AfroPulse Concert Newsletter for February

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Jan 27 2003       AfroPulse Concert News      Volume 3 Issue 2
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Contents:
   Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)
   Thomas Mapfumo
   
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Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)

Since everything gets quiet musically every year around this
time, it is fortunate for us that the PAFF shows up.  Tired of
all the Hollywood hype?  Get back to what real films should be
about -- people and the situations of their lives.  The African
films do just that.  I'm not too keen on the influence that
Hollywood's American films place on this event, because a film
festival by its very nature should broaden your horizons and
make available that which cannot be got easily, but it is all
part of the package in Los Angeles where Hollywood is
unavoidable.

Nevertheless, PAFF does a great job every year.  It has become
one of the premier film festivals and probably the biggest in
the US with an African slant.  I will definitely be attending
this year again, and not just because there is a double-bill
one night featuring a documentary on Femi Kuti and a second
film from Mozambique with the tantalizing name "Mangwana". The
film "Faat Kine" was on my list to see last year and I missed
it during the UCLA / Hammer series.  If you study the line up
you will be sure to find something of interest.  Remember to
go to the shows early because they are very popular and many
sell out.

If you're a celebrity with an invite, or have $250 per person
to put toward a just cause, drop in on opening night for a
screening at the El Capitan theater followed by live music at
Hollywood and Highland by none other than the funky master of
Afrobeat -- Najite along with his band, the Ogun Prophecy.  The
gala begins on Thursday, February 6.

http://www.paff.org/
http://www.afropulse.com/music/concerts/najite.html

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Thomas Mapfumo

The Lion of Zimbabwe, Chimurenga Rebel, Thomas Mapfumo will be
in Pomona at the end of February for a live concert.  He is now
in Zimbabwe performing for the massive turnout audiences that
are welcoming him home after several years.  He has been living
in virtual exile in the Pacific Northwest, mainly so that his
children can go to school because the oppressive politics and
disastrous economic situation brought on by Robert Mugabe have
made it all but impossible for children to attend school in
Zimbabwe.  Especially for an outspoken critic such as Mapfumo.
He was partially responsible for the will of the people to rise
up against the British-led government of Rhodesia, to liberate
the country and rename it Zimbabwe and to help Mugabe into
power.  Times change, but political leaders in Africa never
seem to, and so the events have turned completely around so that
their own leader is the cause of grief.  Now Mapfumo speaks out
against the government and against Mugabe.  Support him with
your presence and listen to the voice of the people.  Details
to come on  our calendar once we have the low down.

If you like this style of music, check out his website run by
aNOnym reCOrds.  They have a very creative and interesting way
to sell CDs.  You can buy them off their website, or you can
copy from a friend.  If you know a friend with a CD, make a
copy and send in the license fee.  The license gives you the
right to have a copy for your lifetime (and even a backup for
safe-keeping as long as it is for yourself and not someone
else).  Don't burn CDs or download ripped music unless you have
contributed to the artists' welfare.  This is their gift to all
of us and they deserve to be paid.  aNOnym makes it easy and
convenient for you and provides a way for you to pass the word
responsibly.

http://www.anonymousweb.com/thomas_mapfumo.html

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This month we have Rocky Dawuni at the Temple Bar on Friday the
7th, Thomas Mapfumo at the end of the month, and in between for
a little variety you can head up to the Getty's world music
stage and hear Andalucian, gnaouan and chaabi music of Morocco,
or Peruvian music from the Andes to the Pacific which is bound
to have some little African influence (although it will mostly
be traditional Andean flute music, I suspect).  Whatever you do
be sure to check out at least one movie at PAFF, but make sure
you leave one ticket for me to see Femi Kuti!

Also, for those of you inclined towards Reggae, the Bob Marley
festival plays the 15th & 16th at the Long Beach Arena.
 
jay