So I was invited to share my philosophy and my approach to my art practice by Wren of the Magic Moments with Music podcast. I really had such a great time pondering Omítórera my song offering to Osun. I discuss the importance of community, ancestral veneration, seasons and flow. 

I have been watching YouTube more now that I have the time and I'm most drawn to long form content I can primarily listen to. So here's what I've enjoyed lately: 

The Future of Natural Hair  by Rukiat (43:21)

I loved this video essay because I love history and we were really taken on a historical journey of hair, current trends, valid critiques and then a really well researched guess of the future. I think I have futuristic hair, it's flamboyant af. 

THE VICTIMS OF THE KNIFE - Audio Documentary by Rachel Melita (30:01)

I never knew audio documentaries were a thing until Rachel shared her documentary on FGM. This documentary was incredible. Having the women harmed by FGM be the first voices we heard is so important and so worthwhile. Their experiences, their feelings and their voice centred was so impactful. I was a bit hesitant to listen because I hate to hear about people suffering but though the practice and the stories were really unjust and unfortunate, there was a lot of care and gentleness in this documentary.

I'm so happy Rachel Melita used her creativity to widen my perspective and highlight the experiences and perspectives of African women. The organisation that helps former cutters retrain in other skills totally inspired me because it's so easy to demonize and discard people that have been practicing harm but they took a practical and effective method to address a really important element. Because if the cutters are making uniforms they can't cut or teach others to cut and continue the practice. Amazing work, important work, amazing documentary. 

Of Flesh & Fear: the Pyramid of Predators - by Tee Noire (02:34:44)

Tee Noire speaks to patriarchy, predators and social hierachy.  She takes a deep dive into the things we don't want to speak about and it's extremely important. 

Shame is keeping you from the care you deserve | Divination For Liberation Podcast - by Dayna Lynn Nuckolls aka People's Oracle (55:43)

The People's Oracle breaksdown the planets, their movements and how they can impact us collectively and as individuals. There's plenty of sidereal Cancer in the sky and we need to pay attention to our bodies. 

BONUS:

Knowledge Beyond Certainty - The Solomon Atah Podcast featuring Dr. Olusegun Morakinyo (01:29:11)

Dr. Morakinyo explains and breaks down the importance of African technology, knowledge production and the significance of Yoruba orisha Eshu in philosophy. 

I'm breaking the mental chains

Cutting the psychic cords

Carefully stripping back

Playfully removing

Through trial and error

Investigation, introspection and interrogation

What contributes to the quality of my life

And what undermines my happiness and health

What can I cut down

How do I tear way the conditioning

Slice down conformity, cruelty and carelessness

Leave the bare bones of employability and the spectacle of sanity

Simply to survive this cruel and capitalist world

Abandon all hope of thriving in this world

Destroy my ambitions of success in this world

And save the finite time and energy I have towards community and care

Towards creativity and rest

At times slowness, at times sabotage

Soon escape, return to burn.

Beyond Time and Space

Beyond Time and Space

Was Twe (That Which Experiences)

And nothing was Twe

Twe was curious

Twe wanted some new

Twe wanted something different

So they came into being

Xir started the big bang

And it felt

And fae hurled

And exploded.

And crashed

And banged

And kept expanding

Wider and wider

And all things came from her

All things came through it

Zey were everything

And the space between

She was space

And zie was nothing at all

From the tiniest particle

To the heaviest star

They did it all

And tey kept on

And he was planets

She was galaxies

Dey were solar systems

And the gravity that held them

She was universal

Trying new combinations

Developing

Creating

Evolving

Revolving

And he was information

Zey sent information

It was response

And the responder

Fey called

And he would answer

And zay had one desire

And that desire

Was to experience

To try every

All at once

In all the various ways

In everything

And keep going

Keep creating

Keep modifying

Keep surviving

Keep thriving

And experience

---

I wrote this poem detailing my suspicions about existence. TWE is a term for "that which experiences" I wrote it when I was interested consciousness and why we experience and why we cant see or measure "consciousness". My suspicions are grounded in one unexplainable thing: our endless desire to adapt, survive essentially, the will to live, everything every living thing share the will to live. From bacteria to homo-sapians we all have 1 thing in common: to continue experiencing. It is highlighted by our will to live and for some the desire to reproduce, some to create legacy. I don't know. But the heights of creativity innate to all living creature to adapt, survive and continue the experience says so much to me.

Why can't we speak on the pain?

Only on the gains.

Only on consumerism, followers and fame

Why is our truth a stain?

When did we become the ones to blame?

We’re supposed to be grateful

"Shut up, smile and don’t you dare turn hateful"

Can’t even complain

Pissing on us and telling us its rain

They tell us it's our fault

Again and again

All while they have gained

And gained and gained

They silence our pain

And we feel shame

We are not the ones to blame

We did not create the chains

For gold, grains and sugarcane

They hoard the wealth obtained

Through cheap labour its sustained

I despise the wealth that's bloodstained

So here's my poem on just sliver of my pain.