Soul Force and Spice Cake: The Call to Shakabaz
585993
Colour, music, scents and sentiment spill out of this pictureless fantasy novel and sweep us into a story of suspense, self-discovery and nonviolent resistance. Our girls laughed, swooned, quaked and cheered -- then happily chirped "Satyagraha!".
775259
I remember singing selections from David Fanshawe's "African Sanctus" for Texas State choir auditions my sophomore year in high school. Fanshawe is definitely not for everyone, and some will probably find his "African Sanctus" strange. But for those who are prepared to listen, it's a great experience.

"African Sanctus" was inspired by Fanshawe's expeditions to Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, and Kenya in 1969-72. He recorded indigenous chants and Muslim prayer calls, and incorporated the recordings into his own setting of the Mass. For example, the  first track starts off with an African tribal chant, with the choir superimposed. The second track is fascinating- it's a recording of an imam chanting the traditional Muslim prayer call, and a choir singing the Kyrie; the tonality of the 2 go together very nicely.

If you enjoy both world music and classical music, and are looking for something different, get this CD. It has a lot to offer.
2473314
This is Soul Eater in it's best form and at a great price too!
2393165
Whether or not you know much about Hugh Masekela's career or not this will probably interest you musically. Through a number of conversations I've had over the last couple of years with a few friends,particularly those living on the West Coast it was made apparent to me that during the 60's and 70's there was a strong musical and cultural cross pollination of soul and funk music as they were really beginning to grow by leaps and bounds with the traditional music of Africa. Some have called the music Afro-beat,afrofunk and especially even in the early years African Soul. It's become very much in vogue since the mid 1980's and is such a staple these days of just about anyone in any style wishing to add a world music flavor to their sound that a lot of people may have forgotton how important and innovative this music was and still is. Not only is a lot of the original music itself hard to come by but this is a collection of Chisa label rarities and unreleased material. Now being what seems like a various artist compilation this album isn't as much that as it is different songs featuring a collective lineup of singers and musicians such as Hugh himself,O.J Ekemonde (whom I was lucky to see live with his Nigerian All-Stars when I was 12 years old),singer Letta Mbulu and members of The Crusaders such as Wilton Felder,Wayne Henderson,Joe Sample and Stix Hooper. Even though the music has a strong unified flavor throughout the songs are also credite to different people:Ojah,The Zulus,Baranta And Miatta Fahinbulleh and Letta Mbulu to be exact and the range of variations on the sound is about as broad. Letta material such as "Mahlaela","U Se Mcani" and
"Macongo" all have a mixture of both 60's Motown and African township sounds;musically and the language of the singing itself. Other songs such as "Tepo","Ahvuomo","Za Labalaba" and "Joala" all showcase a more progressive afro-beat sound similar to what groups such as Osibisa were doing in the early/mid 70's whereas the serious funk/disco elements show up on the openening "Afro Beat Blues",which strong resembles the title song to Hugh's 1975 album&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Boy-s-Doin-It/dp/B000007QKA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Boy's Doin It</a>&nbsp;and who knows;could be an outtake from those sessions. Same goes for the hardcore afro-disco of "Witch Doctor". As a sampler of what was going on within the African music world in the original funk/disco/world music during the most innovative years of those genres from the mid 60s to mid 70's this really gives you the flavor of a certain musical revolution in a certain place.
1423417
I was very impressed with this CD - and from reading the liner notes, what is presented on this album is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Jamaicans who immigrated to Canada and recorded soul and funk music.  And it's not bad either!  I am not from Canada, and the heyday of these recordings is before my time anyway - but these tunes sound like they wouldn't feel out of place at all on any Black music station in the 1970s.

Despite the "Reggae" reference in the album title, this is mainly a soul/funk collection.  The two tracks that technically are reggae;  "African Wake" by Johnnie Osbourne and "Memories" by Noel Ellis (a rare chance to hear the son of the great Alton Ellis) are excellent.  Eddie Spencer and Jo-Jo and the Fugatives (names pretty much unknown today) both contribute two foot-stomping tunes a piece.  The Cougars are also presented twice, where I especially like their cover of the Motown classic, "I Wish It Would Rain."  In addition to the real funky stuff, you have some mellow tunes such as "Love is the Answer" by RAM and "I Believe In Music" by Bob and Wisdom (to today's crowd, both songs may sound hopelessly green - but put yourself in that time and place please!).  But my favorite track in the collection is "Mr. Fortune" by The Hitch-Hikers f/The Mighty Pope;  which is an excellent speciman of underground Black soul music.

The CD is very listenable and it's good to see that someone has choosen to shine some light on the music created by Jamaican immigrants in 1960s-1970s Canada.  G-d knows, people were not really demanding anyone for it.  It may be a little too much of an odd niche however;  and may find it's way into the hands of unappreciative listeners on the basis of it's title.  But hopefully, if anything, it will turn them on to the diversity present in Jamaican music.
554368
Taysir Saadas book should be read by the countless number of people sending emails detailing the atrocities committed by radical Islamists and the jokes about how all Muslims should be treated. Yes, there is a problem that the nations need to resolve. But there is a fine line in peoples thinking between rank and file Muslims and those that want to destroy people of other faiths supposedly in the name of Allah. We have become afraid to have anything to do with any Muslim. Its understandable to an extent because of the terrorist attacks going on in the world.

Saada, born in Gaza, was himself once a fighter of Jews for the cause of radical Islam. He was yet a teenager when he left his family and joined the fighters. His family did not approve his actions. His father wanted him to get an education first. Time went on and Saada went to the United States. He chose a girl he met in a bar to marry so that he could get a green card. He found that he was good at restaurant management. At one point he left his wife and children in Missouri to pursue a restaurant opportunity in California, and was gone for more than a year.

And the title? Taysirs family were friends of Yasser Arafat. Then when he left home to fight, Taysir worked for the PLO chairman. He got to know him very well, and after becoming a Christian, he even witnessed to him. Arafat listened calmly and seemed to be thinking about what he was hearing.

Time passed some more and Taysirs son became a Christian, followed by Taysir and his wife. Taysir found that his hatred for the Jews instantly turned into a love for them. As he read the Bible he understood more and more the role of Muslims and Jews in the world. He saw the Jews as his cousins, both having Abraham as their ancestor. He found that the Muslims were given a blessing by God through Ishmael just as the Jews were through Isaac and that their numbers would be great. God led Taysir and his family into preparation for a ministry to Muslims.

His family back home was naturally opposed to his changing religions. At one point his brother threatened to kill him if he came back to visit. But that passed over and his father understood that God had called him into a special ministry.

The book affirms that Muslims are coming to Christ in great numbers. Instead of condemning all Muslims because of the actions of the terrorists, perhaps we should pray for them and seek ways to be involved in ministering to them.

The book does affirm some of the things we see in the emails circulating. It is perfectly acceptable for the radical Muslims to deceive infidels by making promises they have no intention to keep. They clearly cannot be trusted in what they say. Many families really do feel they have a right to kill members who reject Islam. But in spite of all this, God is working in the Muslim world, and thousands are coming to know the true God.

I have read books by non-Christians who have come out of the Muslim world, and they are informative. But this book is even more so because the author has a worldview that Christians can identify with. It certainly gives one a different perspective on the phenomenon that has become so much a part of our lives and news stories.
1340302
Classic reggae music and Rastafarianism seem joined at birth. In her book The Last Rasta Helene Lee argued ska and reggae developed when Count Ossie introduced the Skatalites to nyabinghi drumming which he derived from burro hand drumming. I found her argument persuasive and the compiler of this new Soul Jazz CD S. Baker follows her logic in his linear notes.

This CD has two wonderful aspects. One is the large selection of fairly rare examples of nyabinghi drumming in reggae music. This music is a particular favorite of mine, though I must admit I can only take Count Ossie's lectures in small doses. The second is the linear notes which though not very original are quite pithily written and contain an intelligent and sympathetic overview of Rastafarianism. The notes are very indebted to Lee's book; I found Lee's book informative but disliked her European style of biography. The style of biography she used injects her personality into the narrative too much for my taste and couched controversial statements in conditional clauses. This is my round about way of suggesting that unless you have a real fetish for this material these linear notes may serve you as well as Lee's book.

The songs are in general fairly rare and quite nice. The collection even included a mento song Ethiopia from 1955! This CD set was a rarity for me, a project where I enjoyed the music and the notes. Quite wonderful more than educational this is pleasurable learning.
3362073
My husband and I went to Curacao as part of our honeymoon. We went there for Shabbat and were determined to find a shul (synagogue) for the Shabbat services. The orthodox shul was so far off the beaten path that we couldn't find it. We did find Mikve Israel and were so amazed at what we learned there! This cookbook is such a monumental work in that it preserves the cooking, traditions and culture of the Jews who came to Curacao. I recommend it highly, even though some of the recipes may not be what you are used to.
2189854
I don't like being late to the party, but I was on this kind of thing.  Fairly recently, I started digging into the recordings from the now-defunct Black Jazz label, which specialized in sort of avant guarde funk-jazz.  That me to guitarist Calvin Keys, which led me here.  The Wide Hive label has picked up where Black Jazz left off, complete with Calvin Keys on the roster.  The Wide Hive Players is just a group name for a jam session with the main players on the roster.  Along with a well-oiled horn section, and actual keys, Calvin lays down some seriously gnarled jazz-funk guitar.  Imagine James Blood Ulmer playing guitar for Stanley Turrentine, and that pretty much gets you to the sound and the combination.  What stands out most dramatically is that the Wide Hive Players take the music into the darker realms of funk-jazz.  Maceo Parker introduced Life On Planet Groove by describing it as "happy music."  I love Maceo as much as anyone, but the Wide Hive Players dig more into the spooky sounds of Bitches Brew-era Miles.  Despite that, they never lose the tight groove of an old-fashioned soul jazz combo that Blue Note might have put out in the 60's.  Ever wonder what the Greyboy Allstars, Stanton Moore, or any of those guys would sound like if they were asked to play out their feelings after some nightmares?  Give this a try.  Very cool.

Further listening:  Third Rail (a James Blood Ulmer projection), Hamiet Bluiett, IZM, New Soul Underground.
3283373
"The Philosophy of the Masters" is a compelling book which was written by a realized Master, Sawan Singh.  The book describes the spiritual practice of Surat Shabd of Sant Mat which is purported to be the highest spiritual science.  The focus of this spiritual practice is to attune oneself to the spiritual current of the sound and light of "God" which is Shabd, or the outward manifestation of "God".  It should be noted that the practice of Surat Shabd can only be accomplished through one's initiation and direction of a Living Master or Teacher.  This is the rub.  One cannot practice Surat Shabd based on one's own faith by worshiping a non-living Master or Religious Icon. Where and how one finds a Living Master seems to be a near impossible task and a real frustration let alone if one is spiritually ready for such a Master.  How does one really know that a particular Master is the embodiment of "God" or if one is being led in the wrong direction?
  Although this is a very provocative and compelling book which raises very cogent points about the practice of Surat Shabd, it would appear not to be the most practical spiritual path to pursue.
2150937
i would highly recommend that everybody who looooooves to read to grab a copy of everything SA'ID SALAAM!!!!! SA"ID you should do a collaboration with Shameek Speight. 2 of my faves in one book that wouldbe craaaaaaazy.
639445
Please take my assurance that you can buy this album without having heard any sample tracks and you will be completely captivated by it. There is not one track that is not something special. Over the years I felt that Shakatak had lost the creative edge when it came to instrumentals but the totally opposite when it comes to vocals. Until now I had not changed my views.

With Jill Saward there could never be a bad song or a bad performance. Is there anyone who will ever say a bad word about her? I doubt it. She is wonderful but this album shows not only her in this great light but also the group who have recovered their great creativity fully. It is as if this is their first album. They are as fresh now as when they first started and just as creative.

One tune that will thrill you is "Tower of Babel". Another one to note is "footprints in the sand" but you cannot really distinguish, each track is as good as the other.

Once you have this album keep it forever and ensure it is passed down the generations because it will never date.

It shows just how comfortable and happy these people are with each other that thirty years after the creation of Shakatak they could produce an album of such quality. Cannot recommend enough. Marvellous.
4111674
The one memory of South Africa 2010 will be the blistering soundtrack to accompany the fearsome battles between two sets of eleven focussed, trained warriors or, in other cases, the England team. This symphony surpassed New Order's "World in Motion", it was like Sepp Blatter had spent the FIFA budget on a barbershop quartet of bluebottles to chant "Bafana Bafana" on loop whilst Ned from South Park shouted encouragement whilst riding a vespa from the touchlines. If pure, virginous beauty had a voice, dear reader, this would be her sirenesque serenade to lure the sailing vessels of my heart.

But I take my inspiration from personal interest. My Daddy fell from a ladder on the sugar plantation and was paralysed, in a coma, a sick parody of the man who inspired my family and myself as an impressionable youngster. After playing this album on repeat something - Lord be praised - something great happened and my Daddy walked again. HE WALKED! HALLELUJAH! The tears we shed were to replace such words that can never exist to describe such unspoken disbelief and joy as he walked across to the stereo. Had the CD not skipped he probably wouldn't have collapsed with a massive coronary but you can't hold the vuvuzelas responsible for everything.

Also, we never found out why he was on a ladder to harvest what is essentially a ground crop.
2677081
This was a great book. The call to be a nazarite. The call to live out loud for God's kingdom. To be separated from the world. To choose the things of God over the things of the flesh.
3305375
Dearest GOF,

Greetings!

About a month ago I received (as did the group) a recommendation to purchase Grandmaster Anankhanda Mushaba's book, "Ascended Masters of Color." I was moved to do this, as quite a while back I made contact with Ascended Lady Master YEHMAN-YAH, who is of the dark skinned race. She channeled through me a very powerful message regarding pictures of the "Black" Masters being made available, as well as their infinite wisdom for all of humanity.

I do hope the author remains on this email list, as I want to highly recommend this book! It is written freestyle channeling and addressed issues that most of us of the Starseed LoveLightserver path are unaware of. When one says colour to me, I picture the chakra colours, not racial colours. This, however, is where the bulk of humanity still is, on the surface of things. We may be seeing souls, while others see skin tones.

Through this book I have learned that even the Soul is connected via skin-tone to certain frequencies, and now wonder why that didn't occur to me before?! I have authored books myself, encouraging people to where certain colours next to their body in order to call in a certain ray. Well, the entire vibrational range takes all into account, AND IN A VERY POSITIVE LIGHT OF UNITY AND ONENESS.

I feel my own urging, as well as the urging of the many, many Master's with whom I am Graced to work, to inspire this group to look into this book. It clarifies so much, on every level.

Blessings BE to the Author!

BLESSINGS BE TO ALL AT GOF, TO THE ARCTURIANS and to ALL THE GREAT ONES!

With deep love and appreciation,

Janna S. Parker (Yanna Yin)

Janna

[...]

[...]

Janna

[...]

[...]

Forwarded Message

From: Kiwikuan@aol.com

Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 18:04:04 EDT

Subject: Ascended Master's of Color/ Ascended Beings of Light

To: groupofforty@talklist.com

HTML Attachment [ Download File | Save to my Yahoo! Briefcase ]

Dearest GOF,

Greetings!

About a month ago I received (as did the group) a recommendation to purchase Grandmaster Anankhanda Mushaba's book, "Ascended Masters of Color." I was moved to do this, as quite a while back I made contact with Ascended Lady Master YEHMAN-YAH, who is of the dark skinned race. She channeled through me a very powerful message regarding pictures of the "Black" Masters being made available, as well as their infinite wisdom for all of humanity.

I do hope the author remains on this email list, as I want to highly recommend this book! It is written freestyle channeling and addressed issues that most of us of the Starseed LoveLightserver path are unaware of. When one says colour to me, I picture the chakra colours, not racial colours. This, however, is where the bulk of humanity still is, on the surface of things. We may be seeing souls, while others see skin tones.

Through this book I have learned that even the Soul is connected via skin-tone to certain frequencies, and now wonder why that didn't occur to me before?! I have authored books myself, encouraging people to where certain colours next to their body in order to call in a certain ray. Well, the entire vibrational range takes all into account, AND IN A VERY POSITIVE LIGHT OF UNITY AND ONENESS.

I feel my own urging, as well as the urging of the many, many Master's with whom I am Graced to work, to inspire this group to look into this book. It clarifies so much, on every level.

Blessings BE to the Author!

BLESSINGS BE TO ALL AT GOF, TO THE ARCTURIANS and to ALL THE GREAT ONES!

With deep love and appreciation,

Janna S. Parker (Yanna Yin)

Janna

[...]

[...]
288682
i first hoid awb's "cut the cake" in 1975 and i was s-o-l-d on the soul brothers .... this album has CTC's best trax and much more -  earlier tracks - like pick up the pieces/person to person +++. If you're a soul brother - pick up this album BLINDFOLDED coz man (who cares that they're actually scotsmen) AWB really GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE !!!!
1393520
"I think that Bashir is an excellent writer and I particularly enjoy the politics of the book and the rise of communism in Afghanistan and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism encouraged by the USA to counter it. It describes the plite of the poorAfgans and how their affiliations with either party more or less destroys them. I hope that the publisher, Paltium Press are marketing and prompoting the book well.
It deserves a wide readership." Comment by novelist BAPSI SIDHWA

And here below my interview to Bashir
http://valentinammaka.blogspot.it/2013/07/an-authentic-portrait-of-afghanistan.html