Howard Magazine

I wrote a piece about the SABS Fellowship in the Summer 2010 issue of Howard Magazine. Check me out on page 22.

http://howardmagazine.idigitaledition.com/issues/6/

Note: The end states that I am a Maryland based writer which, of course, is not true.

Wavin' Flag ... for Coca-Colanization?

K'naan's 2009 album Troubadour and its breakout international hit, "Wavin' Flag" solidified the the artist as a viable, and profitable, mainstream artist. Coca-Cola even took notice of the opus and chose a commissioned a remixed version to use as part of their global integrated marketing campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

"Wavin' Flag" has earned the Somalian-born and Canadian-bred, K'naan Warsame, considerable recognition. It has garnered two Juno awards (the Canadian Grammys), a big corporate paycheck, an accompanying world tour, and international attention. Just what every musician wants right?

But what about his message?

K'naan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia during a civil war. He witnessed the treachery or war first-hand, even losing a close cousin to the carnage. When listening to his music one can easily hear his messages of struggle, war, poverty, hardship, and triumph. To me, his lyrics often chronicle the hidden, ugly truths of the human condition; especially those of the marginalized.

Although K'naan doesn't claim to an activist, many would say his art speaks for itself. Some have classified his work as protest poetry or rebel music and some have even likened him to Bob Marley.

To add to that, K'naan chose to speak out about the issue of Somalian piracy. Although he did not necessarily defend the piracy he criticized the West for causing the conditions that spurred the piracy and not including that in their coverage.

"The major issue that the west is missing context for what is going on, and it’s very easy to have CNN talk about these lunatic pirates, the menace to society […] hostage taking is illegal and inhumane, we get all of that,” K'naan said to RFI. "Give the Somali people some credit, listen to the complaints they have about, not just the loss of their fishing industry, but also the dumping of nuclear toxic waste, that we believe is taking place"

Given the background info on who K'naan is as an artist I am forced to wonder about his decision to participate in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign. The same company that serves as a worldwide symbol of the West, westernization and Cocacolanization. The same company that was sued for racial discrimination (The Washington Post). The same company that did business with Hitler and the Nazis during WWII and used forced laborers in Nazi occupied territories (New Statesman, Snopes). The same company that has been accused of contributing to water shortages and declining water quality in India (Wall Street Journal).

I'm not condemning K'naan or calling him a sell-out, I'm simply stating that it seems that partnering with Coca-Cola is contrary to the messages of his music.

What are your thoughts?

Seven Thousand Pt. 2 (Your Reactions)

I would really like to hear from you all. I would like to see your reactions. Please comment below or email me at JoshThomas2@gmail.com and I can add your comment myself. Thanks

The remark below is from my mother who witnessed this situation first hand when my family visited me here recently.

"I believe that every child that comes into the world should have enough food to eat, a safe place to sleep, an opportunity to grow and thrive, but most of all someone to protect and love them. I am saddened whenever I see the evidence of how short we are in meeting these basic responsibilities for any child ... My heart aches for all children who are left behind. " - Bari E. Thomas

PLEASE add your own comments below or email me at JoshThomas2@gmail.com

Seven Thousand

Roughly seven thousand young boys roam the streets of Dakar, Senegal and many other West African cities as talibés. Many families who can’t afford to educate their sons properly in Islam entrust their young boys to holy men known as maribouts. The children, beginning at age five or six, go to live with their new leaders where they are to learn the Qu’ran in exchange for labor. However, many of these maribout take advantage of the boys, forcing them to do hard labor, forcing them to beg for money daily, doling out harsh beatings to those who don’t bring in enough money and neglecting their Islamic studies.

Seven Thousand: A Sonnet for Talibés

Parents wish a better life for their sons

Knowledge of the Qu’ran is the mission

To the maribout go the little ones

To begging, beating, and malnutrition

Education is a lie, truth’s blood-stained

Suffering is the life of the betrayed

Human trafficking, the name of the chains

This is not the life for which parents prayed

Seven thousand boys in Dakar alone

Blasphemous perversion leaves these victims

Seven thousand victims so far from home

Their voices cry out, but will you listen?

Seven thousand souls have been lead astray

For freedom I pray, little talibés

Familiar Fellowship Pt. 1

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper. It won't work. God will do what He said he's gonna do. He will stand by his word. He will come through."

The words from Fred Hammond's "No Weapon" eminated from my iPod as I walked through my neighborhood, dust swirling at my feet. A slight breeze and the shade of the buildings gave me refuge from the rising West African sun as I journeyed.

On this particular Sunday morning I, along with another SABS Fellow, was headed to the International Baptist Church of Dakar for the first time. In Senegal most of the population is of the Islamic faith and the few Christian services are presented in the nation's official language of French. Needless to say, when I heard about a baptist church (5 points!) with an English service (10 points!) calling me excited would have been an understatement.

As I continued on my path I sudden revelation - I was completely at peace. There wasn't a single
worry in my mind, not a care in my world. All of the frustrations, issues and anxieties had been nullified. An overwhelming sense of joy, that I know only He can provide, overtook me and I was, for the first time in a long time, completely at peace.

Mach'Allah! (may God maintain it!)

"Who Say I Don't Rep, I am Naija All Day"

Naija (adj) slang: of or from Nigeria, a person from Nigeria.

For a while now I have felt an inexplicable connection to Nigeria. I've been drawn to Nigeria by means of food, music, general culture, and, especially people. Some of my best friends are of Nigerian heritage (check out Fabulous Brown Girl and The Manifesto) and one of my best friends in Senegal, Gerald, is from Nigeria.

A few weeks ago Gerald made me an honorary Nigerian for all the reasons stated above but more recently an event took place that caused him to erase the honorary qualifier.

We were having lunch at a Nigerian restaurant here in Dakar, as we often do because I love Naija food, when another patron entered. He greeted everyone then asked me a question in Nigerian Pidgin. When I understood his query and responded Gerald and another friend, Harrison, were both shocked. Although I answered in English and not in Pidgin, they were surprised that I was able to comprehend and participate in the conversation.

In response to this Gerald said that I must have Nigerian ancestry. He stated that Nigeria lives in me, although I don't have a direct bloodline that can be traced. That really meant a lot.

Don't take this wrong. I'm not claiming to be Nigerian but, as an African American with a lost history and heritage, I hold that validation in high esteem and am truly appreciative of it.

"Who say I don't rep, I am Naija all day" - Wale

Black Butterfly

I decided I wanted to post a song for Valentine's Day then I realized that I hadn't yet acknowledged Black History Month. It must have slipped my mind due to being here among the majority and in a culture that, generally, doesn't recognize the month-long celebration. (Although some do take part.)

So I figured I'd chose a song that could both relay an uplifting message in line with Black History Month as well as relay a message of love, albeit not one of romance. Anyway, I think "Black Butterfly" by Deniece Williams gets the job done.

Enjoy!

Shouts to all those associated with Les Meres et Debutantes Club of Greater Lansing's 2004 Cotillion!