ROOTS screening in London(4th-20th Feb.)

Just to let you know about this special screening of the series ROOTS, organized by Kush Films.

See the complete whole series of Roots on the Big Screen for the first time
during 6 screenings over a 3-week period.

Taking place on:
Monday 4th & Wed 6th February 08

Monday 11th & Wed 13th February 08

Monday 18th & Wed 20th February 08

Time: 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm (each day)
A breakdown of each days screening will take place after screening with our guest speaker/s

Admission fee: £5
Children (up to 16 years): Free

Special Advance-Payment Adult Price: £25 (Block ticket for all 6 screenings)

Venue:
The West Green Learning Centre
(Main entrance Front of Parkview Academy School in West Green Rd, next to Downhills Park)
Langham Rd, Tottenham, London, N15 3RB

Special Guest Speakers
will host a short forum after each week’s Wednesday nights screening.

Zeitgeist Documentary.......

now this new film is not reggae or jamaican related but really you must watch this one.
It's one of the most revealing documentaries i've seen in a while and is causing a bit of a stir all over the place.
It's in 3 parts, first on Religion, the Twin Towers, then on Banks and money.

You can watch the full film here:

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

ENJOY...

Whit Stillman working on new Jamaican film....

American film maker Whit Stillman is said to be making a new film set in early 1960's Jamaica, the film is to be about the pre-reggae days including Ska, and gospel church music. Stillmans last film was 'Last Days of Disco' in 1998, and is also well known for his film 'Metropolitan'(1990)

Stillman quoted from the New York Post:
“I’m doing a film set in Jamaica in the early ’60s about the gospel church and the music scene from pre-reggae days, including ska,” Whitman told Webster Hall’s Baird Jones at the party for “Grace Is Gone” at Osteria Del Circo. British producer Jeremy Thomas (”The Last Emperor”) is backing Stillman, who hasn’t directed a movie in eight years. “It’s an all-black cast. I’m thinking of Danny Glover and J.J. Walker for parts,” he said.

Help Save Pinnacle......

I just heard about this fight to save the old Pinnacle Rasta camp in St.Catherine,JA
Please help support the fight to save Pinnacle and sign the online petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/pinnacle/

During the late 1930's when the famous "uprising" took place in St. Thomas, Jamaica, many ex-slaves went suffering racism, oppression, inadequate living conditions and hunger. Pinnacle became the safe-haven for thousands of blacks who desired to live and work communally in Unity. Under Howell's leadership, Pinnacle was transformed into one of the largest self-reliant/economically empowered communities in Jamaica.



In the 1970's, a small flock of Rastafarian elders took refuge in Tredegar Park, St. Catherine continued to support the teachings of Howell until his death in 1981. Until today, the Rastafarian of Pinnacle were never, compensated for their loss of property, homes, lives and humiliation suffered. It is said that Howell had been arrested, incarcerated and was sent to Jamaica's Mental Institution over (50) fifty times. At one meeting, Howell was noted as having said that Mr. Neville N. Ashenheim, a prominent Lawyer of Jewish background, argued for the Bill of Rights in terms of protecting property rights and that property could not be confiscated without adequate compenstation. "At Emancipation the planter were adequately compensated for "freeing" the slaves, but I, Leonard Howell was never compensated for Pinnacle and the crimes committed against me and the Rastafarian people."



During the 1980's, the Jamaican government sold off most of this land at Pinnacle to foreign and private investors. Pinnacle is now sub-divided and being sold off by "The St. Jago Hills Development, Ltd." located at 20 Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. The have got hold of Pinnacle Estates, St. Catehrine (the first Rastafarian Free Slave Community) and they are selling/sub-dividing the land (over 500 acres). Last November 2006, The Leonard P. Howell Foundation and other personnel (collective) had a meeting with the then Prime Minister - Portia Simpson to help restore Pinnacle and make it a Rastafari Cultural Center. In addition, last June 2007, Howell Earth-day celebration was held at Pinnacle.

The developers (Ms. Lois Sherwood and her brother-directors of St. Jago Hills) are now suing "The Rastafarian Nation, 1st Order of Nyahbinghi Theocracy, Leonard P. Howell Foundation, Ras Lion and Ras Howie for possession of the Pinnacle site and land.

The Law firm of "Nunes, Scholefield, DeLeona and Co." is having a hearing on November 27, 2007 in the Magistrate's Court in Spanish Town. We have retained a Rastafari/brother and friend Mr. Everton Bird, an attorney at law to represent the L.P.H. Foundation, and Mr. Barrington Frankson to represent the Rastafari Nation. We would like for all who read this document to lend your support, please SIGN THE PETITION, calling for the return of Pinnacle to the Rastafari Nation. One God, One Aim, One Destiny.

The Harder They Come + Film Jamaica....

The Harder They Come season
Featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson and Film Jamaica
6 Mar – 5 Apr 2008
Barbican

Soak up some Caribbean spirit at the Barbican this Spring, with smash-hit reggae musical The Harder They Come, a season of cult Jamaican films, and a night of deeply grooving dub and reggae with Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Following two sell out runs at Theatre Royal Stratford East(UK), the musical magic of The Harder They Come hits the Barbican. This exhilarating production is based on the groundbreaking film of the same name and features all the classic songs from the film soundtrack, including You Can Get It If You Really Want and By The Rivers of Babylon.

Linton Kwesi Johnson is joined by special guests including Dennis Bovell and Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze for a night of performance on 9 March. Famed worldwide as the first reggae poet, Johnson has been at the heart of the Jamaican-British experience since the 70s.

Film Jamaica is a season of Jamaican cinema celebrating the island’s rich musical heritage. Screenings include the original version of The Harder They Come, Smile Orange and No Place Like Home.

Find out more and book online at
www.barbican.org.uk

Reggae in The Ruff ( in Production....)

We are pleased to announce the making of this great new film titled: 'Reggae in The Ruff', this one comes from film maker Don McConnell and should be completed at the end of the year. This isn't your average Reggae documentary, this one travels deep into Jamaican Reggae Rasta conciousness and captures the essence of Reggae in his film. Through a series of interviews, live musical performances and reasoning with Rasta musicians we get to learn more about the essence of reggae music and begin to understand what reggae means to those who create it.
The film gives us Reggae in the Ruff, no compromise strictly rootswise!

New LYRIC DVD Mag release.............

This is the latest release from LYRIC DVD Magazine......this one looks promising...

Rebel - Film Trailer

This is the new trailer for the film "Rebel" which is due for release this February.......

80% of JBC Archive Stolen!!!

Just heard about this today, what a sad story, i just hope+pray that this doesn't include the JBC TV archive, will try to get more info on this shortly.........

Thieves strip Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation archives

published: Saturday January 5, 2008

The police have been called in to investigate the disappearance of thousands of vinyl records and compact discs from the archives of the defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).
Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports Olivia Grange said the discovery was made by senior staff of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) during a tour of the facility on Wednesday.
The music library, which was under the watch of the National Archives, appears to have been stripped of 80 per cent of its content. It is suspected that the items were removed over the period 2004 to 2007.
Between November 2005 and November 2007 the premises fell under the control of Belgian firm Besix, which was contracted to work on the nearby transport centre.
Minister Grange said she was confident the police would be pulling out all the stops in an effort to find those involved in the disappearance of the most comprehensive music collection in Jamaica.
Cultural heritage damaged
"Those who have committed this act have done violence to our deep cultural heritage," she said. "This archive was expected to be a core asset of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, which will be taking to the airwaves in the near future with a great variety of informational, educational and culturally entertaining programmes."
She added: "I am not sure whether enough was done to secure this national treasure, but we will know more as the police investigations continue."
Minister Grange said she was appealing to the public, locally and overseas, to be on the lookout for persons who might be in possession of the records and CDs and to contact the police if they have information.

taken from: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080105/lead/lead1.html

Valve Sound System Documentary

"Channel 4 Music Documentary on the Valve Soundystsem - the only soundsystem in the world specifically engineered/designed for drum and bass.
Watch as producers and DJs Dillinja and Lemon D take you through their vision of what they hope to make the best soundsystem in the world. "
Enjoy.....

NEW RASTA DOCUMENTARY - NOW ONSALE .....

We are very please to be able to bring you this wonderful new documentary from Ethiopian film maker
Tikher Teferra Kidane.

The film titled "BACK TO MY ROOTS: LIVING IN ZION" is the story of a Rastaman living in Shashemane Land in Ethiopia.

This is the best 'Rasta' film to have been made in years, and i'm sure when you have watched the film you will agree.

Every Rasta should see this film......

Please CLICK HEAR FOR MORE INFO + FOR DVD

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