A tri-co symposium that explores questions and creative practices concerning global entrepreneurship in the Ghanaian music scene has started at Haverford & Bryn Mawr Colleges in Philadelphia from March 21-23.
The seminar which features Blitz the Ambassador, Derrick N. Ashong, Soulfège, and Paapa, as well as the screening of the film, ‘Home Grown: HipLife in Ghana’ kicked off on Wednesday with a lecture at Bryn Mawr College Campus Center . On Thursday, there will be a screening and a panel discussion session.
On Friday there will be a Jam Session with Blitz the Ambassador , a workshop with Soulfège . check out event details on FACEBOOK. Events are free. T-shirts are available at $15 to support Nima Muhinmanchi Art, a non-profit that empowers youth in Nima, Accra through the arts. Tune into the Thurs. panel ~8:15 pm on http://www.ustream.tv/gmge323 . Tweet in questions, Twitter TBA, hash tag #GMGE
Blitz has played with Public Enemy, the Roots, and Talib Kweli. He self-produced and distributed his own album “Native Sun” on iTunes. He was based in Brooklyn since the mid 2000s, just moved to Atlanta, and goes back to Accra frequently. We were able to seize the opportunity when one of the band members of V.I.P unfortunately fell ill, and we caught Blitz on the heels of his SXSW performance before he hits New York for TEDxHarlem March 27.
Blitz is armed with a “lightning-fast mind, the political boldness of Chuck D, and the sixth groove sense of Fela Kuti.” He connects African music to hip hop and underground to mainstream. He’ll take the themes of global entrepreneurship and digital media to the next level.
Derrick N. Ashong & Soulfège sound like “Bob Marley meets The Fugees on a street corner in West Africa.” Artists/activists, they create a movement through music and have performed for the likes of Oprah and Bill Clinton. Take advantage of their Million Free Download campaign and cop their latest album ‘AFropolitan.’
Paapa is a young artist with a funky urban contemporary sound, who was signed to Skillions Record in Accra at age 17. He creates what he calls “music that matters,” while pursuing his freshman year studies at Reed College in his spare time.
Run in conjunction with the Haverford and Bryn Mawr Africana Studies Programs and tri-college Africana Studies Consortium. In partnership with Haverford’s Black Students’ League, Bryn Mawr’s African and Caribbean Students’ Organization, and Swarthmore’s African Students’ Association.
Supported by the Tri-Co Digital Humanities, Haverford College President’s Office, Dean’s Fund, Center for Peace & Global Citizenship, Special Events Committee, Hurford Center for Arts & Humanities, Collection Fund, Students’ Council, Student Activities, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Music Department, Sociology Department; Bryn Mawr College Education Program, Self-Governance Association, Dean’s Office, Anthropology Department; and Swarthmore College Department of Music and Dance and Black Studies Program. Sponsored by Brothers Screen GraFX in Upper Darby, Africans & Jamaicans Kitchen in Yeadon, Lovecchio’s Pizza in Bryn Mawr, and Concept X Sound in Long Island.
