Professor Nicole Mitchell of the University of California Irvine, spearheaded the first Black Urban Music Conference this past weekend, because according to her..." African American music, culture and history speaks to the core of American history and culture, and presently our students are being denied access, through limited exposure, while studying at UCI. Our students should not be put at a disadvantage. When they depart from UCI with their degree, they should be prepared to navigate the diverse multidimensional environment of our American population. They shouldn't pay tuition and study diligently to enter into the world with ignorance."
Professor Mitchell started on this project six months ago, and with the assistance of history PHD student Marketus Presswood, she was able to bring African American musical expressions to the forefront by way of musicians/scholars like the aforementioned Greg Tate who was the conference's keynote speaker. Mr Tate is also the founder and leader of the Burnt Sugar Arkestra Chamber, an ensemble that turned the audience on its head Saturday night, dazzling us with a technique called 'conduction,' which he had elaborated on, and allowed the audience to participate in, at an earlier conduction workshop.
Marketus Presswood and Professor Mitchell were also able to petition the presence of Nigerian master drummer Najite Agindotan and Chicago born Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, an international performer extraordinaire of dance and song, known as the African Buttafly. Both these artists, along with LA's Afro Beat Agindotan Family Band, performed and wowed us on Friday night with compelling rhythms and vocalized staccato phrases. The two artists returned on Saturday for an interview that spoke volumes about their affiliation and respect for Nigerian musician and composer Fela, who changed the course of Nigerian political history through his pioneering of the 'Afrobeat' genre, while losing his mother in the aftermath of her being thrown out of a window by a Nigerian soldier. Both Ugochi and Najite selflessly shared with us their current life's work and their respective visions and future objectives, while displaying an apparent dedication to continuing Fela's legacy of altering socio-political consciousness, through music, as a means of soliciting justice and freedom for all. I'm positive that we all left that interview with a sense of inspiration, appreciation, and some degree of personalized motivation.
Then there was music producer Ras G whose presentation on Saturday awakened some and reminded others of the importance and value derived from immersing oneself in whatever endeavor one might undertake. He exemplified the significance of cherishing the process one goes through to manifest an idea, and then illustrated the importance of being willing to share the outcome with others. I was personally enamored with the unheralded creativity what this young cat brought to the table, and am anxious to witness the unlimited possibilities that lie ahead in terms of new and fresh stuff.
It goes without saying that I was amazingly impressed with the honesty and integrity of music producer Ryat, who unashamedly admitted an affinity for black cultural aesthetics, and openly demonstrated how her music was infused with African American influences. Giving credit to others is not something that is readily carried out by others, especially when it comes to some of the accomplished white artists admitting the true source of their work. Her acknowledgement of such, and her being of the Caucasion persuasion, gives credence to her honesty and allowed her to not only give credit where credit is due, but freed her to unabashedly share the undeniable uniqueness of her craft with us all.
The conference started out with a screening and discussion of the film 'Long Road to the Hall of Fame' with Morrocan filmmaker Reda Zine, his subject of the film Malik Farrakhan, UCI's own professor of Middle Eastern History, Mark Levine, and legendary rap artist and composer Chuck D with whom all three have a meaningful affiliation. The film was centered around an arduous trek by two African American pro footballers, that being the former Tony King, Malik Farrakan, and his brother Charles King to an election to, but an as of yet unfulfilled induction into the NFL hall of fame. In relation to the conference itself, this particular portion readied us for the conference's overall focus, that focus being to... "encourage the counter dialogue of visionary artists who impact global consciousness...while existing outside of the formal channels and economies that corporate and mainstream culture perpetuates." Kinda reminds me of the 'veil' concept that W.E.B. Dubois speaks of, where black folk can see what's on the other side of the veil, but can't participate in it.
Professor Mitchell's goal of exposing us to the existence and importance of black culture was certainly met, what we do with it is yet to be seen. Of one thing I am sure however, if we are to prepare for a maximally beneficial interaction with our fellow inhabitants, let us be ever aware that we must take advantage of every opportunity that allows us to do so.
We can't cry now about what we woulda, coulda, or shoulda done, but I implore those of you who did not attend, to go online and access and investigate the significance of the participants present at the conference, and to unequivocally vow to yourself, that the next time you hear of Professor Nicole Mitchell throwing a "Function at the Junction'....you're definitely gonna be there.
I'll holla...
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