Star-finding, trailblazing, observing, discovering, learning and most of all, encouraging and urging the female pursuit of traditionally male academic fields of study...and some other things as well.
Hairs were raised on the blades of my shoulders as I watched this utterly brilliant feminist rebellion from one of my favourite women - M.I.A. God bless her for her creative and courageous life-force. She is a voice that shan't be removed. The music biz would be so much drier without this marvellous Sri Lankan lady.
The originality she brings to her music, the swag with which she carries herself and that unsmiling gorgeous brown face of hers are really something to be reckoned with. She represents true artistry in my books and this is one reason I fell in love with her sound and vibe the moment I laid my eyes on that 'Paper Planes' video in 2008. Always excited to see what there is to come from this one.
There are some boy-band inspired moves, vernac spoken from the mouth of a white boy and synth-beats that make you think about how cheap the studio they recorded in must be. All in all, it's somewhat entertaining as it carries along a smidgen of shock factor to it.
Alright so last week for three days I hung out with fellow youngsters like myself who are on fire, I mean BLAZING for God and it was an experience and a half. We went out to a resort called Habonim, located in Oonrus within close vicinity to Hermanus. The fun element was definitely present with some tribal challenges survivor style and the chilling waters of the Atlantic numbing toes and fingers everywhere, that's without mentioning sand that was impossible to rub off of skin. Yet there was more to it than just this.
I experienced an encounter with God that so powerful it made me think twice about the manner in which I have been conducting my daily affairs. I was told that my perspective would change immensely as a result of attending this camp but still did not expect it to happen until it did.
There is a certain peace that manifests within you when you place your trust in a Higher Power, a power I call God the Creator of the Universe. The moment you obtain it, there is no turning back. I could not live life thinking in a worldy way after knowing exactly what it means to know that your entire existence has meaning and that you are loved more than you can even imagine. God is most certainly great!
Some four days ago, the exo-planet searching machine, Kepler, discovered 26 new extrasolar planets orbiting their parent stars at orbital trajectories tighter than that which Venus moves along. This would mean they are far too hot for habitation of life as we know it. Thus concluding, no extrasolar humans once again.
What drove me slowly mad was how racism was an elephant in the room that you could not talk about. How white Capetonians would cringe and turn away when the topic came up, or look at you in blank confusion and ask why you were so obsessed with race. It was how, yes, there is racism everywhere in South Africa but in Cape Town it is not possible to even discuss it. And how Cape Town, with its pristine beaches, its lofty Parliament buildings and history of activism, was somehow supposed to be better than that.
One of my greatest lessons this year has been one about forgiveness. Holding onto offenses is such a bad idea and a time-sapper too. The moment you let go, is when you liberate yourself and free your mind to creative thoughts and the wisdom you gain from adverse circumstances.
Discipline is another thing. I really need to stop being lazy and get a little more serious about things, academic and work-related things.
As for music, haven't really been in tune with the goings on and to be honest, music has been a bore ever since M.I.A. stopped making those bizarre dance tunes that made my life but at least we have a female rapper doing big things.
This year, these two song releases just did it for me.
Kind of reminds me of myself when I was 18/9.
I disliked this song when I first saw the video but when I heard the bass properly and the line "Mack the dudes up", I immediately took a liking for it. That was Nicki's feminist moment, she got me there. Her voice is still quite an annoyance however and the Barbie thing is disgraceful but good for her for being subversive.
