Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Eu amo Cabo Verde
I've spent the last week on holiday in Cape Verde in Africa. I stayed on the island of Sal in Santa Maria. It is my favourite holiday so far, it was an amazing, intense, vivid experience. Cape Verdians are astonishingly good looking people, naturally so and really show the diversity of Africa. They speak Portuguese and Creole and have a saying "No stress no stress" And it really was like that, I can't remember the last time I felt so relaxed. I had so much fun. Cape Verde attracts people from all corners of Africa, Senegalese craftsmen,Nigerian artists and shop owners,people from Guinea Bissau as well as the French, the Italians and other internationals. I saw some fantstic sights, a mirage and a volcanic island amongst other things. You can surf, kite surf,wind surf, snorkel, go deep sea diving. I watched the fishermen on the pier with their huge catches, slicing them open.Watched black water babies, young black boys riding the waves at the beaches with surf boards and skim boards. I loved wondering the interconnected streets with brightly coloured houses and the smell of traditionally cooked Cape Verdian meals wafting through the air. The people were very friendly and I was really sad to leave. I felt so at home but then I always do in Africa instantly, it's a connection that's wired into me. There was that duality of being a city girl yet finding myself adapting to island life so easily.
Shine bright
So so proud of Ghana, they carry the weight of Africa's expectations on their shoulders and are doing great in the 2010 world cup. The Black Stars are shining! Go go go Ghana! On a side note, Kevin Prince Boateng(guy on the left) is hot, yes shameless objectification is allowed! Loving Asamoah Gyan's presence and dancing on the pitch!
Monday, 7 June 2010
For Colored Girls
Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf is one of my favourite pieces of text exploring black female identity in all it's intricacies and guises. This dramatic series of prose poems also had an award winning run on Broadway in the 70's. The good news is:it's being made into a film, the bad new is:Tyler Perry's behind it.Yes, the lord giveth and taketh away. Now I'm pleased about the success Tyler Perry has had as a director, his story is inspiring and I like the way he's carved his own niche despite the hollywood machine. However, I don't rate his work. I really hope he does this seminal play the justice it deserves when bringing it to the screen.On a side note, the woman on the book cover image looks a lot like India Arie, it's uncanny. I think India has been cast in the movie and it will be good to see her on the screen again.