Uswamusiq

AFRICA in the Belly of the Beast

2011-01-31T14:01:00.002-08:00

AFRICA in the Belly of the Beast

2011-01-31T14:01:00.001-08:00

Alfie Tosha - African Tunes

2010-07-18T01:56:00.001-07:00

ALFI TOSHA

From showdowns and rap competitions back in the days in several nightspots in Nairobi, Alfi Tosha is a dancehall artist who natured his skills in 'open-mic' sessions provided by clubs like Florida 2000,Madhouse, Club Zigzag, Club New York, Club Jungle and Vibestar to mention but a few.

With the future looking bleak due to difficulties in getting a promoter who could sort financial matters regarding album recording, Alfi Tosha had to make use of his other talent (acting) to fix a quick buck. After a stint at the national theatre and at the Phoenix players performing in various stage productions, documentaries and commercials, enough was in place to work on various singles. He hooked up with a long time friend at the national theatre who was also a common face in the open mic session and the group 'Icon and Radical' was born.

The first studio session ever was done at RKay's studio. The single 'Tubonge', a dance hall tune, fast tuned into the streets anthem: turning on pirates in Kenya and becoming a popular compilation album selling millions backstreet and downtown. Three other singles were to follow before the idea of a stage name change was raised. That didn't go down well, and this was to be the parting shot for the group members, and the launch of Alfi Tosha's solo career.

The name 'Alfi' is coined from the Christian name ALFRED, and to complete it, a feel of 'Africaness' is brought about by the name 'Tosha' which means 'enough'. The artist 'Alfi Tosha' brings a total turnaround in his approach to music, genre and fusion. With a self titled debut album, his music has a unique African touch fused with forms of pop, Zouk, ragga and reggae, a sure 'enough' experience.

Recorded at 'Audio Kusini' Studios, powered by 'Fulltime Entertainment' in Kahawa Wendani, Nairobi Kenya, the album also has some singles programmed by international producers namely 'Kwani we ndio nani' and 'Tsindumbu' done by 'mandugu digital' and the original version of 'Rosa', 'mlango' and 'Aina gani' done by 'Mr. Babbz' of 'studio sawa'. The rest of the album was done in Audio Kusini studios by Kaktus, the resident producer. The album's executive producer is Alfi Tosha under management by FullTyme entertainment.

I hereby wish you a good time as you listen

http://reverbnation.com/alfietosha

http://mziki.co.ke/alfietosha

alfitosha@gmail.com

Mr Mandela

2010-07-16T02:59:00.001-07:00

track name: Mr Mandela
album and band name: by Trenton and Free Radical

Digital Track

We've decided to give this track away free for a week to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day. So download at your leisure and please send the link to other people who might want to do the same. Peace TFR

A percentage of profit goes towards the Breathe Sunshine Foundation.
lyrics: Mr Mandela:

Chorus:

Mr Mandela
Your one hell of a fella
I wana be like you
I wana be like you
Mr Madiba
The world Really Needs ya
I wana be like you
I wana be like you

Mr Mandela your one hell of a fella and I wana be like you
You fought the war of peace and still smiled after all that you been through
White persecution of the poor the black the brown man me and you
You rise above retaliation
Cos that's what you do
And Robin Island had no palm trees or bikinis on the sand
Your freedom stolen by the totsis manipulating on mainland
But when you whispered words the world could hear you breathin too
Then you embraced our enemy
Cos that's what you do

You caused a revolution, revolution , revolution
But new that violence was destructive and not a solution
You positivity it crushed the racist institution
And gave us dignity despite the years of persecution
And we all went to vote like bumble bees on honey trees
From Santon to Soweto we were proud and we were pleased
And when you raised your fists and used the word let freedom rain
The world became a better place
Because of your name

--
"Stop kwa dream bado Unafeel"

www.myspace.com/uswakamili
www.showcaseyourmusic.com/uswakamili
www.reverbnation.com/ndugus
http://www.last.fm/music/Ndugus

+254752303119

2010-07-14T04:45:00.001-07:00

don't think like you do, and you seem to find that odd; I'm not that religious, but Thank God. I love to let the sun Just shine on my head. I wonder where it will shine after I am dead. Always the dream to get paid to sing, play or write. When you're on the night shift
And you have to work all night. I love the term "Til death do us part" But what happens before If it's not in your heart? Every once in a while, there is one: A winter's day with a warm sun you don't know how hard I've tried nd how long I've fought to keep from over and over again repeating a thought. There is one thing I know a lot about it's people inside, when I seem to be out. Don't get upset nd don't have a cow It's only words that come to my head somehow. Seasonal depression maybe I'll go outside today maybe the sun will melt it all away, maybe a bullet shot from a gun would leave me with the feeling
that I'm finally done. There should be some kind of warning to tell you what's in store
when you wake up happy get dressed and go out that front door. There are times when my mind gets so out of sync it's amazing I can write when I can't even think whatever you want you can take hold. A lot comes between sixteen and fifty years old. There's one thing about depression I've found you can spend a lot of time waiting for yourself to come around. Every day there's more papers that I just throw on the stack, maybe I should just burn them all so I can never go back. Call it crazy or a poet's rage I can't stand looking at a half empty page I think as a kid was when I learned to hide. It's seldom you will see me getting deep into me. Whenever I think I'm getting sick in the head I put down my pencil and go straight to bed there is one thing that I always dread if I don't' say it will it always stay in my head? Is it enough when times get rough Is it enoug to just be tough? Look at it there's a missing link my hand doesn't seem to do what I think with you it depends on which persona you show I often wonder which Is the person I know. You seem like a person that would eat all you see I would rather you keep
Your distance from me I hope it wasn't something iwrote that she read the very next morning they found her dead If you want to be a writer here's one tip to succeed never write anything that you yourself can't read. Don't expect me to make a vicious attack I have a tendency to keep coming back I need to call someone and tell them I'm in despair but who would care? This is upsetting, this is insane. why is it that I only write about pain. I can make a decision with just a flip of a dime. But please don't make me think about more than one at a time. Go do some drugs or go smoke a joint, we are not on the same page. If I'm not making my point. It may hurt a little bit and it may take its toll If you ever loved anyone who went out of control. Why can't I get my heart off my back love is what always seems to bring me back. It's so hard being true, i spend more time thinking about what I shouldn't do than what I should do. If somehow you could get it to make any sense the whole thought will soon be in the past tense. I can pull everything together, if I can get my wits about me, but my wits can't do anything if they are without me. In the streets there's just too many *%$##, And in the sky there are more clouds than starsSeasonal Depression: As I get old it keeps getting stronger and somehow the seasons, keep getting longer. I wish that leaves would live up to their name and just leave. Please do hang on, put your seatbelt on we have to drive if we're gonna survive. Put it in the oven and see if it will bake that interesting point you just can't seem to make my house is your house. So that mouse is your mouse a ticket back home what would it cost i went out the back door and somehow got lost. Why do you always want to pop back into my head the only thing I can say is that you're lucky you're dead. Thoughts and feelings Can go any which way sometimes I wonder if that's all I can say. Maybe no rare coins or diamond rings so what, I just happen to be a person who collects things. Am I half crazy can I run this by you is it strange that I think over everything you do. You're still alive when something tears you apart think of it this way it was only your heart. I'm sorry if my eyes give you some attractive obsession you are most likely suffering through a major depression Was it love or did you hate her some things come to you many years later. There are things that make sense to me and there are things that just can't be. Somehow I couldn't resist it and I suppose she always insisted to make it the greatest love-hate relationship that ever existed I wonder if I was wrong or right and I wonder if I will sleep tonight. Sometimes I know I totally miss the boat and sometimes I actually like what I wrote. I often talk to myself in my head i often forget to myself what I said. How can they sell pencils with erasers that break? i have to write slowly I can't make a mistake. A good piece of writing Can make you feel at home If I could do it over I would have married a poem. Everything I see ithink I've seen once before, but nothing could be better than not thinking anymore. I wrote a hundred words today most of them to your dismay. Did you say the word clever? that has been my true endeavor. Do you have enough space? i think I give you enough but all you ever do is just huff and puff i think I finally said what I was trying to say at least I got one thing out of the way and as those words go into play I'll be planning the words for another day. When I was young my mother would advise me she said, "Son, use your time wisely" I see a sign of the human race there's cigarette butts alll over the place. This must be the place where he took his last stand. There's an impression of an arm with a bottle in hand when you have a party it never ends don't you have any control of your friends. During the day i see things in a different light and always wonder how it will affect me that night. I'd hate to be an actor going from stage to stage when I can sit here and just write page after page. I always write in pencil i never write in ink so that I can erase what you think I think. I'm quite sure some things will never mend i was thinking about a love letter I might send. I like you a lot you are a little cutey yet you don't quite fit my definition of beauty. Every day would be the same old play if you never start it in a different way you might see better with daylight you might feel better on a dark night. One of these days i might wake up from this dive and regain the drive that keeps me alive. When your must just seems to come to a halt do you ever wonder if it's really your fault. In my bed where I try to snuggle i often wonder how I will beat the struggle. Somehow things are just meant to be i just wonder as to what degree. As the pencil fell flat on the floor knowing for it there is no cure it may not write forever more. When everything seems to fall in your lap just think of it as one big mishap. Sometimes you have to look at your table and look at your chair as if no one else was ever there. I don't think there is anything heavier than pure, solid lead except for that thought that I have in my head. If you could take out the old and bring in the new then I could forget that I ever met you. Some things are good and some things are bad some things are happy and some things are sad. I thought I might see better if i put on a light but all that it did was make the fog bright Someday when it looks like we're losing losing you and me just when it looks like it's over, we'll pull off a victory. How we did it just you and me will always be a mystery i took up reading and I read and read to try and find something that was never once said...

I love you today"

Approaching people

2009-10-29T07:15:00.001-07:00

If you are not confident by nature the simple task of

starting a conversation is enough to start the heart
racing!

Yes you read it correctly! Cold sweats, heart palpitations,
shaking, stuttering, are just some of the effects that the
faint-hearted can be faced with whilst starting a
conversation.

This can all be avoided by following these simple tips
to help your confidence soar.

9 Great Ways To Approach Someone To Start A Conversation:

1. Shyness doesn't pay. Being timid and shying away amongst
the crowd really doesn't pay off in this day and age. While
sitting amongst your friends and listening to their
conversations, teach yourself to not only be a listener.

2. Make sure that you contribute and offer your feedback to
the conversation. By doing this you will in time gain
confidence to start conversation topics with strangers,
not just with those you are familiar with.

3. Confidence is the key! One of the qualities that make a
great public speaker is the simple yet effective ability to
be listened to! Whilst alone stand in front of the mirror,
practise speaking stand straight and tall, and talk at a
good volume (not shouting).

4. An assertive voice of authority will help to draw people
to listen to you. In fact they won't have the choice not to!

5. Make all eyes on you! If the person that you wish to
start a conversation with has their back to you, don't wait
for them to turn around: say their name or say hello to help
draw their attention. By doing this you will help to get
them listening to you. You will appear confident (even if
inside you have butterflies!)

6. Revise beforehand! - I don't mean turn into a nerd, you
don't have to write it down and take a pen to paper. However
if you can simply have a map of thought in your head, with
the topic of conversation clearly planned out. Then upon
opening your mouth the words will flow, you won't be stuck
in a trail of thought and you will be able to take the
conversation just where you want it to go!

7. Communication is a YES! Learn to understand that the
very way that you communicate with people will be the
deciding factor of just how successful that you will be in
this life. The very skill of being able to start a
conversation will help to take your life to higher limits!

8. Sit and think are there any successful business people
that are not able to start a conversation? Can you live your
life in the shadows of others?

9. Nerves are what you make them! Teach yourself that nerves
really are what you make of them. Don't allow nerves to
escalate and hold you back. A lot of people have difficulty
in starting a conversation with a stranger.

Every one struggles in conversation, if you are able to take
note and learn the skills provided above then starting a
conversation needn't be stressful. Don't be nervous. Learn
that that the people that you are trying to strike
conversation with are probably just a nervous as you.

A lot of people lack the confidence to start a conversation,
or perhaps fear talking to the opposite sex. This is a very
limited way of thinking, negative thoughts such as they will
laugh at me, they won't find me interesting, etc are really
just that. E positive! Negativity doesn't get you anywhere.

An Important Point...

Neglect communication skills and you limit your happiness
and success. And by default you give others control over
your life. The only way to be the master of your destiny is
to take charge. Know what you really want and have the
courage to stand up and be counted.

What Works Best?

In my own experience and that of thousands of
people who use my approach each day -- it is
absolutely realistic for you to make a massive
and immediate improvement in your quality of life
WHEN you get your hands on accurate advice and
techniques that work for real people like you and
I.

You really do deserve to be respected and appreciated by
the people in your life. You already know deep down that
you want your voice to be heard. You want to count.

Peter

Germany's Genocide of NAMIBIA

2009-10-03T05:59:00.001-07:00

BEFORE THE GENOCIDE

Africa is almost certainly the birthplace of the human species. From it
the earliest people ventured into Asia and then across the
long-vanished land bridge to the Americas, or across the Pacific island chains
to
Australasia. They also spread to the lands north of the Mediterranean
Sea. Many thousands of years later their European descendants gained
glory and wealth by rediscovering the southern hemisphere, and plundering
it. They - we - have often treated it, and its inhabitants, with
brutality, indifference and contempt. White Europeans forced black Africans to
become slaves. White Europeans deprived black people of their homes and
communities and cultures. White Europeans sent their missionaries to
change black people's religion to their own. And in the 19th century
white Europeans began moving into Africa to occupy the land as well. The
land was desirable for itself: it provided new territory, new possessions
and new trade, both for individuals and their countries. The land had
other values, too: it provided bases for further take-overs and
further military threats; and, above all, it contained riches.

Along the coastline of Namibia runs the Namib desert, a 1,200 mile long
strip of unwelcoming sand dunes and barren rock. Behind it is the
central mountain plateau, and east of that the Kalahari desert. Namibia's
scarcest commodity is water: this is a country of little rainfall, and
the rivers don't always run. But the very sand of the Skeleton Coast is
the dust of gemstones; uranium, tin and tungsten can be mined in the
central Namib, and copper in the north; and in the south there are
diamonds. Namibia also has gold, silver, lithium, and natural gas. For most of
the region's history, only metal was of interest to the native tribes.
These tribes lived and traded together more or less peacefully, each
with their own particular way of living, wherever the land was fertile
enough. The San were nomads, hunters and gatherers. The Damara hunted and
worked copper. The Ovambo grew crops in the north, where there was more
rain, but also worked in metal. The Nama and the Herero were livestock
farmers, and they were the two main tribes in the 1840s when the
Germans (first missionaries, then settlers, then soldiers) began arriving in
South West Africa.

Before the Germans, only a few Europeans had visited it: explorers,
traders and sailors. They opened up trade outlets for ivory and cattle;
they also brought in firearms, with which they traded for Namib
treasures. Later, big guns and European military systems were introduced. The
tribes now settled their disputes with lethal violence: corruption of a
peaceful culture was under way.

In the 1880s Germany made South West Africa their own colony, and
settlers moved in, followed by a military governor who knew little about
running a colony and nothing at all about Africa. Major Theodor Leutwein
began by playing off the Nama and Herero tribes against each other. More
and more white settlers arrived, pushing tribesmen off their
cattle-grazing lands with bribes and unreliable deals. The Namib's diamonds were
discovered, attracting yet more incomers with a lust for wealth.

Tribal cattle-farmers had other problems, too: a cattle-virus epidemic
in the late 1890s killed much of their livestock. The colonists offered
the Herero aid on credit. As a result the farmers amassed large debts,
and when they couldn't pay them off the colonists simply seized what
cattle were left. In January 1904, the Herero, desperate to regain their
livelihoods, rebelled. Under their leader Samuel Maherero they began to
attack the numerous German outposts. They killed German men, but spared
women, children, missionaries, and the English or Boer farmers whose
support they didn't want to lose.

At the same time, the Nama chief, Hendrik Witbooi, wrote a letter to
Theodor Leutwein, telling him what the native Africans thought of their
invaders, who had taken their land, deprived them of their rights to
pasture their animals on it, used up the scanty water supplies, and
imposed alien laws and taxes. His hope was that Leutwein would recognise the
injustice and do something about it.

THE GENOCIDE

The German Emperor replaced Major Leutwein with another commander, this
time a man notorious for brutality who had already fiercely suppressed
African resistance to German colonisation in East Africa.
Lieutenant-General Lothar von Trotha said, 'I wipe out rebellious tribes with
streams of blood and streams of money. Only following this cleansing can
something new emerge'. Von Trotha brought with him to German South West
Africa 10,000 heavily-armed men and a plan for war.

Under his command, the German troops slowly drove the Herero warriors
to a position where they could be hemmed in by attack on three sides.
The fourth side offered escape; but only into the killing wastes of the
Kalahari desert. The German soldiers were paid well to pursue the Herero
into this treacherous wilderness. They were also ordered to poison the
few water-holes there. Others set up guard posts along a 150-mile
border: any Herero trying to get back was killed.

On October 2, 1904, von Trotha issued his order to exterminate the
Herero from the region. 'All the Herero must leave the land. If they
refuse, then I will force them to do it with the big guns. Any Herero found
within German borders, with or without a gun, will be shot. No prisoners
will be taken. This is my decision for the Herero people'.

After the Herero uprising had been systematically put down, by shooting
or enforced slow death in the desert from starvation, thirst and
disease (the fate of many women and children), those who still lived were
rounded up, banned from owning land or cattle, and sent into labour camps
to be the slaves of German settlers. Many more Herero died in the
camps, of overwork, starvation and disease.

By 1907, in the face of criticism both at home and abroad, von Trotha's
orders had been cancelled and he himself recalled, but it was too late
for the crushed Herero. Before the uprising, the tribe numbered 80,000;
after it, only 15,000 remained.

During the period of colonisation and oppression, many women were used
as sex slaves. (This had not been von Trotha's intention. 'To receive
women and children, most of them ill, is a serious danger to the German
troops. And to feed them is an impossibility. I find it appropriate
that the nation perishes instead of infecting our soldiers.') In the
Herero work camps there were numerous children born to these abused women,
and a man called Eugen Fischer, who was interested in genetics, came to
the camps to study them; he carried out medical experiments on them as
well. He decided that each mixed-race child was physically and mentally
inferior to its German father (a conclusion for which there was and is
no respectable scientific foundation whatever) and wrote a book
promoting his ideas: 'The Principles of Human Heredity and Race Hygiene'.
Adolf Hitler read it while he was in prison in 1923, and cited it in his
own infamous pursuit of 'racial purity'.

The Nama suffered at the hands of the colonists too. After the defeat
of the Herero the Nama also rebelled, but von Trotha and his troops
quickly routed them. On April 22 1905 Lothar von Trotha sent his clear
message to the Nama: they should surrender. 'The Nama who chooses not to
surrender and lets himself be seen in the German area will be shot, until
all are exterminated. Those who, at the start of the rebellion,
committed murder against whites or have commanded that whites be murdered
have, by law, forfeited their lives. As for the few not defeated, it will
fare with them as it fared with the Herero, who in their blindness also
believed that they could make successful war against the powerful
German Emperor and the great German people. I ask you, where are the Herero
today?' During the Nama uprising, half the tribe (over 10,000) were
killed; the 9,000 or so left were confined in concentration camps.

AFTER THE GENOCIDE

After the First World War, South West Africa was placed under the
administration of South Africa. South Africa imposed its own system of
apartheid (now banned in Namibia by law). In the late 1940s a guerrilla
movement called SWAPO (South West African People's Organisation) was
founded to fight for independence. In 1968 the United Nations recognised the
name Namibia, and the country's right to independence, but it was
another 20 years before South Africa agreed to withdraw and full
independence was gained. By then the country was ravaged by war.

Today most of Namibia's 1.7m people are poor, living in crowded tribal
areas while powerful and wealthy ranchers still own millions of acres
seized by their predecessors over 100 years ago.

Some of the descendants of the surviving Herero live in neighbouring
Botswana, but others remained in their homeland and now make up 8% of
Namibia's population. Many of them are in the political opposition party.
Most Herero men work as cattle-handlers on commercial farms. Although
as opposition members they don't get government support, the Herero on
their own initiative recently asked Germany to give them compensation
for the atrocities the tribe suffered, which the president of Germany
recently acknowledged were 'a burden on the conscience of every German'.
In fact Namibia gets more aid from Germany than any other country; but
most of the money goes to non-Herero majority interests: it's the
governing Ovambo (not reached by early colonists, and modern Namibia's main
tribe) who led the struggle for liberation and, in 1990, independence.

The 25,000 or so present-day rich German settlers are among those who
deny that there was a genocide, fearing that reparation might mean
losing their valuable land.

WITNESS

from Nama chief Hendrik Witbooi's letter to Major Leutwein, describing
the typical colonist:

- 'He makes no requests according to truth and justice, and asks no
permission of a chief. He introduces laws into the land, laws which are
entirely impossible, untenable, unbelievable, unbearable, unmerciful and
unfeeling. He punishes our people in Windhoek and has already beaten
people to death for debt. It is not just and right to beat people to
death for that. He stretches people on their backs and flogs them in a
shameful and cruel manner, be they male or female. He thinks we are stupid
and unintelligent people, but we have never yet punished people in the
cruel and improper way that he does. No-one can survive such a
punishment.'

- 'Herero women adapted their high-waisted dresses, and hats that jut
out like cattle-horns, from the wives of Victorian missionaries. On
holidays they wear versions of the dress in red and black, the colours of
Herero nationalism - and of the 19th-century German Empire. The men wear
the German volunteers' uniform. German diplomats are always invited to
Herero celebrations. "We're treated like VIPs and often asked to give
the keynote speech," said one diplomat, who confessed that he is baffled
by the practice. The peculiar attraction between the Herero and Germans
here resembles the one in the Natal region of South Africa between the
Zulus and British, two other peoples who fought a brutal colonial war.
"It's the respect of a soldier for a soldier," explains Kuaima Riruako,
paramount chief of the Herero. "We never gave up our army, even during
the German period." But the links are much closer. Because many Herero
women were forced into sexual slavery, many Herero today have German
ancestors, and German is widely spoken here.'

GENERAL VON TROTHA'S DECLARATION

On 2 October 1904 the German commander, General von Trotha issued the
following proclamation: "I, the great general of the German troops, send
this letter to the Herero people... All Hereros must leave this land...
Any Herero found within the German borders with or without a gun, with
or without cattle, will be shot. I shall no longer receive any women or
children; I will drive them back to their people. I will shoot them.
This is my decision for the Herero people."

The general was true to his word.

The Herero were machine gunned and their wells were poisoned. Finally
they were driven into the desert to die.

This was how colonisation began in what is today Namibia.

Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind

2009-09-10T19:33:00.001-07:00

Peace of mind is the most sought after 'commodity' in human life. It appears that most of us are in a state of perpetual restlessness. On analyzing the causes of this restlessness, I have ventured to find for myself ten solutions that need to be followed religiously if we are serious about achieving perfect peace of mind.

1. Do not interfere in others' business

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic, and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.

This kind of attitude on our part denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God, for God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because they are prompted to do so by the Divine within them. There is God to look after everything. Why are you bothered? Mind your own business and you will have your peace.

2. Forget and forgive

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often nurture ill feeling inside our heart for the person who insults or harms us. We forget that the insult or injury was done to us once but by nourishing the grievance we go on excavating the wound forever. Therefore it is essential that we cultivate the art of forgiving and forgetting. Believe in the justice of God and the doctrine of Karma. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forget, forgive, and march on.

3. Do not crave for recognition

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motive. They may praise you today because you are rich and have power but no sooner you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and start criticizing you.

Moreover, no one is perfect. Then why do you value the words of praise of another mortal like you? Why do you crave for recognition? Believe in yourself. People's praises do not last long. Do your duties ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God.

4. Do not be jealous

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know you work harder than your colleagues in the office but they get promotions, you do not. You started a business several years ago but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. Should you be jealous? No, remember everybody's life is shaped by his previous Karma that has now become his destiny. If you are destined to be rich, not all the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere, but will only give you restlessness.

5. Change yourself according to the environment

If you try to change the environment single handedly, the chances are you may fail. Instead, change yourself to suit the environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has remained unfriendly for you, will mysteriously appear to be congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure what cannot be cured

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations and accidents that are beyond our control. We must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, "God will it so, so be it". God's logic is beyond our comprehension. Believe it and you will gain in patience, in inner strength, in will power.

7. Do not bite more than you can chew

This maxim should be always remembered. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable to carry out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Spend your free time on prayers, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind, which make you restless. Fewer the thoughts, greater is the peace of mind.

8. Meditate regularly

Meditation makes the mind thoughtless. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour every day, you will tend to become calm during the remaining twenty-three and a half hours. Your mind will not be disturbed as much as before. This will increase your efficiency and you will turn out more work in less time.

9. Never leave the mind vacant

An empty mind is devil's workshop. All evil deeds start in the mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. You must decide what you value more - money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even if you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name .

10. Do not procrastinate and never regret

Do not waste time in wondering "should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Always remember God has His own plan too. Value your time and do things. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can rectify your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET! Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the will of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God's will. Why cry?

Blacc Suhn

2009-07-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

New style of hip hop that mixes jazz,and soul with hard core lyrics. " i really hate what hip hop's become. a sespool of copycat music and lyrics driven by greed" bigg mixx.
blacc suhn, the alter ego of king midas,a.k.a. bigg mixx. created this year because of the constant hatred of the name mixx in my city. first started music young in the strings section of an elementary school. practice the art of emceing a few years later. was introduced to an old beat machine, then an ensoniq mr61. which was used for production on my first album; intoduction into the world of underground hip hop. then i ran across a triton studio. worked hard, trial and error type of thing. finally after so much, i found my sound. i produced a maxie single, which i took to florida for promotional reasons. then fate has a way of inspiring oneself. i bumped into a childhood friend. we politicked on music and found we have the same passion and feel for music. we decided to hook and it took off like a rocket. with the help of my homie and biggest influence, kdee, i've been recording what i really want, and not something close to it if you catch my drift. so i hope yall like my music. peace and god bless.

to the clubbers and radio freaks, this music is not for you! real hip hop embodies a certain element, i embodie that element. this music is for the nigga on the bus, or train with earphones on, vibin' to his own rhythm. i make music for; b-boys, taggers, skaters, political cats, and people who just wanna hear some mic wreckin. from soul to soul, my mind and voice. to your ears!

Checkout:
http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/blaccsuhn

by Blacc suhn

The Law Of Cause&Effect

2009-06-17T10:29:00.001-07:00

The Law Of Cause&Effect

The only way to solve or cure a problem is to attack and eliminate its
cause.To treat and act as if the effects are the cause is simply
counter-productive.For example,making tougher laws can never prevent
people from committing crimes.because,the reason people commit
crimes,or ' act 'that are absent of self respect,is the absence of
self respect,people must learn, or be taught,self respect,the law of
relativity,and the law of cause & effect before they become products
of an environment/atmosphere,unconsciously led by the blind,without a
responsible,conclusive,sense of purpose in life.

Dealing With Police

2009-06-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

In General

When dealing with the police, keep your hands in view and don't make sudden movements. Avoid passing behind them. Nervous cops are dangerous cops. Also, never touch the police or their equipment (vehicles, flashlights, animals, etc.) - you can get beat up and charged with assault.
The police do not decide your charges; they can only make recommendations. The prosecutor is the only person who can actually charge you. Remember this the next time the cops start rattling off all the charges they're supposedly "going to give you."

Questioning

Interrogation isn't always bright lights and rubber hoses - usually it's just a conversation. Whenever the cops ask you anything besides your name and address, it's legally safest to say these Magic Words:"I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer."

This invokes the rights which protect you from interrogation. When you say this, the cops (and all other law enforcement officials) are legally required to stop asking you questions. They probably won't stop, so just repeat the Magic Words or remain silent until they catch on.

Remember, anything you say to the authorities can and will be used against you and your friends in court. There's no way to predict what information the police might try to use or how they'd use it. Plus, the police often misquote or lie altogether about what was said. So say only the Magic Words and let all the cops and witnesses know that this is your policy. Make sure that when you're arrested with other people, the rest of the group knows the Magic Words and promises to use them.

One of the jobs of cops is to get information out of people, and they usually don't have any scruples about how they do it. Cops are legally allowed to lie when they're investigating, and they are trained to be manipulative. The only thing you should say to cops, other than identifying yourself, is the Magic Words: "I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer."

Here are some lies they will tell you:

* "You're not a suspect - just help us understand what happened here and then you can go."
* "If you don't answer my questions, I'll have no choice but to arrest you. Do you want to go to jail?"
* "If you don't answer my questions, I'm going to charge you with resisting arrest."
* "All of your friends have cooperated and we let them go home. You're the only one left."

Cops are sneaky buggers and there are lots of ways they can trick you into talking. Here are some scams they'll pull:

* Good Cop/ Bad Cop: Bad cop is aggressive and menacing, while good cop is nice, friendly, and familiar (usually good cop is the same race and gender as you). The idea is bad cop scares you so bad you are desperately looking for a friend. Good cop is that friend.
* The cops will tell you that your friends ratted on you so that you will snitch on them. Meanwhile, they tell your friends the same thing. If anyone breaks and talks, you all go down.
* The cops will tell you that they have all the evidence they need to convict you and that if you "take responsibility" and confess the judge will be impressed by your honesty and go easy on you. What they really mean is: "we don't have enough evidence yet, please confess

Jail is a very isolating and intimidating place. It is really easy to believe what the cops tell you. Insist upon speaking with a lawyer before you answer any questions or sign anything.

The Golden Rule: Never trust a cop.

Police Encounters
There are three basic types of encounters with the police: Conversation, Detention, and Arrest.

Conversation:
When the cops are trying to get information, but don't have enough evidence to detain or arrest you, they'll try to weasel some information out of you. They may call this a "casual encounter" or a "friendly conversation". If you talk to them, you may give them the information they need to arrest you or your friends. In most situations, it's better and safer not to talk to cops.

Detention:
Police can detain you only if they have reasonable suspicion (see below) that you are involved in a crime. Detention means that, though you aren't arrested, you can't leave. Detention is supposed to last a short time and they aren't supposed to move you. During detention, the police can pat you down and go into your bag to make sure you don't have any weapons. They aren't supposed to go into your pockets unless they feel a weapon.

If the police are asking questions, ask if you are being detained. If not, leave and say nothing else to them. If you are being detained, you may want to ask why. Then you should say the Magic Words: "I am going to remain silent. I want a lawyer" and nothing else.

A detention can easily turn into arrest. If the police are detaining you and they get information that you are involved in a crime, they will arrest you, even if it has nothing to do with your detention. For example, if someone gets pulled over for speeding (detained) and the cop sees drugs in the car, the cops will arrest her for possession of the drugs even though it has nothing to do with her getting pulled over. Cops have two reasons to detain you: 1) they are writing you a citation (a traffic ticket, for example), or 2) they want to arrest you but they don't have enough information yet to do so.

Arrest:
Police can arrest you only if they have probable cause (see below) that you are involved in a crime. When you are arrested, the cops can search you to the skin and go through you car and any belongings. By law, an officer strip searching you must be the same gender as you.

If the police come to your door with an arrest warrant, go outside and lock the door behind you. Cops are allowed to search any room you go into, so don't go back into the house for any reason. If they have an arrest warrant, hiding won't help because they are allowed to force their way in if they know you are there. It's usually better to just go with them without giving them an opportunity to search.

Reasonable Suspicion vs. Probable Cause
Reasonable suspicion must be based on more than a hunch - cops must be able to put their suspicion into words. For example, cops can't just stop someone and say, "She looked like she was up to something." They need to be more specific, like, "She was standing under the overpass staring up at some graffiti that hadn't been there 2 hours ago. She had the same graffiti pattern written on her backpack. I suspected that she had put up the graffiti."

Cops need more proof to say they have a probable cause than to say they have a reasonable suspicion. For example, "A store owner called to report someone matching her description tagging a wall across the street. As I drove up to the store, I saw her running away spattered with paint and carrying a spray can in her hand."

Searches
Never consent to a search! If the police try to search your house, car, backpack, pockets, etc. say the Magic Words 2: "I do not consent to this search." This may not stop them from forcing their way in and searching anyway, but if they search you illegally, they probably won't be able to use the evidence against you in court. You have nothing to lose from refusing to consent to a search and lots to gain. Do not physically resist cops when they are trying to search because you could get hurt and charged with resisting arrest or assault. Just keep repeating the Magic Words 2 so that the cops and all witnesses know that this is your policy.

Be careful about casual consent. That is, if you are stopped by the cops and you get out of the car but don't close the door, they can search the car and claim that they though you were indicating consent by leaving the door ajar. Also, if you say, "I'd rather you didn't search," they can claim that you were reluctantly giving them permission to search. Always just say the Magic Words 2: "I do not consent to this search."

If the cops have a search warrant, nothing changes - it's legally safest to just say the Magic Words 2. Again, you have nothing to lose from refusing to consent to a search, and lots to gain if the search warrant is incorrect or invalid in some way. If they do have a search warrant, ask to read it. A valid warrant must have a recent date (usually not more than a couple of weeks), the correct address, and a judge's or magistrate's signature; some warrants indicate the time of day the cops can search. You should say the Magic Words 2 whether or not the search warrant appears correct. The same goes for any government official who tries to search you, your belongings, or your house.

Infiltrators and Informants
Undercover cops sometimes infiltrate political organizations. They can lie about being cops even if asked directly. Undercover cops can even break the law (narcs get hazard pay for doing drugs as part of their cover) and encourage others to do so as well. This is not legally entrapment.

Taking Notes
Whenever you interact with or observe the police, always write down what is said and who said it. Write down the cops' names and badge numbers and the names and contact information of any witnesses. Record everything that happens. If you are expecting a lot of police contact, get in the habit of carrying a small tape recorder and a camera with you. Be careful - cops don't like people taking notes, especially if the cops are planning on doing something illegal. Observing them and documenting their actions may have very different results; for example, it may cause them to respond aggressively, or it may prevent them from abusing you or your friends.

Conclusion
People deal with police in all kinds of circumstances. You must make an individual decision about how you will interact with law enforcement. It is important to know your legal rights, but it is also important for you to decide when and how to use them in order to best protect yourself.

Taken From:
http://www.assatashakur.org

TRINITY FESTIVAL

2009-04-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

The first and largest global hip hop festival in the United States
returns for the 4th annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival
www.trinityhophop.org. Held April 3-4, 2009, at Trinity College in
Hartford, Connecticut, the festival represents some of the best of
international hip hop performances and academics. Featured artists
this year include K’naan (Somalia), Comrade Fatso and Outspoken
(Zimbabwe), Poetic Pilgrimage (UK), Mohammed Yahya (UK/Mozambique),
BeatBurgerBand (Czech Republic) and more. Featured films include
Planet B-Boy and Fangafrika (StayCalm)

COLLABORATIONS:
African / American collaborations are happening more and more:

South African Weez is recording with Cypress Hill.

Congolese band Lopango Ya Banka lice are playing European stages with
Dead Prez and Ice Cube.

www.afrolution.com

Influential hip hop artist from kenya

2009-03-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

From an early age, Ndugus never suppressed his passion for music, travelled along journey to define his sound and bring it on masses. His expendition has been far and wide from collaborating & featuring from albums/mixtapes. Fusing his renowned lyrical ability with the sound of hip hop. Ndugus believed in speaking his mind and telling it like he sees it "my lyrics are about my observations of life,love,social reforms & the likes. Founder of the underground hip hop crew UswaKamili & Voice of the underground (votu) a underground online radio on www.mtaafm.com (An African state ofMind) Ndugus released Ghetto2Ghetto album this year march 20th.. featuring Blacc suhn, (Ohio. U.S.)the late Yang marcus(S.A) 'mziki ina hisia', Jflames (San Anton. US), Jaydice(A.T.L) 'Hip Hop cries' & Reason4rhyme. With songs like Hustle za mitaa playing on 91.5 Homeboyz Radio & Hip hop cries on O.r.c radio (www.orcradio.com)Ndugus is currently working on a mix cd "TUME-G-ARMY"

Uswamusiq

AFRICA in the Belly of the Beast

AFRICA in the Belly of the Beast

Alfie Tosha - African Tunes

Mr Mandela

Mr Mandela

by Trenton and Free Radical

Digital Track

Approaching people

Germany's Genocide of NAMIBIA

Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind

Blacc Suhn

The Law Of Cause&Effect

Dealing With Police

TRINITY FESTIVAL

Influential hip hop artist from kenya