Straight No Chaser

[Baba Ahmed]

{Baba note: title is borrowed from a biography on Thelonius S. Monk}

"It is no easy feat to divest oneself of European ways. Much pain and sacrifice are involved. Virtually everything that previously provided comfort, security and sanity in your life will leave you in a confused no man's land until the Afrikan way becomes internalized and habitual. Ongoing crisis is inevitable. Balance will not occur in a smooth and gradual process of European decline and Afrikan ascension. And, more than likely, in your dazed attempt to become Afrikan again, you will often feel alone though in the midst of millions. You will lose, and then gain anew, stronger family members, friends, possessions, peace of mind, pride and sanity.

"This transformation, if it is to be complete and permanent, must be an internal one. Understand that it is wholly an internal process. No one can do it for you. No one can make you Afrikan. No one should. It comes from inside out. As you evolve into your Afrikan self, your only companions and guides will become the spirit and wisdom of those uncompromising, self-sacrificing Afrikan warrior scholars whose company you seek in books, recordings, and person. It is a lonely journey, but none could ever be more gratifying for Asafo en route home.

"We, who write this (and there are many of us), have already been there. We know the road. We, too, were confused and angry and without true ancestral direction. Your and our travels, at most, are only different in time, not substance or intensity. And even though we can't remove your pain or frustration or confusion, and we would if we could, we can assist you by describing the road unfolding before you so that you can at least take comfort in knowing your path is correct. You are neither lost nor alone.... There are seven... necessary stages your must live through... first, encounter,... denial... shock...anger... search... study...and finally, focused rage.

Mwalimu K. Bomani Baruti from ASAFO: A Warrior's Guide to Manhood, p.164

[OsunkoyaIfayomi]

medasse been waiting on you to post some knowledge thank you Brother Baba

[Baba Ahmed]

Thank u chosen75; my bad its Kwaku, right? I slip a lot my brutha.

I just finished a quick read of a biography of T. S. Monk, Sr. One lesson I got reminded of is to keep busy in my business; e.g., his was 99.1% music. He knew from early youth that his was something special. There's no comparison b n made, just to stay focused in what I now am about.

Stay tuned and help the old man out of pointless and non-productive pits I often dive into.... the fault is mine; no one else's.

EDIT NOTE: Monk throughout the entire "new" movements in so-called Jazz remained Monk. Always creating; folk used to get a lil upset how on many sets he played many of his old works. But the untrained or unfeeling or serious listeners didn't peep that there was always changes made even in his old and favorite pieces. Many times, one note was changed; or the tempo. And it was usually unpredictable. As he was. And through it all he was a loyal, faithful and caring HUSBAND (the european female writer didn't see him as married: no papers found), FATHER, and SON!!! That's a stage many don't face as vital and elemental. Even his only son, "Toot," the junior, says he grew into realizing his abu's worth. And now sits as chairman of the Thelonius S. Monk Foundation whose prize baby is its Institute. Offering music instructions here and abroad.

Just a tidbit: Monk used to tell people his music came from thousands of year ago. Ancestral driven, in my opinion; he professed no particular religion. One writer described him as being on loan to this planet from another realm. Maybe that's where Sun Ra got some of his ideas.

Don't mind me bruhMan, I see music too as part in our Revolutions and if there is such as an universal language, to me, its the sounds of music not so much its words. If u were up on the so-called Jazz music in particular or study it there's clear evidences of men, women and yungstas striving to crash thru restrictive barriers established by European theories and octave structures of music, go n waaaaaaaay back. One interviewer for Down Beat magazine writer asked Monk..."if classical composers like Bach and Beethoven had any influence on him, he said, 'Oh, you mean Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and guys like that.' She recounted that he laughed and added, 'I only mentioned their names because you're wearing a red jacket [an oblique, and amusing, reference to the fact that these were Russian composers]."
I think I get part of what he meant.

I hope this brief aside doesn't divert u from learning what u strive to get, my brutha.

That's another area many don't face as vital and elemental. Yeah, The Talking Drum(s)

[OsunkoyaIfayomi]

Baba I call you that even in reverence. It means Father if I'm not mistaken? Keep Teaching Baba I look foward to your teaching don't leave me hangin Brother Baba
(In all respect to you)

[Goddess IsIs Akkebala]

Hoteph Beloved Ones:

Blessings, loving, and light throughout all creation and beyond.

Our Ancient Ancestors was not thinking about being Egyptians. They were Egyptians. They weren't thinking about history, because they was living history. So what was they thinking about? They was thinking about freeing the soul.

This is what we as Afrikans need to do today, now, each nanosecond of out lives, right here in america/diaspora.

TRANSFORMATION, RENEWING, REFRESHING, etc..

Here is loving you all

Hoteph

Goddesss IsIs Akkebala