Sandra Izsadore
"Consciousness should be everyday not just on Friday. I wear traditional clothing with a modern flare. When you look at me, you see Black Pride. It is reflected all around me".

Numero Unoma
"I'd put my bottom Naira on those guys being proudly Nigerian. Na so we dey do am for here sis! Everybody get 'im own..."

Lauren Bolden
"@Sandra - YES SIS!!! we are to exude our consciousness everyday that we live. It is our blessing, our gift. The Creator has blessed us beyond measure and im always please to see someone represent us so well!!

Peace."

Sandra Izsadore
"Numero Unoma, let your own represent you, not the West, exalt your own, look how Fela did his, he was Afrikan chic. Stop copying the West, Lauren Bolden I think we agree on this issue, we here in America of conscious mind, hold Afrika on a pedestal that I see wobbling. Jos, Rwanda, Liberia"

Numero Unoma
"Sandra and Lauren, with every respect sisters, I believe I have spent more time in the west than you have anywhere on our continent. Just a hunch, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yours and ours are completely different paradigms that will never have an interface. All this afrocentric spewing by people who want to tell Africans they understand... See more us better than we understand ourselves. Trés americain. Quite apart from the fact that ankara is not even African, or Afrikan as you call it, we cannot be reduced to merely being aso-oke or akwa-ocha wearing folk, and as for "copying", there is no such thing as an original idea and fashion can't be copyrighted, it's called freedom of expression, dunno if you know about that stuff.

So quit imposing your issues on us in that naive yet patronising way, it really gets my goat, and I was hoping to put that in the peppersoup later today, so can I please have it back?"

Numero Unoma
"sorry, make that très américain"

Candace Mickens
Numero Unoma, I want to thank you for your sharing your thoughts and feelings and that is no disrespect to anyone else's thoughts or comments. I appreciated your comments because I have spent a little time on the continent but probably just a drop in the bucket compared to the time my African friends have spent here. It was and is hard for me to ... See moresee all of the western influence when I travel to Africa, probably because I grew up in the West and have been influenced all my life and alot I find not so positive, but clearly there are jewels in the mix as well. The truth remains that we all have a right to express ourselves the best way that we know how and in our chosen mix of style. Style is only one aspect of one's conciousness and that can change on any given day...trust me if style only dictated my conciousness I would be labeled comatose on any given day at times..lol I Iappreciate hearing or reading your thoughts and perspective because truly that is the only way that we can grow and share, learn and love.. The mutual part of the equation is that we all love Africa...and clearly we all have a love for America equally as well no matter how you slice it or we wouldn't still be here..:) I will keep your comments in my mind before I speak to anyone next time on a topic such as this that has such diverse points of view. (Thank you)

I hope my comments have made your peppersoup more tantalizing because you sure have added something spicy to my tofu..lol

~Ubuntu

Tai Adelaja
@SistahSandra, you said:

"The young artist must remember that they are role models of the future they must leave and set good examples of Afrikan values and Traditions. I would love it even more if they would take traditional clothing to the next level and stop emulating this Black American dumb a** Thang." ...

... and I'm feeling u on that, sistah, especially the notion of transcendental African street style (which some designers are already doing, btw) ... but wit all due respect, itz a lot more complicated than that ... and I know you know this. ... See more

.. that "black-american dumb-ass thang" has a lot more cachet in Lagos than a "dashiki" or boubou; those lovely boubous we see you wear often only turn heads in the West or at least ... somewhere else but Africa ....

So, know this: 9Ja youth in the modern era have always been cultural sponges, pehaps the most exposed in d entire world, regardless of class (and there are class dimensions) having been drinking voraciously and consistently from the global cultural fountain for a very very long time. Amerurban street style resonates wit a generation that suckled on hip-hop music, fashion and culture, in the same way as afros, platforms, bell-bottoms, etc. were embraced by the previous "generation," even in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

So it's been several generations now of urban Africans that have almost always embraced not just "Black-American" culture .. but have always aspired to partaking of the global cultural experience, and especially the global BLACK cultural experience. That's why reggae came to Africa much earlier than anywhere else except it's home island of Jamaica. It's why "Black-American" music has always been popular in 9Ja. It's why what you see and hear when you encounter many urban Africans is usually a jumble of all these influences. We are no less African on account of this ...

Now, some people don't like or even understand this, but, trust me, it's just one additional reality of the 9ja ppl and entity, tough to wrap your head around if u were not born and bred there, and very easy to process d entire matter thru d wrong "external" prism ...

I'm a progressive panAfricanist ... it is my belief that our people ... Africans ... delivered humanity to this moment ... and so all that is in it is ours to do what we want with. I submit to you that this is not necessarily a bad thing ... my experience has been that it is a very good thing for our youth to be world-aware. It's certainly better than what's generally obtained in America, which is often a shocking ignorance among the youth about the world around them, its peoples and cultures ... and its amazing diversity.

It is well, Sistah Sandra, and thanks for provoking some serious thinking and opening the door to learning from and enlightening each other, building crucial bridges along the way. May all our peoples continue to intellectually engage.
Ashe!"

Eme Awa
"I wonder if any other displaced/colonized people have these same identity problems we have.
Personally, I think the discussion regarding the youth-direction is healthy but I caution that the focus on appearance is less important than the content and quality of education we are providing them and ourselves.
I for one must say we are failing or have failed them. What is the ruckus about the wear? I listen to what they are saying on both sides of the Atlantic- NOT MUCH! It's not their fault alone is it? We are all responsible. There are very few life-giving messages coming from the youths b/c we haven't taught them adequately about the art of sharing love!
If Fela had kept his Koola Lobitos look and still emerged the Baba we love and respect today; I would still have allowed myself to be educated by him, be loved by him through his music. I can't imagine life without this education; his views about the way things have been orchestrated to undermine black.
Furthermore, to Sandra; there are those in the white community who are happy to keep us in our own 'lanes', Africans and African Americans, by virtue of our appearance. I don't want to make anything easy for those kind of people. Sometimes people need to keep guessing and not feel they got me or any of us figured out...."

Numero Unoma
"Ah dis Candace sissi, na bettah person she be o. I troway salute!

Candace, I love your sense of humour and I HAIL your diplomacy – if I only had a fraction of it, I’d die a happy woman!

Just for the record, my daughter is African American and I don’t eat goatmeat.... See more

I’m loving the exchange between the African continent and the brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. The Black American Thang is supercool when it’s not dumb a**. Just like the Naija Ting or any other. And look at the Caribbean influence in Lagos Mosquito’s work. When people speak disparagingly of it, I defend him because I know say ‘im na correct Gidi pikin. Bring amala and ewedu come now, make we test am.

So the meaning of authenticity has very much changed in this global village era we live in and our creative expression is informed and influenced by an amalgamation of cultures.

I think what we should be vigilant of is not selling our and not losing out.

Love, peace and respect to you all…"

Tai Adelaja
Folks ...

"As one raised on African "tradition" and "values" and having lived and currently living out some of the modern diasporic dimensions of our community and identity. I must say that I am disappointed at some of what I'm hearing here ... which, honestly, to me, in many cases, sounds like so much agenda-peddling, confusion, ignorance, lack of exposure, pettiness, misinformation and yes ... prejudice, bias and a lot of other bs ....

While I'd like to respect that all this is a reflection of the amazing diversity of thought and outlook among our ppls, I find it worrisome and frightening that many of us who should know better are ignoring the extreme complexity of this particular topic, preferring to AGENDIZE & SLOGANIZE the discussion ... ... See more

... I am seeing ppl I respect making silly blanket statements they have no business making, hearing others displaying ridiculous ignorance, feeling ppl refusing to see themselves in the looking glass ...

... all this has become somewhat COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE!

Listen, it all boils down to this: we'll never make progress until we truly understand who we are as a peoples and how we arrived where we are. Apparently, our diversity as a people is complicating this very simple proposition, because now we apparently have 500 million views of who we are and how we got here ....

C'mon folks! .. Perhaps I should direct us all to a re-reading of not just African and European history, but also some introductory sociology and psychology material, with some anthropology and media studies thrown in for good measure, yes?

I guess Facebook isn't the ideal place to have a reasoned, measured, purely intellectual discussion on anything, talk less something this nuanced ...

So maybe we should just stop and refrain from making fools of ourselves in a quasi-public forum. All we seem to be accomplishing is demonstrating to ourselves and the world that we still haven't figured things out and probably never will ....

From here on out, I'm watching from the sidelines. If/when it comes to blows, I'm disappearing completely ...

Respectfully lol-
T"

A Igoni Barrett
"Fela made music with a saxophone.

The sweat that stains my jeans is African.

Doesn't matter what you think or how I act. It just is".

Numero Unoma
"Igoni, you'll always have my vote, nobody but you could have put it better...come follow me chop pepper soup tomorrow nah?"

Michael Osifodunrin
"Gidi on mind..."

kilgoda "I love this. Food for my soul. Please come to America and teach us Black Americans? this wonderful culture. We dont have nothing. We are starving"

sirfemo "This is good Yoruba music. Origina Alagbe! He is not any different from well known Yoruba musicians. Thx for this video"

 

World Premiere

"Sounds of Lagos" A Film Documentary Feat: Mallam Spicey, Rock Steady, Big Klinz, Olumide "Dr. Scratch" Ogunsusi,& Femi Jarrett. Written, Directed & Produced by Ayotunde

"I Love your LOVE for where you come from. I Love your representation of Life in Lagos. its so natural and real. I would love for you to teach me more of your heritage, what it was, what it has become. I read the comments on your videos and im not always familiar with what they're speaking on........ so teach me more... about MY Africa. I can never get enough. Thanks Ayo" Lauren Bolden

Tosin Musik
"portraits of lagos"

Sandra Izsadore
"Interesting, I like the old man with shakere and Malum Spicey. Ayo you have lots of good footage from Nigeria, do you travel home often?".

Patricia Ogundero
"Did I just hear Moshalashi Busstop? I know Moshalashi busstop!!!Good work T! Am missing Lagos, so much potentials, & talents"

Sandra Izsadore
"Mallam Spice was most impressive to me gangster and conscious. The young artist must remember that they are role models of the future they must leave and set good examples of Afrikan values and Traditions. I would love it even more if they would take traditional clothing to the next level and stop emulating this Black American dumb a** Thang".

Numero Unoma
"Maybe he didn't shoot it on a Friday, Sandra!".

Sandra Izsadore
"Wow, I see I opened up some good dialogue regarding consciousness. I was disappointed when I returned to Lagos in 2006 and saw more people supporting the West than I saw supporting Afrikan value. It was hurtful to see the Nigerian people give more respect to the West than their own, for this I speak out. I am Afrikan American, my ancestry goes ... See moreback to the eighteen hundreds in this country. I am sadden when I see Afrikan youth on all sides of the globe exalt a life style culture that Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, and Fela would be ashamed of today. They fought and died for positive change. I am sure they are turning in their graves at the self serving mockery of our youth of today. Yes stay in your own lane, but stay there with pride, consciousness, and as proper leadership for the generations that are coming, it is not what you do , but how you do it. I like Mallam Spice as I stated before, all this dialogue started because I expressed what I would like to see. I still say, I wish the youth of Nigeria would show more pride in their own".

Numero Unoma
"Maybe it's because our African-ness is sub-conscious, we don't have to make a conscious effort to be what we naturally are. Everyone should try it - I recommend it!".

Tai Adelaja
@NumeroUno ;)

Sandra Izsadore
"That is truly sad, to be of the mind that to be Afrikan it is sub-conscious".

Lauren Bolden
"@sandra... i was thinking the same thing. I think we have to ALWAYS make a conscious effort in representing ourselves.....always. Thats the exact frame of mind that allows so many of our people to LOSE that of which our ancestors and our activists dreamed upon and fought for. sub-consciousness is the root of ungratefulness. I dont want to ... See morethink on any low level concsiousness. If Power from your roots and Pride in it doesnt run through your vains on a daily basis........ our history is in vein. who we are means nothing. Yes - we are naturally african people and should always be CONSCIOUS of that!

AFRICAN PRIDE!!!".

Numero Unoma
"yawn...!".

Eme Awa
"@Sandra and Lauren, I think you misunderstand the use of sub-conscious in Numero's post. 'Not-consciously' is probably a better way to explain it, that is not constantly thinking of something. I have to say though, that there is some chance that there is some paranoia about this subject amongst some in our community.
As someone who has deep roots ... See moreon both sides,I am familiar with the little bit of a condescending attitude from some fighting in the struggle that makes me uncomfortable. Soldiers shouldn't make a play for pats on the back, they're too busy fighting. We should not come up for air every thirty years or so to look around and think how we bleed for our people and yet they don't love us nor themselves. We are in the same place if any of our brethren are less than we, spiritually, socio-economically and politically. There is still a lot of work to be done.
The fight continues ladies. No time to wring your hands and lament!"

Numero Unoma
"Nwannem, afam bu Unoma - the name is Unoma!".

Lauren Bolden
"I digress... Eme - thank you for clarity.

Peace people".

Eme Awa
"My bad Unoma, forgive me! @ Lauren, we give thanks! Peace and love".

Sandra Izsadore
"Yes, thank you Eme, I will continue to pray for the ray of light to shine through darkness".

Eme Awa
"You've blessed us with your love & wisdom Sandra, thank you!"

Dayo Ayodele
"If Fela was listening to this conversation, he would actually be very Angry and I'm sure he is turning in his grave with all this foolishness being exhibited by all the so called Africans. If you really want to know Pan-Africanism or Fela's stand on western culture influences in Africa...everybody needs to go and do their home work or research by ... See morelistening to Fela's Albums..i will give you examples "gentleman" or "Buy Africa" to name a couple. Sister Sandra is very correct and I stand behind what she is putting down that young adults need to be picking up or learning from. Maybe you all need to tell me the last time you heard an African American hip hop artist singing in Yoruba,Ibo, Hausa or Swahili or maybe I should say wearing Agbada, Buba, Boubou or Dashiki, whatever you call it. why can't the young Africans set the bar with their culture and share the wisdom the world needs. You don't have to copy the African American culture Verbatim like "zombies" or "follow follow". we all need to use our senses. I am going to sign off here. Enough said and A Word is enough for the wise(The African Proverb). By the way if you're wondering I grew up in Lagos".

Tosin Musik
"@Dayo. I hear you. To each his/her own. I know for sure that American artists won't glorify anything outside of their own not because they ain't open-minded, but because charity begins at home. Fela once labelled Nigeria "Big Blind Country", and he even mentioned that "all our young adults look up to Europe and USA...dem just dey copy overseas dey ... See morego". Even before Fela died he had been displeased by our cultural condition. We need to start glorifying our own, and let charity begin at home. I also blame our ministers of arts and culture. They have no clue. I rest my case for now!".

Numero Unoma
"There are people in our music industry who would be aghast at all this uninvestigated one-sided venom, not to mention writers, artists and all the creatives, many of whom I know personally. A wholesale condemnation of Africans because they have some western influence will not change the FACT that so very many of us love our culture and are growing it in the context of the 21st century. Why don't y'all just go join Boko Haram and see where that gets us!

We thank God for the Lagos Festival of Black Heritage that spanned over a week at Easter, for all my people at MUSON, who even have been known to give us GRATIS performances of groups from the US performing to Fela's music (just for example), for the likes of my brother Segun Adefila and his Crown Troupe of Africa whose dance theatre has some of the most profound socially-critical content I have seen anywhere in the world (and I've seen tons all over) and the many many more who are here with us 'on ground' as we say, suffering and smiling and not sitting pretty somewhere in the diaspora joining all the other NEGATIVE voices of the West. We in the positive will soon have our critical mass, make no mistake.

Consciousness? Y'all need to check yourselves. We make a CONSCIOUS choice to celebrate the many small differences people are trying to make here against all odds, the disgust at those Western values which are indeed detrimental to the survival of our cultures and we unequivocally condemn all the haters. Get your backsides over here, roll your sleeves up and join us in the journey forward. Otherwise, do us the favour (and for those of you who "grew up here", the (self-)respect) of shutting up unless you have something positive to contribute to what we are doing, we get enough down-puts from the other side. It's not enough just to wear the clothes. Grow your mind to fit your dashiki/buba&iro/whatever, it's the ultimate fashion accessory!... See more

Abeg make una leave matta, jare!"

Kuku Adebola
"Hmm, I am so glad to see this topic in the open. I for one admit that as proud of a Yoruba/Nigerian/African I am, generally our people have no self respect. Bad imitation of western culture is what we continue to exemplify.

The only time we support our own is when Jesus and Allah/Mohammed is involved. The only time we appreciate our art is when ... See morewesterners give us permission to. I hear a lot of people quoting Fela nowadays, please he was just a man who stood for something, don't make him into a God, because that is how religion starts. And we all know or deny that which is greatest evil".

Eme Awa
"Much respect to all. I think we should expand this conversation. What constitutes African traditional values?
Sister Sandra took us in one direction, speaking about our appearance reflecting who we are and were we come from. So can we define "African Values".
@Tai, it will be nice for you to continue to chime in, all voices are crucial".

Tai Adelaja
"Eme, all voices are indeed crucial, and so I'm hoping mine will continue to resonate even though and in spite of the fact that I'm not saying anything new. Please carry on ...."

Tosin Musik
"Eme and All. Of course, this discussion started with appearance (fashion) and music. But surely there are many other aspects of African culture and values. We know. And these include language, food, marriage, parenting, and so on. And there are other African artists besides Fela that we can point at as our references. But I don't think we will be ... See moreable to touch on the various other aspects on facebook. I am still waiting for TJ to post a comment. I am sure he's somewhere reading all of these comments and probably "looking and laughing". Happy Friday!".

Numero Unoma
"I think this is a very healthy discussion, nothing wrong with having it on fb given the logistics of organising a conference call or for that matter a meet. Nor does the discourse necessarily have to be intellectual in it's purest sense. We all bring something to the table. Ideally we all leave such a forum having learned something from each other... See more, no matter how small. We have some very strong opinions and some good wry humour, not to mention a beautiful veil of diplomacy sometimes.

I've enjoyed rubbing mind...thanks :)"

Dayo Ayodele
"To whom it may concern, please take this to the bank. For the sake of peace, the tolerance of stupidity and ignorance, I will condone all these insults and big grammar being flushed out here, including people talking from both sides of their mouth. I will no longer make any statement. But remember no be say your mouth big pass my own. ;)
IRE O!"

Numero Unoma
"talk nah sis!

:D"

Drum N Bass
"MADE ME SMILE "

Numero Unoma
"(or bro)"

QuiglysMom "Wow!? This is the real thing... being performed by a man who probably remembers a time when this was the only kind of Yoruba music.

I love modern Yoruba music, though I must rely on others to translate it for me, but this has a beauty of its own... one which is ancient, and indeed timeless"

cubabomi "that style of music is engraved in my? culture too.
Ashe Africa, ashe Cuba!"

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