the opportunity to talk about her work to inform fellow Nigerians and Africans throughout Africa and across the Diaspora about HIV/AIDS, Patience, although exhausted, discussed her efforts to meet and talk with those willing to listen to her lecture about AIDS prevention via use of condoms. She is proud that she has been able to break down some myths and change some uninformed and entrenched mindsets about the lethal disease. Taking one step at a time and via each concert, Patience has been instrumental in overturning the misconceptions and poor hygiene that has allowed the deadly disease to spread.

Although widowed, the beautiful Patience has opened her heart and home by adopting motherless children in an effort to help youth who to a large degree have become helpless victims to the disease. She now has 4 children. She also works with women aiding them in finding job opportunities, uplifting their self-esteem and encouraging them to take greater responsibility for their lives.

“I travel a lot and that is hard because it separates me from my family. I have two smaller children at home so I have nannies but of course it is not the same as being there myself. So every chance I get, I spend with my children. I plan to fly back to Africa this evening but will not go to Nigeria quite yet since I have other engagements. However, once I get home, I hope to stay in Nigeria for a while,” said the exhausted actress as she prepared to head for the airport.

“I have appeared in many movies. Sometimes we work night and day to complete the film which generally we get done in less than two weeks. I enjoy doing films and having a music career but sometimes I miss being able to go shopping or walk down the street without being recognized. Here in America, I can enjoy my anonymity. While there are many Africans in America who recognize me, it’s still nice to go into a store where I can be free to shop and not be recognized like I am in Nigeria,” said the popular singer and AIDS advocate.

Well known as a Nollywood actress who oftentimes plays the villain in her movies, Patience is also a popular singer who sings under the moniker Mama G. Her CDs “National Moi-Moi” and “National Moi-Moi 2” which contains her hit single “Nothing Do You” has enjoyed wide national and international appeal.
Flavour Nabania, the Eastern Nigerian musician known for his track Ashawo (Nwa baby) and songs Nabania, Nwata, and Oyi (I dey catch cold) also joined Ms. Ozokwo at the “Live and Lets Live World AIDS” concert. He talked with this reporter about his music and plans for the future. Mr. Nabania is a newcomer to the business of music having appeared on the music scene in 2008. His career caught fire immediately after he introduced his single “Nwa Baby” as part of his debut album “N’abania.” The album was an instant hit topping charts across Nigeria. His fluency in the dialects of Igbo and Pidgin has enabled his star to shine bright and has given the talented singer an edge over his competition.

“I play highlife music. It’s a form of native African jazz” explained the 27 year old Flavour. “I used to listen to the old music so I take the old and blend it with the new. I can bring Reggae to high life as well as rap and hip hop so my high life is for the new generation. I involve myself with humanitarian projects when I can so it was a pleasure to perform with Mama G at the “Live and Lets Live World AIDS concert on Saturday, November 27th in New York organized by the Save Africa Concert Foundation. I also performed in Dallas on Thursday, November 25 and Friday November 26th in Houston, Texas, as part of the Live and Let Live AIDS World Tour,” explained the international singer concerning his visit to America.

“Recently, in attempting to cross over my music to various markets, I have been shooting videos to support my album “My Woman Is Gone,” said Flavour who has a CD out entitled Flavour Uplifted” and a single entitled “Mo Fire,” which is a fusion of reggae and high life danceable music.

“Music is comprised of so many things. When doing videos you read a script so acting plays a role in my business as well. I sing ballads, fusion and jazz and am known in Europe and throughout the Diaspora. I would like to introduce my music to the American marketplace.

I hope to return to America in February in order to introduce America to my sound,” said Flavour at Kennedy airport as he waited to board his plane.

For those who seek booking information and info about SACAIDS, Mama G, Flavour Nabania, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and other African notables within the TuffGig Entertainment stable of artists, contact Hardy Jimbes at Tuff Gig Entertainment via info@tuffgig.com.

The Legendary Intruders Onstage in Harlem

By Deardra Shuler

On Friday, December 10, the Legendary Intruders got the fans on their feet dancing the night away at the St Marks Church on 138th Street, off Lennox Avenue in Harlem.

The thrill of hearing the group perform prompted the ladies in the audience to yell out their names and asking just to touch their singing idols as Legendary Intruders Mac McKenzie, Lee Bradley, Jubar Jones and Johnny Waiters (aka LJ) sang their hits "I Wanna Know Your Name,"Cowboys to Girls," and "I'll Always Love My Mama," among others.

Wine, sodas, fried chicken and macaroni and potato salads graced the tables of audience members who came out to eat and be entertained and it seemed by their reaction they were sated both musically and gastronomically.

Before the night ended, Legendary Intruder Jubar Jones and Johnny Waiters bowed to customer requests at the legendary Harlem jazz spot "Showmans" on 125th Street off Morningside and St. Nicholas Avenues)by singing "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Since I Fell For You." In fact, so impressed were the owners they engaged the Legendary Intruders to perform at the club in May 2011. We may also catch the group at the world famous Apollo Theatre in May as well.

Fans of the Legendary Intruders can also catch them at the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on January 15, 2011 at the renowned Paradise Theatre in the Bronx. Once the date is confirmed, Boston fans may catch the singers performing during the February 12th Valentine Day weekend. Further info to be announced.

Topically Yours Show with Richard Skipper

Jillian Bullock Show on Topically Yours

http://tobtr.com/s/1139664

Raggae Artist Taj Weekes on Topically Yours

#BlogTalkRadio - http://tobtr.com/s/1123356

Michael Jackson "King of Pop" Tribute on Topically Yours

#BlogTalkRadio - http://tobtr.com/s/1099618

Omosexy Feel Alright

Feel alright with Omosexy!

Feel alright with Omosexy!

Topically Yours -Quincy Troupe

Topically Yours

Quincy Troupe Remembers Miles Davis in “Miles and Me”

By Deardra Shuler
Photo by Jon Stevens

I was young and barely off the farm when I met Miles Davis. He entered my life like a whirlwind scooping up all in his path. I knew him for a summer when he dated my then roommate. His visits could be disconcerting and as a young girl I was unequipped to handle this very complex, complicated and oftentimes paranoid man. His dominant and sometimes harsh and combative personality could cower the fiercest gladiator. However, it was Miles who decided I should work at his record label. Shortly afterwards, I found myself ensconced at the receptionist desk on William Paley's floor at Columbia Records. Miles could be endearing if he liked you. Yet, there was something about his aura that said 'don't mess with me.' Most folks didn't. I was both repelled and in awe of this genius who had chosen to put me in his inner circle wherein he took me on a sometimes fun and sometimes maddening adventure that I now look back on fondly.

I had the pleasure of swapping stories with poet/author/screenwriter Quincy Troupe who wrote “Miles: The Autobiography and his memoirs on Mr. Davis in his book “Miles and Me.” Mr. Troupe is also, the co-author of “The Pursuit of Happyness” with Chris Gardner. “Later Will Smith starred in the movie version of the book,” remarked Troupe. “I also wrote the “Miles and Me” screenplay which is about to go into production starring Samuel L. Jackson. Initially, I suggested Don Cheadle for the Miles role. The filmmakers considered a few actors including Wesley Snipes but at the time Snipes was having problems. Hollywood makes the final decisions and ultimately it comes down to money and who has the greater box office appeal. Laurence Fishburne was approached to play me but he has CSI commitments, so the movie makers may have to go with another actor” commented the St. Louis reared poet who appeared on two PBS television series on poetry: The United States of Poetry and Bill Moyers' The Power of the Word wherein Troupe's segment, “The Living Language,” received a 1990 Emmy Award for Television Excellence.

“Miles was from East St. Louis so I never met him as a youngster although Chuck Berry lived a few blocks from me. I knew Chuck was famous but he used to love young girls. He would occasionally come around the young athletes because we had the prettiest girls. I'd steer my girl out the door whenever I'd see Chuck. He would yell after me “Hey, Young Troupe! Young Troupe. Where you going, Young Troupe? He was funny,” chuckled Quincy tickled by the memory of Chuck Berry trying to steal his high school girlfriend.

“I first became aware of Miles Davis at age 15. I went into this fish joint where I noticed these 4 hip looking guys. They were talking and eating 'jack-salmon' sandwiches and listening to music. Their heads were bopping to the music. They were playing a tune called “Donna” and saying it was by a trumpeter and St. Louis homeboy named Miles Davis. It was my first exposure to jazz. After they left I played the song a few times and I was hooked. I started listening to whatever Miles Davis music I could find. He became my hero. However, it wasn't until 1956 that I first saw Miles play live in a St Louis jazz spot called Peacock Alley. I watched Miles from a distance noticing few were approaching him as he stood at the bar. Then this gushing white couple approached, “stated Quincy. '”Thrilled to meet Miles the white man stuck out his hand and was about to state his name when Miles took off his dark glasses and gave them a withering look followed up with a profanity-laced “get out of my face MF and take yo silly-a__s “B” with you.” I would hear the “MF and “B” word coming from Miles many times during the course of our friendship, sometimes even directed toward me. Miles could be very jealous regarding women, complicated and paranoid. He was also generous, loyal and comical. He loved boxing, sports and respected musicians such as Clark Terry, Hugh Masekela, Santana, Monk, Charlie Parker, Sly Stone, Prince and Michael Jackson.

"There were quite a few musicians Miles respected but Mick Jagger wasn't one of them. Miles told me that one day Mick showed up at his house unannounced. Miles came to the door and Mick was standing there. Mick said “Hi, Miles. “I'm Mick Jagger.” Miles said “So, what!” and slammed the door in Mick's face.” recalled the Peabody Award winner.

“The first time I had a chance to actually talk to Miles was at my friend Leo's party. Miles was sitting by himself so I took a seat nearby. We actually exchanged a few pleasantries and then Miles got up and said “Later,” and left the party. It wasn't long after I saw him in the street and greeted him but Miles kept walking and completely ignored me. I was with a girlfriend who I had told I knew Miles. Then Miles just dissed me. It was embarrassing. When I had the occasion to see him again I asked him why he had treated me like that. Miles replied with a profanity laced sentence that amounted to he didn't have to speak to me every time he saw me. He then walked away leaving me hurt and confused. After that I stayed away from Miles until I was commissioned to write his autobiography.

“It was while writing his autobiography that we became true friends and remained friends until his death. My wife Margaret and I truly loved Miles and he loved us. I noticed Miles was getting sick. He became secretive about his illness. Later, Miles admitted he was taking AZT as part of his medication,” said Quincy.

To hear more about Quincy and Miles' friendship listen to my “Topically Yours” show on Blogtalkradio.com via the BlakeRadio network or see http://writeblog-deardra.blogspot.com/