Wanda's Picks

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!

First guest: Byb Chanel Bibene, San Francisco, CA Artistic Director and Choreographer for his company Kiandanda Dance Theatre. He was born and raised in the Republic of Congo where his technical and aesthetic sensibility is rooted.  As a survivor of the civil wars that tore apart the Congo in the 1990’s, Bibene is creating a theater piece titled, Taboo and Heroes, that explores the subject of victims of war and the lack of freedom of expression due to irresponsible dictatorial powers and the neo-colonial influences of western powers. The point of this project, combining dance, theater, music and video, is intended to lead people to pay more attention to what is going on in the world because a collective effort can help find solutions and lead to a better life on earth, ecologically, socially, politically and humanly. Guest 2: Muisi-kongo Malonga - Oakland, CA Solo Performance, is a talented dancer, choreographer and instructor deeply rooted in the traditions of Central Africa.  As one of the next generation’s

Fela, the musical is coming to town, Oakland, to be exact, June 4-9.  Today we speak to Melanie Marshall, who is wonderful in her depiction of "Funmilayo," Fela Kuti's mother. Ann Chinn joins us once again to update us on The Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project which is hosting an ancestral remembrance ceremony in Yorktown, VA on Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 8:00-9:30am on the waterfront. During this event the first marker associated with its efforts to mark Middle Passage arrival ports in the US will be unveiled. The organization is formally honoring and remembering more than 31,500 Africans who arrived in the York River District between 1698-1771 and the contributions of their descendants in creating this nation. We also are honoring the approximately 4,000 Africans who perished during these ocean voyages to the York River. Steven Anthony Jones, artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco, joins us to discuss the 1-Voice 1-Play 1-Day 1 Fundraiser for 27 black theatres natio

Sunday afternoon, July 7, 2013,  I was with journalists at the Zanzibar international Film Festival where the Dhow countries are celebrated and its people united in a shared legacy connected by land and more importantly sea, the Indian Ocean. We spoke about journalism in the region and specifically new media, such as Internet radio and social networking media like Twitter and Facebook, Linkedin and so on. The workshop went well, but there was no Internet so I was unable to broadcast live that day as planned. I am uploading the interview with Screen Writer & Director: Jinna Mutune whose film LEO screened yesterday afternoon. Tonight is closing night at ZIFF. Believe it or not, the sun is setting and it is almost 7 p.m. (obviously written that day.) LEO is a charming and beguiling adult fairy-tale set in Nairobi, a Metropolitan City in Kenya that is a melting pot of East African culture, art, politics and commerce. It is a story about Maasai boy, raised in a low-income home, achieving his dream against al

We open today with a conversation with Marcus Shelby, an award-winning musician and composer, is highly renowned and sought after for his discography, his theatrical and film scoring, and his music for ballet and dance.  His empathy as a human being who understands the impact of social justice for all Americans will propel the writing of original music for Gwah Guy:Crossing the Street.Gwah Guywill musically explore poignant memories from Edward K. Wong aka Baby Jack, Flo Oy Wong’s husband.  Ed Wong lived in Augusta, Georgia at the time of segregation when Chinese Americans were identified as "honorary whites."  The June 7 and 8 performances at ODC Dance Center in San Francisco, will also include memories of Flo Oy Wong's childhood in Oakland California's Chinatown near West Oakland, the historical district where many African Americans resided.  Marcus will compose original music inspired by Flo Oy Wong's literary re-imagining of her husband's Southern childhood experiences and actor Peter Macon will narrate.

We open with an interview with Bay Area playwright and activist, Regina Evans. Ms. Evans speaks to us about her one woman show at DivaFest in San Francisco June 1, 8 p.m. and later in the year the full production is a part of the San Francisco Fringe Festival.  Bio: Regina Y. Evans is a Poet, Playwright and Social Justice Performer. She volunteers as a Modern Day Abolitionist in the fight against Sex Trafficking.  Ms. Evans is a published Writer, and the Author of the poetry books Nonnie and The Butterfly, Unlatched Mosaic, and Nothing Cool About Ten. She is the writer of Echo: A Poetic Journey into Justice, a stage play bringing awareness to the issue of trafficking. Echo has played to sold out performances in Berkeley and San Francisco, Ca. The play caught the notice of President Barack Obama who confirmed his support of the effort through a personal White House phone call in 2011.   http://www.divafest.info/  June 1, 2013, 8 p.m.; Fringe Festival Sept. 6-21, 2013 http://www.sffringe.org/wordpress/52-2/ S

  Fela, the musical is coming to town, Oakland, to be exact, June 4-9.  Today we speak to Melanie Marshall, who is wonderful in her depiction of "Funmilayo," Fela Kuti's mother. Ann Chinn joins us once again to update us on The Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project which is hosting an ancestral remembrance ceremony in Yorktown, VA on Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 8:00-9:30am on the waterfront. During this event the first marker associated with its efforts to mark Middle Passage arrival ports in the US will be unveiled. The organization is formally honoring and remembering more than 31,500 Africans who arrived in the York River District between 1698-1771 and the contributions of their descendants in creating this nation. We also are honoring the approximately 4,000 Africans who perished during these ocean voyages to the York River. Steven Anthony Jones, artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco, joins us to discuss the 1-Voice 1-Play 1-Day 1 Fundraiser for 27 black theatres na

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the writing, visual and performing arts of African people in the Diaspora. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work filled with raw unfettered passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay! Remember to tune in on Wednesdays from 6 AM PST to 7 or 8 AM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 10 AM. We also host special broadcasts from time to time.

We are joined in the studio for a special broadcast this afternoon to speak to Jenna Kozel, consumer security advocate at Lookout, a security technology company located in San Francisco and Anbu Anbalagapandian, Senior Software Engineer at Lookout, to talk about  Charity:water is a non-profit organization that's been bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations since 2006. Lookout is a company of hackers who create software that protects people and their most sensitive data from mobile threats. Lookout believes in "Hacking for Good" and is committed to supporting charitable projects, like Charity:Water that use technology to have an impact on the world. On Wed., May 22 at 9:00PM, Lookout is hosting a benefit concert for Charity:Water featuring Meklit Hadero. All proceeds will go to a Charity:Water project in Ethiopia. About Melkit Hadero: Born in Ethiopia and raised in San Francisco, Meklit's music influences range wide — from the jazz and soul favorites she grew up on; to the hip-ho

Quinn DeVeaux, from Gary, Indiana, has packed houses and astounded audiences in the bay area for years with his smooth and dirty spank you voice and cool melodic songwriting. First he started an early Chicago Blues band and then a New Orleans soul and gospel band. Both groups had audiences clamoring for more. Now he has combined it all in the Blue Beat Review a self-styled crossroads of his many musical roots.Next Marin Shakespeare Company's Lesley Schisgall Currier joins us to talk about inmates at San Quentin State Prison who will have the rare opportunity to see fifteen of their peers performing in Shakespeare's problematic comedy "The Merchant of Venice," a play about commerce, love, revenge, and mercy. Under the direction of Currier and Suraya Keating, the actors have been studying the play, creating characters, learning lines, practicing fight choreography, and preparing for the performance for the past 8 months. The lead role of Shylock will be undertaken by inmate Luke Padgett, who has appeared in pre

Today we celebrate the life and legacy ofEl Hajj Malik El Shabazz with muscian, Steve Wilson, activist and MOVE member Ramona Africa with poet/teacher, Malcolm Shabazz Hoover; filmmaker, writer, educator, Chike Nwoffiah; and professor, historican, Manu Ampim. We feature the music of Soulfege. The event honoring Judi Bari, that Ramona Africa speaks of in her interview is Sunday, May 23, 7 PM at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705 USA. The event is hosted by Revolutionary Ecology Earth First! and Headwaters Coalition and is free though donations are accepted. It is in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the bomb atack on Earth First! activist Judi Bari with speakers, music & film. Sponsored by Earth First and Headwaters coalition. For more info: 510-548-3113.. We open with music from Meklit & Quinn's Bring it Home to Me and Robert Glasper's Double Booked/Butterfly. 

We open with Dr. Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, author, visual artist, drummer, and Zen Buddhist priest, lives in Oakland, CA where she teaches at The East Bay Meditation Center and leads a small practice group in her home. She was ordained by Blanche Hartman and her priest training is being guided by Abbess Kiku Christina Lehnherr. Her book Tell Me Something About Buddhism (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2011) includes a foreword written by Thich Nhat Hanh, with poetry and illustrations by Zenju Earthlyn. She is also the author of the Black Angels Cards. Monica Anderson,  the founder and owner of Sankofa Events Project Management. www.SankofaEvents.com joins us to celebrate the successful Oakland premiere of Shola Lynch's Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners, this past Tuesday. Our next guest Mia Pascal is a woman with many talents. She joins us to talk about her 30 minute solo piece,  "Heartbreak Velocity", in two group shows, one at DIVAFest in San Francisco, week 2, May 18, 8 p.m. at the Exit Theatre on Eddy,

We rebroadcast an archival interview with Wadada Leo Smith speaking about 10 Freedom Summers, a musical survey of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time of the interview it wasn't available. Now it is. Rene Marie speaks about Voices of My Beautiful County from an interview broadcast taped on June 29, 2011. Music: Wadada Leo Smith's "Spirtual Light," "Don't You Remember"; The Pyramids's "What the World Needs Now"; Robert Glasper's "Butterfly" from Double Booked; Rene Marie selections  from Voices of My Beautiful Country. 

We open with an archived interview from two years ago with Rachelle Farrell, who is in town this weekend, May 3-5 on both sides of the bay. Visit yoshis.com Today we speak to playwright Beverly Brown about the encore production this weekend at El Cerrito Theatre of her fourth gospel play For Every Mountain. The play features talented Bay Area actors, musicians and vocalists in her depiction of a modern day "Job" who is facing mental and emotional issues in today’s society.  Job was a man in the bible who faced tremendous loss and a great trying of his faith. Through an unimaginable mental and emotional journey with his Maker, Job emerged stronger and with everything in his life multiplied.  He is often credited with teaching us the patience.  For Every Mountain is edgy, provocative and sometimes humorous with dialogue that addresses the serious issues of mental and emotional disorders. Visit www.totallyled.org Music: Rachelle Ferrell's "I Can Explain" ;Victoria Theodore's title track from her Grafeful CD; Ami

We had a conversation with dir. Kalyanee Mam about her latest film, A River Changes Course, screening at the 56th Annual SFIFF this year. The film won the World Doc Award this year and is up for a Golden Gate Award as well.

We open with Gina Breedlove, who will talk about her new CD and concert, Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Berkeley at Freight and Salvage. Visit http://www.ginabreedlove.com/ ; next we speak to Jacque Barnes, a Bay Area Keeper of the Culture AfroBrazialian style who is recovering from open heart surgery. There is a benefit for her medical expenses Sat., April 27, 7-9 show; 10-2 party, at BrasArte Casa de Cultura, 1901 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley:  ww.brasarte.com  We then shift to speak to Dr. Gabriela Lena Frank (composer) and Nilo Cruz (Pulitzer Prize winning playwright) about the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra performance of the World Premiere of Journey of the Shadow, Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28 in various venues, the first, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., 8 p.m. Visit www.sfchamberorchestra.org We close with a prerecorded conversation with Victoria Theodore, pianist, composer, who is featured with her trio at the Oakland Public Conservatory's Music SHE Wrote benefit for OPC's youth who also perform, Friday

It's all about the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival April 25-May 9, 2013. We speak to director of programming Rachel Rosen and a new director, Jeremy Teicher about his first feature: Tall as the Baobab Tree.  Jeremy Teicher, Director / Co-Producer / Co-writer, is a Student Academy Award-nominated director whose first feature film, Tall as the Baobab Tree (Grand comme le Baobab)   (2012), is garnering acclaim from festivals around the world. Tall as the Baobab Tree won the “Best Feature Narrative” award from the Doha-Giffoni jury at Doha-Tribeca Film Festival and was ranked in the top 20 out of over 170 feature films by audience vote at International Film Festival Rotterdam. Tall as the Baobab Tree is inspired by Jeremy’s ground breaking documentary short, This is Us (2011), which was awarded a prestigious Lombard Public Service Fellowship, supported by Kodak, and earned Jeremy a nomination for a Student Academy Award. Rachel Rosen is the director of programming for the San Francisco Film Society

We open with a rebroadcast of our interview with Keith Josef Adkins on his latest play, The Patron Saint of Peanuts, which honors George Washington Carver; we then shift to an interview airedd two years ago with Camille T. Dungy, editor of black nature: Four Centuries of African Nature Poetry. We then celebrate with author Judy Juanita the publication of her forst novel, Virgin Soul. The novel is a tour de force featuring Geneice Hightower who takes us on a journey through the Black Arts & Revolutionary Movements of the '60s, most notably the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. Up close and personal, this old soul in a young body, smart and cute and hip, when she needs to be, innocent and fierce yet always honest is a for real foot soldier movement woman, who attends Oakland City College, hosts Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) at her flat, which becomes a SafeHouse, learns to clean and assemble guns, dodges police bullets, graduates from SF State, feeds kids breakfast, tutors in Bayview Hunter's Point, r

Keith Josef Adkins' joins us to talk about a reading Monday, April 15, 2013, at LaMama Theatre of his The Patron Saint of Peanuts, first produced a play based on the life of George Washington Carver, commissioned and produced at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Southern Writer's Project 2004). Other plays include Farewell Miss Cotton (Black Dahlia Theater February 2006), Crossing America (Mark Taper's New Works Festival 2005), Wilberforce (National Black Theater Festival 2005, Cleveland Public Theatre New Plays Festival, Hartford Stage New Voices). Honors include: Alliance Theater's August Wilsom Memorial Commission, Mark Taper Forum's Richard Sherwood Distinguished Emerging Theater Artist Award, two Best Play Awards at the Cleveland Public Theatre New Plays Festival (Wilberforce and On the Hills of Black America), a Van Lier Fellowship (New York Theater Workshop), and an EST/Sloan Science Foundation playwriting grant. http://www.playscripts.com/author?authorid=348#playdetails We close with cast and the dir

We open the show today, which is dedicated to freedom fighter, Mrs. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (Feb. 4, 1913-Oct. 24, 2006) with an interview with scholar and Parks biographer, Jeanne Theoharis, Ph.D., a professor at Brooklyn College, CUNY NY.  Her new book, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, comes on the 100th year of Mrs. Parks's life. Dr. Theoharis is the author and coauthor of six books and numerous articles on the black freedom struggle and the contemporary politics of race in the United States. We open with Lift Ev'ry Voice/Star Spangled Banner by Rene Marie and Rosa Parks speaking Oct. 16, 1995 at the Million Man March. Note the interesting coincidence of her departure from this realm is also in October. We close the program with an interview with Larry Americ Allen, playwright whose The Expulsion of Malcolm X opens this evening at the Southside Theatre at Ft. Mason Ctr., Bldg. D, 3rd Floor, for a month long run Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m., Sundays, 3 p.m. April 12-May 5, 2013. Call (510) 213-0401 or