Ms. Makeba was born in Johannesburg on 4 March 1932 and was a leading figure in the struggle against apartheid.  In 1965 she became the first black African woman to receive a Grammy award, which she shared with Harry Belafonte.

The answer to the first questions is :It depends on your angle and where you choose to focus your lense.   To answer the second question you’d have to follow documentary filmmakers, Andrea Nix Fine and her husband, Sean, to the Patongo Refugee camp in Uganda, where children who have been ravaged by war tell their stories against the  backdrop of a music and performing arts talent competition.

Most of these children have experienced unimaginable horrors; yet their faces shine brightly and the pride in their voices is unmistakable as they tell their stories simply and boldly, without a hint of self pity.

The children of Patongo are competing for the first time in an annual music and performing arts competition.  They are disadvantaged - by our own standards.  After all, all they have are raw talent and some rudimetary tools from which to fashion musical instruments.  Yet, they manage to combine these elements and the natural Ugandan landscape to produce beautiful artistic self-expression.

The human spirit is indomitable.  Poets and philosophers have observed it in themselves and others, and have celebrated it in their writings.  The children of Patongo refuse to let their circumstances - or the filmmakers - define them.  They tell their stories on their own terms.  Their grace and elegance - and beauty- come through, proving (to  paraphrase Albert Camus) that in the midst of winter, there is, in each of us, an invincible summer.

War/Dance won the 2007 Sundance Documentary Directing Award and has been nominated for an Oscar.  It is now in national release.

The event takes place in Philadelphia, PA from July 31 st-August 3rd, 2008. Deadline for submissions is February 29, 2008, so send your submissions in now.

To find out more and to download submission forms, visit www.bwafphilly.org

 The BWAF is a Philadelphia-based community event that promotes and supports black women artists - and their works of all genres and media - regardless of age, gender expression, physical ability, religion, sexual orientation, or size.

If you’re an organization, philanthropist or angel giver and would like to sponsor this event, the BWAF would like to talk to you.  Fiscal and in-kind sponsors much needed and appreciated!  Contact: bwafphilly@yahoo.com or 215-951-0330 ext. 2108

KUKU composed all tracks, recording the 14 songsduring a two-hour evening session in July. The album was recorded, mixed and engineered by his friend, Alexei Tsybine Jendayi, a native of Moscow.

 “It’s a blessing to be playing at the Kennedy Center for a third time – to be mentioned in the same context with a living memorial of its magnitude is a truly a dream,” said KUKU.

Modern soul music hasn’t sounded this good in a long time. On The Absence of Cool, KUKU eschews the standard formula for today’s trendy music, and the result is nothing short of glorious. Taking the road less travelled, KUKU ushers listeners through a suite of unadorned and emotionally-charged songs, incorporating his five-octave vocal range and percussive finger picking guitar style to hypnotically guide them along the way. The album concept asks listeners to stop enslaving themselves to the concept of “cool,” – with cool being the absence of emotion – and instead join him on a musical journey to the raw emotions deep in their souls.

KUKU has been actively touring since 2004, and has played in more than a hundred venues so far in 2007, including: DC’s Blues Alley and Old Post Office Pavilion; New York’s SOB’s; Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia; Philadelphia’s World Café; and the Temple Bar in Los Angeles.

Advance press and media copies of The Absence of Cool are now available.

About KUKU 

KUKU creates music with emphasis on the principle “less is more”. This singer-songwriter’s music draws from the assortment of western and African music he heard growing up in Lagos, Nigeria. His unique brand of soul music, labeled the Afro Soul Acoustic Experience, addresses all human emotions that fall under the universal theme of love. KUKU released his critically-acclaimed full length album, Unexpected Pleasures in 2006, following the success of his popular 2005 Love Sessions EP. Though the majority of his songs are English, fans need no translation to feel the emotional messages when he sings in his native tongue, Yoruba. KUKU’s song “Perfect Reality” is the title track for a Hurricane Katrina Benefit CD (http://secondwindclub.blogspot.com/), and his Untitled Bonus track from Unexpected Pleasures is featured in the 2007 Documentary:Ballou, Senior High School Marching Band ( http://www.balloumovie.com/). In August 2007, KUKU joined the honor list of Essence magazine’s “Do-Right Men”, 60 hardworking and inspiring men who are making a positive difference in the black community.

For more information, to see upcoming show dates and tour updates, and to purchase CDs, visit www.kukulive.com or www.myspace.com/kukumusic.

Thanksgiving is around the corner and you don't want to wait until it's too late to find seats for
the Christmas/New year holiday, especially if you plan to travel overseas.

Make your reservations for your vacation now, to get the best fares. Please don't wait
until the last min. before making your reservations.

Purchase Prepaid tickets for your family and loved ones for their travel from foreign countries. Call and purchase early for the best fares. Looking to get your family (Parents, spouses & children) as well as other relatives, friends, employees and groups the best possible deals
for ease of travel from whichever city they reside in, to any chosen destination, especially to the U.S. and Europe. Deals also available for the Caribbean, S. America, Africa and Mexico.

Are you ready to purchase or just fare shopping for now? Either way, add’l info. is needed in order to give you the most accurate fares for your intended trip. Please forward the below info. (and if ready to purchase) your names will be used to hold seats once they’re confirmed. Also, pls. note that once your seat(s) are confirmed you usually have a limited period to purchase.

1) Name(s) of all travellers (as on passport or Travel documents).
2) Departure & destination cities. (or closest known airport)
3) Stopover city & no. of days (if any).
4) Departure & return dates (pls. note if your dates are flexible).
5) If any children - their ages to qualify for children’s fare (if applicable).
6) If applicable - Your Frequent flier no. once you’ve purchased to accumulate your miles.
Also, pls. forward your contact Tel. no(s). for ease of communication.

The site itself is divided into sections to better find information easily and quickly. Each section will be updated regularly to add new features, emerging artists, and opportunities to get involved in ACAP programs such as Salons, Classes, and Seminars. If you would like to receive email notification of updates and event announcements, please use the Contact link to join the ACAP mailing list.

As an artist, it is such a pleasure to be able to work on a project which is dedicated to arts appreciation and education and building and strengthening community ties. The passion of the people involved in ACAP for sharing the beauty of the African continent and Diaspora is something one sees too rarely and will, hopefully, inspire others to join them in their works. The world can never have too much beauty and understanding.

Thank you again to Kemi and everyone involved with ACAP for allowing me to build your home.

Mich Fisher