somewhere In africa

Did you know or have ever noticed the art gallery in the campus center?


For a long time it has been there but always empty.This semester it has been different.At the begging of the semester the was some art stuff posted up and everyone was welcome to go in and enjoy the portraits.This second part of the semester there is a different artist's work.His name must be Robert Moran,there are business cards on the table a book for the visitors to sign in and put some comments.


I went in this morning and i really loved his work,there are black and white framed portraits taken around different parts of the African continent.There are shots from Mali,Niger,Egypt etc.
Photo coutersy of Robert Moran.

CULTURE DAY WITH STEP AFRIKA

On the 26Th of march which is today...The group step Afrika will be performing at the Gracie Theater.It is going to start at 8.00pm.Entrance is free.FYI today is culture day.
You might be wondering what step Afrika means or "where are these people from." Well they are a professional company based in Washington D.Cand the perform step dances.So what is step dance?

"Stepping is tap dance without tap shoes, James Brown without the music of the JBs, Cab Calloway sans piano, a marching band without John Philip Sousa. It is jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, and rap without instruments. Stepping is lean and mean. The music comes from the synchronized interplay of hands and feet, from chants and hollers. It is a way to make music using the body as instrument."

—Jill Nelson, The Washington Post

This group has been around the country and the world sharing their culture with other people.The group was founded in 1994.


The Husson university international club together with students activities were hoping to have a fashion show or some sort of a cultural show but unfortunately they couldn't make it.Good news is that they are still planning to do it before the end of the semester.

The ambiguity and beauty of Languages

Having lived in three different nations,visited other countries,having friends from around the world and speaking three languages more than three languages fluently i just have to admit that i love the idea of being able to speak and hear other people communicate in different language.They are some languages that i can understand but cannot speak.I learned most of the languages by first being able to understand them then was able to speak and then writing comes last.

It only depends on who you are talking to.It made me realize how blessed i am because i can speak to so many different people some of whom i couldn't talk to if i did not understand their language.

Some languages are so poetic than others and others so rich than others.Yet others so hard and others so easy.You can only notice this when you try to translate word for word from one language to another.for example green( the color)is kijani in kiswahili language and kijani literary means leaf or a leaf.I think that is so unique because leave are green anyways.In french you may say chocolate(sho co la)instaed of brown which also makes sense because chocolate is mostly brown.

By the way Kiswahili is spoken in some countries of East and Central Africa.It is originated from Arab and Bantu languages.Enough about swahili.

Another thing about language you have to speak so often to be able to master it.I also think the use of different word differ from language to language depending on the culture, environment for example in many African countries Dogs are not pets as such they are more of guards and they don't usually live in the house with human beings.They have cages outside.And they go eating anything they can find around their vicinity.They are also know to bite people they are not used to.They are dangerous creatures in that part of the world while here in the states they are people's best friends,companions etc.
So when people want to insult you,they call a dog,and it is considered very degrading.

Also there are some words that don't really exist in some languages,i don't know if that particular thing don't exist or if they other ways of saying it e.g in Kinyarwanda which is the native language of Rwanda(central Africa) the word sorry doesn't exist,instead they use "forgive me."Other words like excuse me don't exist also they say move or push you slightly.

I heard that in some languages instead of saying water the say fluid.I can't imagine saying,"can i please have some fluid"

Some words in some languages cannot even be explained in a different language,i think that's beautiful,The fact that you have to know that language to understand their jokes or stuff like that.

They are so many other different things that i always laugh about when i try to translate directly from one language to another but i cant remember all of them.I will update this blog when i remember.

Foreign Language Film............And The winner is..............

Foreign Language films....do people really care to watch them?I do.They are just like other movies only in a different language.The are as competent as other movies.

The foreign language films award was not there when the Oscar first started. It was not constant every year because there were films made in foreign languages.

The Japanese Film, Departures won the award last year.

There were nine nominees in the foreign language film category During the Oscars..Some of them were * Argentina, El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Juan Jose Campanella, director
* Australia, Samson & Delilah
* Bulgaria, The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner
* France, Un Prophète
* Germany, The White Ribbon
* Israel, Ajami
* Kazakhstan, Kelin, Ermek
* The Netherlands, Winter in Wartime
* Peru, The Milk of Sorrow

El secreto de Sus Ojos (the secret in their eyes)won this category ;foreign language film.It is the sixth time Argentina has won this award.The movie is acted in Spanish and translated in English (of course).It is the in so many genres such as drama,crime,mystery and romance.It runs for two hours and seven minutes.

It is the second movie directed by the same director to receive an oscar nomination.

Good Hair by Chris R ock

Good hair is a documentary about African American Hair culture.The movie was showing at Husson University Kominsky room on the 25th of February as part of the black History month.Precious was also shown the first week of the month for the same purpose.

The turn out for good hair was quite good compared to Precious which students regarded as too sad and some said it was irrelevant for Black History month.

Good hair was done by Chris rock so its funny but at the same time very eye opening.Being a woman of color i thought i know everything that was going to be in the movie but i was so surprised at how much i did not know about Black hair tactics.


Chris Rock was inspired to do the documentary after her daughter asked him why she did not have good hair.This set him out on a journey around the U.S and around the world to search for answers on black women's hair.In his search he visited hair salons,scientific labs and Indian temples.

At the scientific labs he discovered the chemicals found in the Hair relaxers that black women put on their hair to make it straight.The chemical is hydro-chloride, which may cause burning effects on the scalp if not used appropriately.

He also discovered where human hair weaves come from;they come from Indian temples.Indian women sacrifice their hair to their Gods in the temple,And then in the process they get sold to sales people who sell them to salons here in America.Biggest market for the weaves is Los Angles.

The best waves go for $1000 or even more.They are weaved on cornrows.

Featured in the documentary were,Kerry Washington,Ice T,Nia Long,Paul Mooney,Raven Symone',Maya Angelou and reverend Al Shaperon.Maya Angelou was also among them.

The movie was quite even more eye opening and informative for people who not familiar with black women's hair culture.It is always easy to see such documentaries because you cannot stop someone on the street to ask them how they do their hair or to even ask to touch their it.

As usual Chris Rock was narrating the documentary.

Husson university watch out for movies coming up in March.The student activities is dedicated to showing two movies every month.

Jamaican NIGHT @ HUSSON UNIVERSITY

If you are trying to figure out what to do on the 25th @ 8.00PM? Why not meet at the Furman center for a taste of Jamaican music and FOOD?

The international club is organizing the event and all students,faculty and even the community are invited.There is going to be free food.It is also going to be educational.I t is going to be an opportunity to know a some quick facts about the country.

There is also going to a dance competition and the winner will go away with a Jamaican music CD.Hair braiding is also on the list,so if you want you hair braided by a professional,just bring your head and a comb.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

QUICK FACTS

February is considered the black history month.It was co-founded by Dr.Carter G.Woodson and Rev Jesse Moorland in 1915.Their goal was to bring awareness to the crucial role the black people in America and world history.They hoped to dispel popular mis truths and also educate black people about their heritage and instill them with a sense of pride in their race.

America has recognized black history first as Negro History week then as Black History week.Black History had barely been studied or documented when the tradition originated.

why February?because it marks two birthdays of two men who influenced the black American population;Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

How is Husson University celebrating the History.
Student activities is honoring the history by showing two popular movies during the month.Last week students were able to watch the movie 'Precious' and 'good hair' by Chris Rock is going to be shown in Kominsky during the last week of the month.Date and time will be announced.

Prcious is about a 16 year old black girl who is obesse and illetrate.she is raped and impregnanted twice by her father.

Good hair is a documentary about African American hair culture.
Husson will be showing the movie on the last week of this month at Kominsky.
No fees will be charged.

Have an informative Bkack history month.