ShakaRa

For The British Blacklist 26th October 2013:  http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-choice-fm-capital-xtra-battle-black-radios-soul/ —————————- I have no desire to insult or disrespect any DJ or presenter who has decided to join or remain at the station formerly known as Choice fm. I have even less desire to simply complain about the fact that the Capital take over of Choice is …

ShakaRa Speaks On It: Choice FM vs Capital Xtra & the Battle for the Soul of Black Radio Read More »

For http://www.thebritishblacklist.com 17th Aug 2013:  http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/black-british-classical-music-legacy-tafafdzwa-shakara-mbandaka/ While many cultural historians consider Jazz as “the Black Classical” music, the many contributions of Afrikan-Caribbean composers & musicians to the genre popularly known as western Classical, have often been overlooked. The reasons for this vary. Classical music largely developed in an upper middle class European context that traditionally disenfranchised the decedents of Afrikans …

ShakaRa Speaks On It: The Black British Classical Music Legacy Read More »

 For http://www.thebritishblacklist.com 26th Aug 2013:  http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-history-notting-hill-carnival/ The bank holiday weekend festivities are always well anticipated as people from around the world prepare to “touch de road” for Europe’s largest street festival, Notting Hill Carnival. The urge to jump and whine is exceedingly hard to resist and while festivities are well within the spirit of the occasion, it is also …

ShakaRa Speaks On It: The History of Notting Hill Carnival Read More »

For www.thebritishblacklist.com 9th October 2013: http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-akyaaba-addai-sebo-and-the-origins-black-history-month-uk/ BLACK HISTORY MONTH in the UK is an annual event that has garnered a relatively high profile. The occasion inspires varying degrees of devotion depending ones understanding of its meaning and purpose. While some celebrate and fully immerse themselves in all the month has to offer, others are critical, suggesting …

ShakaRa Speaks on It: Akyaaba Addai-Sebo & The Origins of Black History Month – UK Read More »

 Written for The British Blacklist 23rd Septemeber 2013: http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/dj-279-talks-the-british-blacklist-unceremonious-axing-choice-fm/ On Saturday 21st September Hip-Hop fans world wide awoke to the news that Choice FM had cut DJ 279 from its roster, in favour of the recently BBC discarded, Tim Westwood. Pushing 21 years strong, ‘The Numbers Man’ as DJ 279 is affectionately known, has had one of the longest …

DJ 279 Talks to ShakaRa About Being Unceremoniously Axed from ChoiceFM Read More »

Written for The British Blacklist 11th September 2013: http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-911-twelve-years-war-rumours-war/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shakara-speaks-911-twelve-years-war-rumours-war I was at college when I heard about the bombing of the Twin Towers. Having left a lesson a friend of mine approached me, evidently shocked, repeating, “Someone bombed the TwinTowers”. It took me a while to realise what he was talking about and it was not until I got …

ShakaRa Speaks On It: 9/11 – Twelve Years Of War & Rumours of War Read More »

Written for The British Blacklist 1st Septemeber 2013:  http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-i-dream-come/ “I HAVE A DREAM – that one day…. little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers….” This is often as much as we are used to hearing from the great Rev. …

ShakaRa Speaks On It: “I HAVE A DREAM” – So How Far Have We Come? Read More »