Ellington

Greetings from across the Atlantic to all of you. Of course I would have loved to have checked in with you guys sooner but internet access is not nearly as available here as it is in the states. And its SLOOOOOW. I feel like the two turtles on the comcast commercial LOL. But I digress. Its day 4 of my tour of West Africa and let me say the trip has been an eye-opener. Dare I say that as an African-American man THIS trip has been even more life-changing than our trip to New Bohemia last year. So let me catch you up to speed. The flight was a long one. I quickly learned that Accra is a much more traveled city than Prague because our transatlantic flight was full. Phingaprint and I fought for space in our seat but made the best of it. Flying out of New York it was interesting to see the huge African population that resides in NY and make the trek back and forth to their homeland.

Im going to go into more detail in my upcoming column but again I have found a country that literally has saved my love for hiphop. The energy, the passion, and the raw talent of these artists threw me back to an age when I enjoyed what I did as a part of life...not something I just did. Listening to stories of the struggles that these artist go through to do their craft reminded me of the same struggles we experience in the states. In Accra there exists a parallel universe similar to ours that has been dogged by propoganda and doctored footage. All of the people are not poor or live in shanty towns, they are not savages, they are not at war, and they do hip hop...WELL! But more on that later...

Culturally speaking I saw a land that clings to old traditions and cultures while learning from and imitating American influences. TV, Radio, and music has a decidely African angle but the states have clearly shaped how they do things now. Its amazing in both a good and bad way to see how other countries take their cues from us. These are a happy, care-free people. who despite some obvious hardships have lived good lives oblivious to the trivial things we worry ourselves sick about in the U.S. Simple lives lead to healthy ones. I again am embarrased to be a lazy out-of-shape American who clearly is not fit to do the walking most West Africans do. Imagine me being a grown man looking at a 12 year-old with veins running through his biceps and abs that looked chiseled next to my less than stellar physique LOL. And I actually work out everyday! Ive heard stories of Americans coming to the motherland and having their diabetes go away. Theyve had their blood pressure drop. Ailments have all but disappeared in what is rumored to be a healing land. 65 year old women look like theyre 40. 25 year old men look like theyve just reached puberty. It is a place of rejuvination. As I looked out upon the Atlantic ocean while in Cape coast, I realized as those waves rushed against the rocks that I had a spiritual connection with this place. It feels like home.

Later, I will tell you guys about my experience going to the infamous slave dungeons on the Elmina coast between Cape Coat and Accra. One of threee castles where slaves were housed before they were transported to America as early as the 1400's. Ghana was ground zero for the slave trading that took place centuries ago and just to walk through that place I felt the ghosts of millions of my ancestors calling out to me to not let their sacrifices go in vain. It was emotional moment. But more on that later. Today is Republic Day in Ghana. I have another show and there are celebrations all over the city. Gotta run.

Previous Comments

ID

131285

Comment

That's gotta be one fascinating trip! Hope all goes well for you there. Makes me wanna visit Africa.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-07-01T07:42:00-06:00

ID

131288

Comment

Great to hear from you, Kaze. Finally, I'm jealous and envious of a rapper. I'm overwhelmed by the feelings you've expressed as a result of being there. Some people simply cry upon returning and thinking about the way we once were and about what happened to us there upon the encroachment and later theft of human and natural resources by Europeans. Richard Wright wrote about visiting Accra and so have many other writers. I can't wait to make such visit too. I'm losing weight before going though. I'm not going there as a fat African-American having eating too many hamburgers and too much American and English bacon. Did you kiss the ground as I plan to? Remember, you can gain weight there too. We had an intern from Britain who says she gained 20 pounds while there. Tell my kinfolks I said hello, I love them and am proud of them for having pride, love and tenacity despite being likely the most abused people and continent on earth. Kaze, how does it feel to not be looked upon or called a _____ over there? Don't get too use to it, you gotta return. I suppose being looked upon as a fat African-American is distasteful, too. He, he.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-07-01T08:19:59-06:00

ID

131289

Comment

Makes me want to be there too! I can't wait to read more, glad you are having such a good time so far!

Author

andi

Date

2008-07-01T08:22:13-06:00

ID

131298

Comment

... the energy of our people.... that's what I've always heard about. The energetic spirit of a people who take the time to respond and move to everything.... wonderful!

Author

lanier77

Date

2008-07-01T12:07:43-06:00

ID

131300

Comment

Well..I must say Walt this IS a gut-check. Ive found it hard to continue to ignore hip hop's obvious influences on the rest of the world. Even as I am pleased that an artform we created is being picked up globally. Unfortunately, the bad that comes with it is a huge price to pay. As more and more hiphop seeps into the continent folks have expressed to me a concern of some of the lyrics sparking old tribal beefs. See, here, even before gangs developed in America. Tribes here were in competition. Even now Ive learned that rappers are separated by region, tribe, or dialect here. As I see the dress and language change. (Yes they're calling each other n----r here now too. sorry Walt)I fear that the worst of one of our most storied art-forms will corrupt a peaceful people. I find it now very hard to say that this music does not affect some people. First the czech republic and now Ghana. Ive seen coutries who mimic EVERYTHING we do down to the letter. Propoganda works on both sides of the fence I see.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-07-01T12:20:00-06:00

ID

131301

Comment

Kaze, thank you SO much for sharing these experiences. I'm teary-eyed with awe, and a bit of jealously, at what you must be experiencing. Reminds me a little of when Casey went and wrote about her experiences. Godspeed.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-07-01T12:30:01-06:00

ID

131302

Comment

The price (pain, suffering, murder, hunger, starvation, exploitation, lack of unity, self-hatred) tribal wars have costed blacks or African people throughout the world is amazing. The global appeal of rap is a good thing I suppose on one hand, but if it's causing an end to peace there, then we have to rethink whether rap there has worth in it's present form. Perhaps, local rappers can build a coalition for the purpose of making sure rap is used in a fashion to build bridges instead of causing an end to peace. I realize this is harder to do than simply saying it. Undoubtedly, this illustrates to you how important it is that rappers here in America act responsibly since the influence to the world is so massive. This also bring up the point about whether black folks have created any art form that compares with the reach and appeal of European art form. I'd like to see what these same people say about rap in 25 more years. If Africans there are calling each other the n- word and not being offended then maybe we need to get over the offense here too. Do they say the N-word with the same inflection and meaning there that our cousins, the white people, use here? Or the black folks use here. Is it __gga or __gger? Smile I know you're serving us well there. Good luck and hurry back to tell us about it.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-07-01T12:44:15-06:00

ID

131786

Comment

Wow, the emotion that I felt reading this is beyond any expression of words that I could utter. I echo the rest of the guys here, Kaze, thank you for sharing this with us. Most of us wont' get a chance to experience the greatness of which you speak, but thru you we can sample a taste. I can just imagine the beauty, the pride, the stregnth you must be feeling. Does it feel like home? Are you comfortable? And the most important question, are there cigarettes/beer/etc on every corner. Id' imagine not since you described their conditioning being so good. I'm interested in that though, check it out and report back. Is the same crap that kills us slowly thats made available to us (fast food, tobacco, ect) just as available there? We MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Enjoy the experience! Wish I was there!

Author

Queen601

Date

2008-07-01T13:53:19-06:00

ID

131821

Comment

Hey, Kaze! Glad you're enjoying yourself over there. I'll get there one of these days. And yes, there are different classes of people in Africa just like any other continent. It's not all gloom and doom over there.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-07-02T13:28:40-06:00

ID

131877

Comment

Kamikaze, i am a former millsapian and soon-to-be jacksonian, and will be in Ghana on Monday (and will be there til Friday). Will you still be around? I would love to meet up with you...my friend Quin Breland told me I should contact you. My uncle has a peanut farm there and I do refugee resettlement, thus the reason for my trip. Post back and let me know.

Author

paige henderson

Date

2008-07-03T15:37:31-06:00

ID

131887

Comment

They probably eat a better diet. How is the food?

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-07-04T09:48:41-06:00

ID

131905

Comment

Yo Kaze, the district attorney in Detroit, Kym Worthinton, a smart and go-get-it black female, is now poised to somehow charge mayor Kilpatrick with cheating on his wife with several more women and lying about it under oath. I know Kwame the motor city player is our fraternity brother and all, but how many women (or hoes as hip-hopsters commonly refer them as)does the hip hop mayor needs to handle his sexual needs. His problems are now affecting his mother's re-election to Congress. Let's make a trip up there to tell Kwame it's time to give it up and resign before he wrecks his whole family and the City of Detroit. Check your schedule and let me know when you're available to head up there with me to talk to the dog. Better yet, let's head to Kansas City for the general convention next month and ask the whole fraternity to urge Kwame to resign with grace.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-07-08T07:49:30-06:00

ID

131906

Comment

Sorry, I mean resign with class. He might think we mean one of his women named Grace.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-07-08T07:51:26-06:00