The Year so far....

The year started with momentum. The January 18th performance of The Griot's Journey was preceded by the closest thing to a media frenzy that I have experienced. Interviews on TV, radio and for newspapers began early in the New Year and then at last the performance itself. This was very well received by my enthusiastic audience at the new Waterloo Region Museum. I have The Friends of Waterloo Region Museum, Mary-Eileen McClear and Anne Childs to thank for such a robust effort. In February my energy returned to me after two half bouts of Flu, just in time for me to begin a very busy season of performances in celebration of Black History Month. I think I may publish my list of activities close to the end of the month.

LAUNCHING BETWEEN SISTERS: December 4, 2010, Guelph

I am very excited to launch my book "Between Sisters," published in both hardcover and paperback, by Groundwood, House of Anansi Press. The date for my event is December 4, 2010 at 3 Watson Road South at the River of Life International Fellowship, at the intersection of York and Watson Rd South. The time is 3pm-5 pm. This book has been a labour of love and learning for a period spanning two and a half years. I will be talking about the book and my intimate connection to it. I will be selling and signing copies. Please be there to buy your own copy and purchase one for a friend. You will not regret it.

The story is set in urban Ghana, where Gloria, a sixteen year old struggles to find her way forward into the adulthood of her dreams as she is beset with the perennial problems of family poverty, difficulties in school, temptations in town and the true meaning of relationships.

This book is full of the flavours and aromas of Ghana but deal with universal themes that anyone can relate to. It is a step forward in African literature as pertaining to the Young Adult genre and also African Canadian literature. It is definitely well worth reading by youth worldwide and all those who have some interest in Africa, developing countries and the girl child.

Please come and celebrate with me. We have a wonderful program planned to give you a boost for December!

F.O.O.L. Festival in Toronto; October 23rd 2010

By 8:20 on Saturday morning, we were on our way to Artscape Wychwood Barn, 601 Chrsitie Street. It was a little chilly but at least it was dry. From time to time the sun reinforced its brilliance and warmth. It had been a tough week and I was hoping that I would have the right energy to perform for our audience.
Wychwood Barn was bustlng with the Saturday Farmer's market; food grilling and sizzling, families walking, talking and pushing strollers, and the occassional wheel chair. There was our stand in the middle, nicely decorated with vibrant fabric, for a back drop, rows of chairs and a microphone on a boom. Then I saw my favorite elder urban storyteller, Dan Yashinsky with a coffee cup in hand and a big grin of welcome. We hugged, I hadn't seen him in probably two years when I did a special storytelling night for the Toronto Storytelling Festival with Brad Woods and Great Wooden Trio at the Artscape Wychwood Barns performance theatre. Dan was looking good. I met Gurpeet Chana who was soon going to amaze us with his virtuoso percussive talent. He was very striking in black, from turban to trousers, a handsome man with sensitive hands who could call out percussive sound and emotion from the Tabla and the Hang. Celia Lotteridge Barker came in then, whom I hadn't seen since 2006 when we were guest authors at the Stratford Children's Literary Festival.
At ten o'clock we began. First Gurpeet, next yours truly and the Celia and then Dan. In the audience I recognized, Regina from Brazil, with whom I had performed in 20o6(?) at the auspicious Saturday Concert of the Toronto Storytelling Festival, alongside the amazing Jan Blake. We went with site specific stories, involving food, eating, hunting and cooking. Hodja or Mulla Nasruddin appeared twice, Ananse once and other stories. I also told a snappy story of the 3 Fast men.
We settled into part two with more from Gurpeet, this time on the Tabla. Two young brothers were next, carriers of the torch of the oral tradition in Toronto-wow! Then came spoken word artist, Dahlia Eagle Ellis, the rhythms of whose poetry inspired me. What a precious way to end with more of Gurpeet Chana on the Hang. It is clear that the market, on a Saturday, is a great place to tell stories. Way to go Dan....Dan is storyteller in residence at Artscape Wychwood Barns, keeping an open stall at the Saturday market.

F.O.O.L. Festival of Oral Literature, TORONTO

photo by Amiliah Goodrich

THIS October check out F.O.O.L. the new festival of storytelling. Find out more at:

http://www.foolfestival.ca/artists

I will be performing on Saturday October 23 at 10am ....at the market..
Market fresh storytelling...
very avant guard...
literally singing for my breakfast...
See you!

October: The first half

Wow, October is half way through already. I have written the second draft of the first book of a YA series that I am planning for Ghana. I am quite pleased with the speed of that. You've got to love October with the trees in full Fall colours and falling off. The days of a light jacket and a long walk are fast diminishing and you can expect the cold to arrive shortly. October goes into history this year for the incredible rescue of the Chilean miners. And so for me October speaks of hope and breakthrough solutions. I have a lot of work to finish by the end of the month including a trip to Toronto and the FOOL festival which I will be attending and participating in for the very first time. October is always great for the celebrations of birthdays, anniveraries and Thanksgiving, which brought twenty-two people in my home for turkey fun and fellowship.

Dance Classes

At last I am able to add a photo of Joie de Vivre...the June Recital. Here we are performing SOFA for our audience.

Dance clases have begun again at the GYMC, 75 Cardigan Street on Mondays at 7:45pm. Next Monday is our third out of the 13 classes of the session, which will end on December 20th. This session we have begun with Kuku/Coucou and Kassa: something easier for beginners, somethng more challenging for the rest. And both are very enjoyable, rhythmic and aerobic.

I welcome back all my continuing dance friends and the new ones who have found us this session. At this point, dance is my only exercise. So dance, Adwoa, dance. Dance for the good of your heart, muscles. ligaments and bones. Dance for your health, but most of all, dance for your soul. My soul says, YES! But what about yours?

Between Sisters, a novel, by Adwoa Badoe

September is here, and the release of my new YA novel, "Between Sisters." published by Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press in hardcover and paperback. The book is an urban coming of age story of a sixteen year old girl, Gloria, in Ghana. The book has been released in Canada and the USA. If it is not on the shelf of your favorite bookshop, then ask them to order in for you. As much as you will enjoy the characters and the story, you will enter into life in Ghana with its rhythms, scents and tastes. Read, read, read. Buy one for a friend.

Since June

photo by Amiliah Goodrich...June 2010 Guelph Multicultural Festival

June 19th...the drum-dance year of Afroculture ended with the recital, "Joie de Vivre", held for families and friends. This performance took place at 3 Watson Rd South, at the premises of River of Life Church. I am told that the joy of the performers was fetching and infectious, and I agree. The fellowship and the laughter, the food and the atmosphere were all I could hope for. Since June 19th, we have also held workshops at the Guelph Multicultural Festival and told stories at The Latitudes Festival, Kitchener. Mostly my attention has been on the FIFA World Cup games and my energy has been spent in writing the roughest of rough drafts for my next novel. Did I say my first (YA) novel will be released in September? I am still witholding its name just a little longer for the sake of mystery.

Ghana Black Stars at the FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars of Ghana lost on penalties at the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals in what was a nailbiting event with rousing highs and crushing lows. In the end an almost goal against Uruguay was stopped illegally by Suarez in the 120th minute. The ensuing penalty missed the goal mouth . This missed shot was taken by none other than the darling of the Ghanaians, Asamoah Gyan, the sole striker in an otherwise defensive team. The penalty specialist missed the shot in the crucial moment. Some call it a lapse of focus. I would much rather call it exhaustion and chance, and the factor of human error which is present, and can show up even at the best of times.

Gyan was devastated yet, when called up to do the first penalty shot of he shootout, he scored convincingly. Oh that it had happened earlier! Instead Uruguay won on the back of an illegal act which resulted in a red card. None the less they have gone forward- an oddity of the beautiful game. African and particularly Ghanaian hearts are raw. Everyone is asking why. But our boys have done us proud in their conduct, their play, their discipline and fortitude. They have been committed and classy-not a single red card in the entire competition. And all this for a continent that has been prevented for may years from even thinking that they had a right to dream of the FIFA world Cup. The limits are off. Here we come. Watch out world!!

Ghana Black Stars was the youngest team at the 2010 tournament.

ASABEA OUTDOORED

Saturday May 8th at the GYMC, the girl trickster Asabea was announced and outdoored before the enthusiastic community of Guelph. The performance was very interactive in the African style with songs, drumming, rhythm stories, story call and response. The performers were very animated, vibrant and powerful and the audience very connected and enthusiastic. I am always amazed how these shows turn out once we get going. For the first time, my son Wynne opened for me with a rap tailor-made for show, characters and mother. Three brand new stories of Asabea, two rhythmic stories: rap and call-and-echo, three dances of different styles, Ghana, Guinea and Ivorian, three songs made up a great evening. Hats off to the drummers who undergirded the evening, Chris, Mark, Kathleen and Fule, the Eramosa P.S. drummers, the Adowa dancers, Anita and Edwoba, the Guelph Youth Dance Company, and Jiwani dancers: Rocio and Mary who featured with me. Shout-outs to the tech crew, Rodney, Matthew and Nana, my admin staff, Fule, Ashorkor, Stephanie, Wynne and my great support and canvasser, Maureen.

World Malaria Day

The day passed by without my hearing a whisper that this day was dedicated to fighting malaria worldwide and particularly in my dearly beloved Sub Saharan Africa. The statistics say 1 million people die a year....what 1 million? I had better recheck the figure. It also says there is a shortfall of 50 million treated bednets, which is the best defence against the mosquito whose bite transmits the disease. The disease is particularly hazardous to infants, young children and pregnant mothers. Is anybody listening? Bed nets cost $6 a day and I'm sure if people knew where to donate they would. The buzz about Malaria Day was not deafening where I live, possibly being a Sunday and all. My attention was piqued when I saw a video circulating of an interview by scientist, malaria specialist, Dr. Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, of Glaxo Smith Kline who was my highschool classmate. Facebook brought me awareness of the news but how do we help?
Several years ago, the late Stephen Alumenda of Zimbabwe and I wrote four stories for a MacMillan Discovery Readers book entitled MALARIA, edited by Jean Conteh. My hope was that the old and the new stories would bring the facts of malaria, self help and awareness to elementary students. But while the buzz of swne flu was incessant and deafening throughout the winter months, barely a peep was heard from our global village symbolized by facebook, where the chatter never ceases.

The First Quarter Rush

My first quarter, 2010 ended in dramatic fashion. All of a sudden..first pages arrived by priority mail...which in fact was the formatted pages of my book for final proofreading. 48 hours of frenzied reading over the weekend, and I understand the next time I see the manuscript it will be a book. Magic! Then Monday returned me to the Guelph Youth Dance Company-(my current inspiration) to choreograph "Asabea." My evening dance class went well and I woke up exhausted for Tuesday and Stop the World at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. Two days of workhops for elementary school groups in African music and rhythm making. We got filmed for local TV to show next week, beginning Friday at 5:30pm after a segment where Arjay is interviewed concerning the Guelph Jazz Festival. Thursday was a treat, teaching Grade seven at NorthWestern- a fun but focussed group of students who re-energized me for our last workshop of the week.

The Festival of Joy

This week has been full of work and energy, new projects starting, old ones ending. This is life! Surprise dance workshop on Thursday for two hundred student visitors at Centre Wellington, one drum and high ceilings. Everythng was larger than the drum and the microphone but we persevered.
A new choreography is finding its path with 12 kids and one me, at the Guelph Youth Dance Company, all for Asabea's outdooring!
Proofreading Between Sisters, all weekend, preplanning Asabea, for May 8th, but the highlight of this weekend was the rehearsal of the production "The Festival of Joy!"
A simple presentation has morphed into a production because of a small demand placed on me. Mr. Oates said, we want to perform this for our "Theatre for young audiences series." So over the weekend, I wrote the script, putting together three days of workshops into a fun dramatic peiece for young children.
Never underestimate the youth. The dull indifference on day one, has transformed itself into a dynamic and dramatic presentation, showcasing storytelling, drama, dance, drumming, joy, interaction and community which is sure to be a blast. I enjoy directing and I learned from Mr. Oates just how little things dramatically impact a scene. Important key elements in all of this is trust and perseverance and patience. WRITE the VISION and make it PLAIN!

International Day of Storytelling

Today we were at the Waterloo Children's Museum- downtown Kitchener, to celebrate the International day of Storytelling. We were hosted by Latitudes Storytelling Festival, and did indeed celebrate the hour before dinner with families, telling stories with song and drum.

Old Mill Inn, Spa, Brulee A etc

Yesterday's workshops in Toronto's Old Mill Inn or Hotel were very succesful. But the experience in it's entirety had serious shortcomings. We huffed and puffed our way up and down stairs, laden with equipment with little help. I was grateful for the help of two members of staff who ameliorated what would have been a bad situation. Thank God for "a few good men."
Also I pray the lady who lost her rings found them.

Stratford Northwestern

Second workshops at Stratford Northwestern: The polyrhythms have been laid down, one over the other and the dance has progressed but what was most amazing, the storytelling! They owned the story, they TOLD it. Wow. Another thing I learned guitar students make fantastic drummers.

International Women's Day

Sad to say, I didn't celebrate today...too many celebrations from Friday, through Sunday so the day passed with me teaching workshops and my women's dance class. At least I hang out with my favorite women.

GHANA IS 53 years old.

The country called Ghana was born 53 years ago, delivered out of the womb of colonization. A thick umbilical cord was severed at birth and mother British Empire turned her swollen mammae away in disgust- let this infant fend for herself.

Which she has done, and like Tarzan, often the surrogates she found were, "Oh so wild". Yet willy nilly, she carried on, through the charged passion of her independence, with hope peaking higher than Afajato, through the withdrawal symptoms of megadeals gone awry, one party state, coup d'états upon coup d'états while civillians struggled in vain against the lure of corruption, so much money to dazzle the eyes and dizzy the mind. And the years passed, calendar months were torn of sheets and thrown in the trash.

And inspite of all this, and malaria and malnutrition and barefooted children trudging off to school, there were some who got PhDs, and then were cast adrift along channels of brain drain. And somehow by the great mercies of God, whether through the military or the military turned civillian, inspite of rumours, plans, schemes and machinations; inspite of the lack of comprehensive civil rights, human rights, freedom of speech, freedom from oppression, imprisonment etc the country has escaped the round of wars which have hit the region like the seasonal hurricanes, one after another, and another and another.

53...we are alive, more of us educated than ever before, away or at home our impact is felt, speaking out louder than ever before. Discovering, oil and more of oil, just at it seemed to be getting out of fashion.
53.... and growing wiser, pragmatic and more compassionate; daring to dream a bigger brighter world where we maintain and upkeep, plan, design and build for the glorious sustainable future...

Third Day at The Stewart School

On this third day of workshops at The Stewart School, Perth, Upper Canada School Board, everything is coming together. The rhythms are holding, the dance movements have definition, the singing is robust and the storytelling is humorous. Today we tried the rhythmic hand-game, and we're just shy of completing cycyle after cycle in perfect sequence and synchronization. An earlier break means we can relax and sort out our business emailing etc. Tomorrow we carry our practice to the stage to prep for our Friday performance. AFRIFEST-IN-SCHOOLS is the name of the celebration. This is an OAC Artist-in-Education project.

McKinnon P.S. "SOAR"

As part of their African Heritage Month and also the SOAR project inspired by Stephen Lewis, we were invited to spend the day teaching workshops at McKinnon P.S. A busy day of activities led to an evening performance by the grade five students for their parents who had supported McKinnon P.S.'s SOAR (Students helping Orphans in Africa with Relief) fundraiser.