Blackbright Raises Questions about Social Issues

Black - B r i g h t Stimuates - Educates - Motivates Issue 34

What’s Inside...?

ISSN No. 1751-1909 Blackbright News Magazine Registered Office Studio 57 LU2 0QG Tel: 01582 721 605

- Editorial: Not for the Faint-hearted - Waah?

- How do I know what you are like?

email: blackbrightnews@gmail.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

- Why is Dancehall viewed negatively?

- Akwaaba Akosua - Somalia’s Nation of Poets - Will Immigrants now pay A Cash Bond?

Founder & Managing Editor Myrna Loy Logo: Flo Alowaja Photos taken from Google Images Graphic Design: M Loy For previous issues go to: www.issuu.com/blackbrightnews

- Why are we tired all the time?

- Music’s affect on the brain - Young people on the binge is increasing

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- Is the Psychiatrist’s Handbook a nightmare?

- Why the Increase of Muslims in the black community?

I had not read the preview, but learned on the night that the play was based on a true story about a pastor who had sexually abused and sodomised 11 – 15 year old girls; impregnated his 16 year old stepdaughter 5 times and severely abused his wife and mother.

EDITORIAL “Not for the faint-hearted?”

What an understatement!

I had never been to a Blue Mountain Theatre play before, so when I was invited to buy a ticket to see the production at the Grove Theatre, I decided to cancel my radio show and go – after all, I needed a good laugh, and I had heard that Blue Mountain productions were renowned for their humour.

Busy bumping into familiar faces, I was surprised that [for a black production], it started on time, and that 99% of the audience arrived on time. I had my eye on the door, because when I enquired as to how come there were no seat numbers on the tickets, I was told I could choose where I wanted to sit, so I was gunning for a good seat!

At 7:00pm on the dot, the door opened and I dived in and pitched myself in the coveted perimeter of the grand circle. Some boisterous women came and scrambled beside me, cutting their eye after me for existing, and muttering about how they were expecting six other people and they had better not let anyone else come in and sit down.

My friend arrived shortly afterwards, and I directed her to the empty seats beside me but the women adjacent to me, were not having any of it. My friend seemed passive and unconcerned, so I had to weigh up whether I wanted to sacrifice my premium seat, or go and sit next to my friend. I chose the latter. 3

Within minutes of the show starting, my mouth dropped open when the perpetrator ordered his wife to have sex with him in front of his mother. In fact, his mother, who was suffering from dementia was turned in her wheelchair and forced to watch his wife beg for mercy during the act, and when he was finished, his wife got up and hobbled around picking up clothes that were on the floor, while he hurled insult after insult at her. It did not register to me that it was a play, or that they were acting - it was a very disturbing re-enactment of a true- life story.

“The Bible says: I must be submissive to my husband - he can do with me as he pleases”, Cissy kept repeating after she got one beating after another.

For the Christians in the audience (and their were many) it was too much! Blasphemy, condemnation of the church; glorication of the misdemeanours of pastors and taunts of ignorance of black people who believed in the church, forced 25% of the congregation to walk out during the play, after paying £20 for their tickets.

The victim, Cissy, had been a prostitute, conceived a child with her son; pimped for her husband and so believed that the excessive and repetitive abuse her husband dealt her, which was justified.

The verbal and physical abuse towards his aging mother by gagging her, pouring stale urine over her and punching her, because he claimed she had mistreated him as a child, was unsettling for many of the audience, who were horrified at the possibility that one’s own child could behave so revengeful.

If a woman had ever been verbally and psychologiccally abused, beaten or raped, the play undermined the experience.

The fact that the play was based on a true story (although the walking audience did not know it), made it very uncomfortable.

Three-quarters of the play celebrated abuse, profanities and cruelty, which was not balanced by the remaining quarter, where Cissy finally found the strength to retaliate, which prompted cheers and claps by the audience, and ferocious boos at the perpetrator at the end when he bowed at the end. In that split second, I understood how the villains in plays and films get thrown eggs at when seen in public. In such a convincing play, it was difficult to separate fiction from reality.

A colleague of mine summed it up as follows:I think Blue Mountain, as an experienced theatre house, could have behaved more responsibly and anticipated the impact such portrayals of domestic violence, references to incest, violence towards elderly mothers, blasphemy and excessive profanities might have on a diverse audience [i.e. diverse in age and upbringing], never mind the whole issue of religion thrown in for good measure. Behaving responsibility in this situation would suggest that if the producers wish to re-enact a true life experience of such graphic nature, most of which highlights a dysfunctional family, then it would be appropriate and necessary to warn the potential or actual audience beforehand, on the night, and perhaps provide an expert psychologist who could respond to viewers questions/ concerns immediately after the show.

The strapline “Not for the faint-hearted” was insufficient warning!

What was the message and lessons conveyed and learned on the night? What advice is Blue Mountain offering to people who may be experiencing or witnessing some level of the violence portrayed by the play? To imply females to simply stay away from men like the main character is not enough. If it was intended to shock - then it did, and more. For previous Blue Mountain patrons who were expecting humorous take on the subject, it was certainly not a comedy, despite lines of a comical nature interspersed throughout.

“Not for the fainthearted?” This play should have carried the warning: “This play is likely to offend” , because it offended many!

Myrna Loy

Why is Dancehall Viewed as Negative Karamanti Stimulates, Educates and Motivates, with her new album: “Dancehall Retaliates” Many have said that Jamaica’s dancehall is one of the most negative genres of music right now. If one was to take the time out to Google or conduct a search (via youtube) of the word dancehall you would be astonished at the explicit images that would pop up. Additionally, paying attention to the lyrical content of today’s dancehall stars can prove to be very disappointing as many of them tend to speak solely about sex, money and drugs.

The standard of dancehall music and the industry on a whole has dropped so low that getting corporate sponsorship for an event that is exclusively dancehall can be quite challenging if it happens at all.

Since the emergence of Karamanti, however, (a Jamaican based female artist) a lot of people who would once refuse to listen to dancehall music are now paying attention to this form of expression. Karamanti came on the scene a couple years ago with the image of a Reggae artist, the lyrical flow and wizardry of some of the best male artist in dancehall, and most importantly, the knowledge, discipline and self awareness very similar to that of her role model, Ms Lauryn Hill. Unlike most women in dancehall, Karamanti places very little emphasis on wearing name brand clothing, having the latest hair style, shoes etc. She instead focuses on creating and performing lyrics that educates, inspires and motivates.

Her lyrics have been so inspirational that on her recent Europe tour she was approached by a literary agent who suggested that she translate her songs into poetry so that they can be available to a wider audience.

On April 25th, Karamanti released her first full length studio album entitled Dancehall Retaliates. Many have said

At Work Music in Jamaica). She ends the album very similar to the way she started it, advising those in the media and the general public not to stereotype dancehall artists as being bad because everybody is different.

Since its release, Dancehall Retaliates has been getting exceptional reviews. Several songs from the album are getting heavy rotation on radio and in clubs around the world. The first month sales figures are not in as yet but Karamanti and her team members are expecting favorable download numbers. Dancehall Retaliates is currently available on all major online music retail stores some of which can be accessed via her website at http://www.karamantimusic.com.

that the name alone speaks to the uniqueness of this body of work. However, if one was to assume that it is just another dancehall album after hearing the name, listening to the intro will quickly dispel that thought. In the intro, Karamanti speaks (in her native tongue) about not throwing out the baby with the bath water.

She explains that not because there are negative elements within dancehall, one should not pre-judge the entire industry and brand it as negative altogether. She goes on to say that she is very much a part of dancehall and does not consider herself to be negative.

Immediately after the intro, Karamanti goes right into song after song (with no interlude) filled with focused, deliberate messages on strong, hardcore rhythms. In the first song on the album, “dem too lame”, she talks about the importance of Jamaican youths in the dancehall learning their black history before they begin to floss, brag and boast about their black present. And likewise the women should know their history as having this knowledge will discourage them from degrading themselves the way they currently do. “So High” which features Asante Amen on the hook, encourages young artists to work towards achieving their goals regardless how difficult it gets. Not being one to shy away from controversial issues, Karamanti bluntly sings about black power in the song “rise” which was produced by Tech-Head Records. In verse one of “rise” Karamanti speaks to the black youths about hanging out on the corner as oppose to not working. She tells them to pull up their pants and create a job if they cannot get one. The album includes three songs that were previously released and have played a big part in getting Karamanti international recognition. They are “read” (produced by Pharfar from Food Palace Music in Denmark), “nobody cyaa stop we now” featuring 3 Star and “don’t it” (produced by Red Boom from Hard 5

Karamanti is currently touring through Europe spreading her positive messages via dancehall. She has already done shows in Sweden and Denmark and is now gearing up for Poland. The first official video from the album (which will be the track “pack up & run) will be released in early June. Persons may listen to the entire album here: https://soundcloud.com/karamanti

DJ Lady Loy Sundays 8p - 10p www.jamrockradio.com Need someone to play good music for your dance?

Tel: 01582 721 605

Islamic marriage is somewhat opposite to this because the man and woman are advised to see each other (in real life), before making up their mind if they want to get married or not. There needs to be chemistry between the two also. When a Muslim man/woman finds the right person and they have that chemistry - that’s when the proposal should be coming in.

I understand when you ask about the man potentially finding the woman not what he expected her to be - but I don’t think this has ever happened (or can happen) for two main reasons. Firstly hijab conceals outer beauty, so regardless of what the husband’s taste is, by her removing it and being dressed up, she will automatically look nicer on her wedding day - and he will notice because he hasn’t seen her this way before. Think of a girl who constantly keeps her hair tucked under a baseball cap. Taking off that cap would only improve her looks, wouldn’t it? It’s a bit like that. I don’t know if you have ever known a hijabi who one day decided to dress up, but if you have, you’ll understand this point because you’ll know how completely different a girl can look. I once dressed up and when I waved at my friends, they obliviously walked right past! They only stopped and turned once they recognised my voice (I called out to them) and it then took them about about 5-10 secs to figure out it was me.

How do I know what you’re like if I can’t see you I heard someone say that when a hijabi (niquabi, or a woman who wears a burkha) meets the right man, he will love her character because he will not be swayed by her physical appearance. This got me thinking about internet dating, where a person can be talking to someone for several months and fall in love with their character, tone of voice and everything about that person, only to find when they actually meet up, they are turned off because there is no chemistry and the person doesn’t look like how he thought she might.

(Hijabi’s could live a double life if they wanted to.

The relationship we share with our hijab can be compared to the one Clark Kent shares with his Superman outfit - the perfect disguise!) Hijabi’s are more attractive to men when they are without their hijab, so it is guaranteed that she will look nicer on the wedding day.

I asked a hijabi if that could happen? i.e., that a man could fall in love with her character, but then when he saw her without hijab on their wedding night, whether he could be disappointed by her appearance or supposing there was no chemistry? She responded:

The second and more important point is the man himself. Men usually take a woman’s appearance at face value, so when they see hijabi’s (who look quite plain) it’s as though they subconsciously assume that this is all the girl has to offer (in terms of looks-wise). Muslim as well non-Muslim men don’t stop and realise that this isn’t her actual physical appearance though. Likewise men will typically ogle at beauty pageant contestants, under the illusion that these women are incredibly beautiful, not taking into consideration that these women (like the hijabi’s) don’t actually look like this in reality. These women usually have a fake tan, fake hair, fake nails, fake lashes...etc. In other words, this is beauty in its most artificial form. You and I are perfectly aware of

I see where you are coming from with this idea but I disagree...I think you are mistaken. The difference (or problem, rather) with internet dating is that the person who is interested in the other, does not necessarily get the true ‘gist’ of that person because in reality that other person is miles away. Therefore as no face-to-face, real life communication takes place, their perception of the other person becomes warped and moulded in the way they desire it to be.

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this because we are women, but the average (cave) man doesn’t stop and question ‘beauty’, similarly they don’t question a hijabi’s ‘plain’ appearance either.

With is in mind the average Muslim man goes into a marriage assuming his hijabi fiancée actually looks as she appears to be because that’s just the way a man’s mind works - they don’t question these things. So no, he won’t be put off because there is no expectation in his mind of her looking much different. No expectation = no disappointment. Besides, men don’t really daydream of how awesome their wives will look on the wedding day - it’s women who usually think like that.

Due to a man’s inability to dissect artificial beauty from raw beauty, they tend to be quite judgmental when it comes to a woman’s physical appearance because they take for granted what is presented before their eyes.

There was an occasion where (non-Muslim) boys in class all had a crush on this girl because she was very pretty. A boy later commented that one day she came to class with no make-up and was “so ugly” which is why he and his friends no longer liked her. His comments bothered me a lot because I thought it was so mean and insensitive of him to make remarks like that about her. She’s a human being for crying out loud, not an immortal Mona Lisa painting! But sadly. this is the reality of the way a lot of guys think. This is a prime example of where a guy who likes a girl solely for her looks, will ditch her for the same reason because those looks were all he ever saw in her. And they won’t be gentle with their feelings either. If they are shallow enough to only date ‘barbies’, they will be shallow enough to totally disregard her feelings the moment she stops looking like ‘barbie’.

Dressing in hijab exposes aspects of a man’s character - negative and positive.

At work there was a (non-Muslim) guy and he and I didn’t talk to each other at first. One day he had to work along side me and as I didn’t know too well him, I didn’t speak to him. Instead I spoke to the girl beside me, and was being my usual quirky self. I’m assuming that’s when he noticed me for the first time, because he kept laughing at my cheesy jokes and it was after this incident that he became very friendly towards me. At this point I was a bit confused with his sudden change of behaviour because he started being nice to me out of nowhere (keep in mind I haven’t said two words to him), and from then on he kept trying to talk/get to know me. What really caught my attention was that he noticed and made conversation, while ignoring the other girls around him. All the girls at work are really pretty - and then there’s me - covered from head to toe...looking like a potato.. (lol!) I mean, what did this behaviour say about the kind of person he is? It showe me that he was was not superficial. Despite my bland appearance, I stood out to him, which illustrated that he didn’t judge my worth/value based on my looks, but rather on the kind of person I am. I’ve been told I’m funny, and he said it too, so I am aware that regardless of whether I was dressed in hijab or not, he would have noticed me because I would still have had the same goofy personality that drew him to me. In a different situation his admiral trait would have gone undetected.

So many guys say that all they want is a nice girl, but actions speak louder than words because in reality, it’s the “pretty” ones they usually chase after. The fact that my colleague took interest in me while I was at my least attractive (and while others were at their most attractive) says a lot about his character and how he views women. He wasn’t like those guys in the classroom and the moment I realised this, I gained a lot of respect for him. I think my hijab also deserves a high five because without it I would never had known he had this good quality about him. This is what I mean when I point out that hijab can reveal the positive and the negative in males.

Azizah (Milton Keynes)

blessings and obstacles, family, longing for a Somalia which many just knew through the eyes of their families, racism and discrimination and the formation of one’s identity in a foreign soil or adopted home.

These were all themes that I could relate to. I left Somalia when I was merely a baby, moved to Kenya and eventually relocated to India, where I spent most of my childhood and teenyears. Reading the narratives of these bloggers was my favorite past time – but searching for Somali bloggers was beyond time consuming.

There were times I would search for Somali bloggers and by the time I found a blog – I would run out of my “free” time. It was then that I had an epiphany.

The Nation of Poets

What if I created a blog and FaceBook Fan Page where Somalis could share their work? It did not take me long on deciding to create TNP again. In June 2009, I created the FanPage as well as a Blog for TNP. Slowly, I started writing and inviting Somali poets/bloggers to share their work. The response from these folks was just overwhelming. Everyone was not only supportive, helpful and shared their work but they also helped advertise and build TNP. In addition to the poets, people who genuinely enjoyed poetry starting “liking” the page.

The Somalia-Nation of Poets (TNP) group connects our Somali poets and audience who live all over the world. Due to the country’s civil war, Somali people have moved to dozens of different countries around the globe. This migration has caused most of our literature to become lost over the last twenty years. If we, as Somalis, do not create a space for our own literature – it will be created for us. And, this is a heavy price, to pay for any group of people.

I started TNP in October 2007. The group only consisted of people that I knew and practically begged/talked into joining the group. Gradually, people I did not know found their way to the group and it started growing slowly. During this time, the group was not very active. Only two or three people kept it going and eventually that also stopped. Lack of proper planning, organizing and vision for TNP in 2007, meant the page was not reaching its potential. Due to these reasons, there was a two-year hiatus.

During this time, I’d visit different blogs owned by young Somalis around the world. I noticed the amazing and talented individuals that were part of our community. Each of these blogs was unique and diverse. However, there were vast similarities between these Somali youth. For instance, often these blogs addressed similar topics e.g. religion, immigration, clan conflict, gender-related

The road to establishing TNP was not always an easy one as it demands an incredible amount of time and energy. However, the past 6-years of TNP has been enriching, fulfilling and filled with the love and support of amazing people, many of whom, I have yet to meet.

TNP’s mission and vision is to provide a strong platform where young Somalis can share their work and celebrate the work of their peers; while building a strong network of like-minded individuals who will connect beyond the reach of TNP. This group aims to compile written and oral poetry by a Somali diaspora youth about any issue they deem relevant.

Halima Ahmed Founder &Admin Halima@thenationofpoets.com www.thenationofpoets.com 8

myself in a country where I knew no-one. By now I’ll admit I was scared…

The bus station was pandemonium. There were people trying to get us into buses for towns - not even going to the destination we wanted; we could hardly move. There were taxis, cars, buses, people, children, goats, chickens, food stuffs, bags, barrels, parcels, people selling food and drinks, conductors shouting departures, people meeting family and friends. I quickly realised that if I didn’t speak, people would assume I was Ghanaian, so I didn’t speak unless spoken to! We got onto bus to Nkawkaw city for our interchange to Tafo and waited about an hour for the bus to fill and the coach driver to turn up. A Ghanaian movie was played and the coach departed at 7.15pm.

A Woman lead the first 30 minutes of the journey with prayer and people shouted ‘amen’ and ‘halleluiah’ all the way through. Much of the roads were dirt tracks and there was lots of traffic. I realised that the green lights that could be seen as you land into Accra, were lights from outside of houses and buildings, and yellow lights were street lights. There was a man sat behind me on the coach who lent on top of my seat to watch movie, as the excitement in the film mounted he patted down my hair!

Akwaaba Akosua (An excerpt)

By Shereen Samara

In front of me in the queue for Accra a white man who appeared to be in his late 60’s asked me if I lived in Accra, I explained that I live in England but that I had been living in Spain recently. He said he lived in Jamaica but will be living in Accra for a while. Immediate lesson - don’t judge a book by its cover…

My first day was incredibly enjoyable. There was a rota to show who’s responsibility it was to collect water. A bucket of water is kept by the door at the front of the class for the children to take from it as they need. There was no electricity, or toilet facilities.

On entering the passport control area, we were given landing cards to fill out. At this point the reality of my disorganisation quickly slapped me in the face.

Firstly I had no pen, secondly I did not know the full names of who I had arrived to live with, thirdly I had no contact addresses, fourthly I had no contact telephone numbers and finally I was couldn’t remember the correct name of the voluntary organisation. I filled out the card as best as I could and the officer waved me through. My bags came out immediately on the carousel as I approached it and I began to make my way outside of the airport terminal. The battery had run dead on my mobile so it wouldn’t even turn on, having slept approximately 6 hours in 3 days and landed in 4 countries in 3 days I was suffering extreme fatigue and disorientation.

It was minutes to midnight on a Friday night and I stood outside in darkness, in an airport in Africa by

I think we can get easily consumed with our own way of life and cultural norms that we forget everyone lives differently. At this point I was thinking, ok I have been left alone with a class/school of children aged 8-13 to teach teaching qualifications, CRB check, proof of ID...?! I quickly had to realise this was a very different world to what I had become accustomed to.

Ok, so by now it was after 7pm, had gotten dark and I was in Accra by myself. My mum phoned me and asked why I just didn’t spend the night in Cape Coast? However, Christian had said that he needed me back in Tafo, by 3pm the next day to have a send-off performance and judging by my ‘holy moley’ experience, I didn’t want to chance it. So I found a Kumasi bound tro-tro, at circle bus 9

station which would be stopping off in Nkawkaw, where I needed to get off to get my taxi back to Tafo; the tro-tro slowly filled up and left the bus station at around 8pm. I was so tired that I slept on and off for most of the 4-hour journey and just before Nkawkaw, I was actually woken up by a man sitting in front of me who asked me if we had passed Nkawkaw. In my head I thought ‘have you seriously woken me up to ask me this?’ but I looked out of the window and said no; and on second thoughts at least there was someone else getting off at Nkawkaw.

Anyway about 5 minutes later all of a sudden with no warning this huge storm appears literally from no-where. Rolls of thunder, cracks of lightening, and heavy rain make it difficult to see out of the window of the van, but soon after its clear we were in the outskirts of Nkawkaw and a man got off by the secondary school.

It was one of those moments I will never forget.

I was stood there in darkness in a West African village thinking you know what, for all you know, you could be from right here.

Did you know...

That a Cash Bond of £1,000 is being set up for those coming over from ‘high risk’ countries, which will be paid to the government and returned when they are leaving the country.

Asian and African countries could be considered ‘high risk’ - Simon Hughes says it is ‘clearly discriminatory’ In certain cases when a visa application is coming from a high risk country, UK will be able to request a cash guarantee, when they leave when the bond is meant to be repaid.

The argument is that “the bonds would need to be welltargeted so they don’t discriminate against particular groups” (yeah right!).

The review of the amnesty policy for illegal immigrants has now been scrapped, claims Keith Vaz, of the Home Affairs Select Committee, and adds: “The reaction was outrage when Entry Clearance Minister had the task of selling the bond scheme to the Indians in 1999 - it is unworkable, impracticable and discriminatory. If England introduces the bond scheme, countries targeted may well introduce it to visitors from England so that they will have to pay to enter targeted countries”.

Did you also know ...that it costs the taxpayer £1,800 if the person commits a crime and is removed from the country, which means that if the person commits a crime, it costs more to remove him/her than to let him/her in, and there is also the issue of: Who pays the £1,000? Which bank account should it be deposited into? Who will chase the over-stayer if the visitor decides to forfeit the £1,000? Will this cash bonds increase Illegal bondsman?

The general perception that labour was too lenient on

10 immigration; too many people were allowed in, which

is causing too much pressure on certain communities.. however, it’s a bit like trying to close the door after the horse has bolted - so now Cameron has competition to sound tough on immigration.

Government officials say: “The system has been chaotic, unopened letters, cases not put on computers, (which has been going on for years); and the need to avoid an arms race on immigration. The suggestion is that the Home Affairs Select Committee should scruitinise his policy for bonds. Needess to say, the Conservatives have created a lot of discomfort in the way in which our immigration is being organised.

Immigrants to pay cash bond

By KEVIN SCHOFIELD, Political Correspondent (The Sun) Published: 10th October 2011 IMMIGRANTS could be forced to put up a cash bond if they want family members to join them in Britain, states David Cameron. The money would act as a guarantee that they would not be a burden on taxpayers, which could be forfeited if anyone stayed after their visa had run out.

UK residents will also have to provide proof of earnings before visas are issued to overseas relatives.

“When the income level of a sponsor is low, there is an obvious risk that migrants and their families will become a burden.” , said Mr Cameron. The Prime Minister has been stung by criticism of the Coalition’s failure to get to grips with soaring immigration. He had pledged to reduce net immigration — the number arriving in Britain minus those leaving — to the “tens of thousands”.

But numbers have rocketed to a six-year high of 242,000.

He will also announce a crackdown on forced marriages, which could now be made a criminal offence. Couples will be made to prove they are in a genuine relationship before they can wed. The Prime Minister adds: “Forced marriage is little more than slavery. It is completely wrong.”

The Sun has learned that Mr Cameron slammed Labour for failed immigration policies that saw many highlyskilled migrants taking jobs as pizza delivery drivers and shelf stackers. But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Time and again there is a big gap between the Government’s rhetoric and reality on immigration.”

from the preserved lemons, cut into large slices and set aside.

Heat the butter and oil in a heavy saucepan, add the onion and fry gently, stirring frequently until softened and translucent. Add the ginger, saffron, cinammon, salt, pepper, cumin and turmeric, if using and stir adding the water until all spices are mixed in thoroughly. Add the chicken and turn it over to coat it with the sauce. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, cover the pan and leave to simmer gently for about one hour, turning the chicken over several times so that all sides soak up the sauce. It may be necessary to add a little hot water during the cooking if the juices run dry.

A MOORISH RECIPE Tagine of chicken and olives with preserved lemons Serves five INGREDIENTS

Add the preserved lemons, coriander and parsley, stir, cover and cook for 15 more minutes. If the sauce is too runny once the chicken is cooked, remove the chicken and set aside in a warmed tagine dish, bring sauce to boil, stirring continuously until thickened.

1.5kg whole chicken 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground black pepper 125g stoned green olives 1.5 preserved lemons cut into strips 50g butter 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cumin (optional) 1 tsp turmeric (optional) 1 tsp cinnamon (or 3 cinnamon sticks) Pinch of saffron threads 500ml water 3 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped 3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Arrange the preserved lemon strips and olives on top of the chicken, stir the sauce and quickly pour it over the chicken. Cover the tagine dish and serve straight away, very hot. http://moorishcatering.co.uk/

Did you know?

Moorish Feast is the Souks of Morocco and the street food of Algeria.

METHOD Mix the garlic, some black pepper and a spoonful of the oil. Rub the chicken with the mixture and set aside for a few hours, or overnight.

It is the colours of AndalucĂ­a and the history Persia. From Algeria to Zanzibar, it is unique, unforgetttable and delicious.

Blanch the olives three times by plunging them into boiling water. Leave them to boil for 30 seconds then rinse under running water. Repeat this twice more, changing the boiling water each time, then drain the olives and set aside.

Remove and discard the flesh and pips

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Dear Editor, Re: Issue 32 I read through the entire issue, well at least a part of each article, and it is an excellent issue containing much useful information on meeting some of the most common life challenges. It is rich with very readable articles, filled with self empowering advice and information.

The problems of depression, domestic violence, the deep and disabling hurt causing loss of confidence, are problems that can be crippling but are often not addressed because people are embarrassed by them or, otherwise feel they are too “private” to seek help for or even discuss. I appreciate that your articles are positive and encouraging (I especially appreciated the comment that life cannot be altered by remote, you have to get up and change it yourself”) The problem too often is that people don’t know where to go for help and are afraid to expose their inner torment.

It is good that you are offering specific suggestions regarding where to go and advertisements from those offering professional help (I trust you have vetted these and have confidence in their work).

Many people do not know where to go for help and I suggest that you provide even more names of places to seek assistance, especially if such consultation is covered by the British health system.

We, in the US, do not have adequate resources attuned to treating mental health and limited insurance coverage of such problems. If these do not exist, in Britain, you face a greater challenge. I hope that your more universal coverage will enable people to get help where you send them.

George, Washington DC, USA

The End of the Dominion of Sin The world has been under the dominion of sin for six thousand years. The I-rits (spirit) of confusion has reigned supreme throughout the whole world. The races and nations have changed over the centuries, but the I-rits (spirit) has stayed the same. Today the whole earth is under the yoke of sin, lead by pernicious Western world powers. They have influenced the people of the earth contrary to the LAWS and statutes of the Most High. The world is polluted with their wickedness. They have polluted the Air, Water, earth, and the minds of men and women. Through powerful deception, the evil powers have made good seem evil and evil seem good. Only the forces of the Almighty High can end the tight grip that satan has upon the earth. It will take the force of the Most High (god), a kingdom of disciplined men and women under the Most Highs (god’s) rule who are livicated (ded-icated) to the return of the creation to the proper cycles of the Almighty High (god).

This Kingman (Kingdom) will declare JUDGMENT through the Word of the Almighty High at the end of the age called the Great Tribulation. And this I-lah (godly) force will put an end to the dominion of sin.

Footnote: REV. 17 (Afrikan Heritage Bible) RAs Heru_khuti “the Levite” “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

thinking, planning, and analysing, thereby improving your organisational skills and making you more capable of handling challenging math problems.

Music Therapy Understanding how music affects the brain has been a topic of scientific research for years. It still is a very broad subject and scientists don’t yet fully understand all the implications of music on the brain.

Although there is still not yet a full understanding of music’s effect on the brain, modern and alternative treatments have began to embrace music’s effects by making use of music therapy to treat depression, ADD, seizures, premature infancy and insomnia.

Music and Serotonin Levels

HOW DOES MUSIC AFFECT THE BRAIN?

Emotional problems and other negative feelings such as anxiety, worrying, and depression create an uncomfortable and sometimes chaotic mood in the brain, thereby affecting its functioning. This is reflected in weaker reasoning ability and increased difficulty in the performance of tasks as a result of a reduction in the levels of serotonin.

Music is said to influence the process of thinking

and learning. Music may help you think better, analyse matters faster, and work more efficiently.

It also promotes a more positive mood and attitude to its listeners and gives them an overall sense of motivation.

Around 50 million brain cells are affected by serotonin levels. Music can cause an increase in serotonin levels thereby creating positive effects on the brain cells that control memory power, learning, mood, sleep functions, body temperature regulation mechanisms, sexual desires, and other processes.

Music and Academics Music can help with academic success. Poor grades do not automatically reflect poor intelligence; they are often an outcome of lack of interest and lack of motivation in studying.

Endorphin Release Due to Music

Studies have shown that music triggers notable improvements in a student’s academic skills when they listen to certain types of music while they are studying.

Studies suggest music also helps in the release of endorphins that aid in speeding up the body’s healing process: It distracts the body from suffering and pain.

Makes task seem easier - Listening to feel-good music while performing a challenging task can make the activity seem a whole lot easier and more manageable to accomplish.

It simultaneously triggers certain chemical activities that promote healing.

Listening to soothing and pleasant music creates a positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of its listeners.

Improves motivation - Exposure to music through lessons and other activities may help students overcome their mental block. Music has been proven to be an effective tool in encouraging students to explore different fields.

Increases confidence - It helps boost the confidence of the students and helps them achieve more success in their endeavours.

Music heightens self-trust and sharpens personal discipline.

The rhythm of music has also been shown in studies to aid in the studying of one of the most intimidating subjects for many students: math. Music stimulates the areas of the brain that are responsible for your

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Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for ‘tired all the time’.

Dr Rupal Shah, a GP in south London, says tiredness is one of the most common complaints she sees in her surgery. “I see loads and loads of patients who complain of feeling exhausted, even though they’re sleeping well. Often it’s been going on for several months.”

At any given time, one in five people feels unusually tired, and one in 10 have prolonged fatigue, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Women tend to feel tired more than men.

“It’s unusual to find anything physically wrong.

Most of the time, fatigue is linked with mood and the accumulation of lots of little stresses in life,” says Dr Shah.

Music, Memory and Creativity Music helps improve your memory. Research suggests that the silence in between two musical notes can trigger the neurons and brain cells which are required for sharp memory. Music from flute, sarod, and santoor, are ideal for the improvement of memory and concentration.

Dr Shah says she routinely takes a blood test from patients complaining of tiredness to rule out a medical cause, such as anaemia or an underactive thyroid gland.

Music with stronger beats causes brain waves to resonate in such a way that is in sync with the music. This brings about higher levels of alertness and concentration.

“There’s more chance of a medical reason for tiredness if there are other symptoms as well, such as heavy periods, weight loss, a change in bowel habits, hair loss, extreme thirst and so on.”

Music also enhances your creativity. Music has positive effects on the right side of your brain. Music affects the brain’s centre which is responsible for creativity development

If you want to work out how you became tired in the first place, it can help to think about:

http://science.yourdictionary.com/articles/how-doesmusic-affect-the-brain.html

1) Parts of your life, such as work and family, that might be particularly tiring; 2) Any events that may have triggered your tiredness, for instance, a bereavement or relationship break-up 3) How your lifestyle may be making you tired.

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house or getting married. And emotional shock, such as bad news, bereavement or the break-up of a relationship, can make you feel drained.

Mental health problems such as depression or anxiety can make you feel more tired. They can also prevent you from getting a proper night’s sleep.

Lifestyle causes of tiredness Tiredness can often be attributed to lifestyle factors, such as drinking too much alcohol, or having a bad diet. If you drink alcohol in the evening, it tends to wake you in the middle of the night. And if you drink a lot regularly, it can make you depressed and affect your sleep. “I’m always surprised to find how often patients who complain of tiredness are drinking far too much,” says Dr Shah.

Did you know ....

There are lots of health complaints that can make you feel tired. Not just the well-recognised ones like anaemia and thyroid problems, but also more surprising ailments, such as diabetes and food intolerance.

Read more about the medical causes of tiredness.

Being overweight or underweight can cause tiredness. That’s because your body has to work harder than normal to do everyday activities. If you’re underweight, you have less muscle strength, and you may feel tired more quickly.

Pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks, can also sap your energy.

Psychological causes of tiredness

If you have a disturbed sleep pattern – for instance if you work night shifts, sleep in the day or look after young children – it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep, and you’ll feel tired during the day.

Psychological tiredness is far more common than tiredness that’s caused by a physical problem.

Read more about how to change your lifestyle to boost your energy.

One key reason is anxiety, which can cause insomnia and in turn lead to persistent fatigue. A survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that nearly a third of the population are severely sleep-deprived, often because of job and money worries. The Foundation’s report, Sleep Matters, suggests a link between insomnia and low energy levels.

The worries and strains of daily life can be exhausting, even positive events, such as moving

How to tackle tiredness It may be common to feel tired all the time but it isn’t normal. If you’re worried, see your doctor for advice and reassurance. “We can rule out anything serious,” says Dr Shah. “Just knowing there’s nothing wrong can be reassuring in itself.”

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Clean house You may not mind the dirty gym socks and weekold boxers scattered all over the floor, but she will.

And not only does a messy house make you look bad, it also kills her desire to romance you. In fact, nearly two-thirds of women believe that having a clean room is crucial for setting the mood, according to a National Sleep Foundation and WB&A Market Research poll of 1,500 people ages 25 to 55.

Moderately aggressive but respectful, affectionate but not placid!

Huffiington Post Photo

WHAT DO WOMEN REALLY WANT IN A MAN?

Show Her Your Wild Side. Many women consider dominant or rough sex to be a huge turn-on, says.

Want to turn a woman on? Head to B & Q or Home Depot. Surveys have shown that the way to a women’s bed... er, heart is through her to-do list. In fact, 12 percent of women prefer their men to be good at do-it-yourself projects rather than skilled between the sheets, according to a new survey from Local Traders.com.

Of course, most women want more than just a helping hand around the house. So we asked our friends at Women’s Health to pick the minds of their million- plus Twitter followers and get the lowdown on the traits that ladies look for in a guy.

Gentle eyes and smell good! Seduce Her With Your Scent. According to a study from the University of Liverpool, when women simply see a man apply a scent, they instantly consider him more attractive. And what’s more, the same study also found that men who use cologne come across as more confident than those who don’t.

Must Haves: A nice smile and sense of humour that makes it impossible not to smile back, no matter what kind of mood you’re in Make Her Laugh. - women love guys who can bring a smile to their face. In a Men’s Health survey of women ages 21 to 54, 77 percent of women ranked a sense of humour as their number one must-have in a man, beating out intelligence, passion, confidence, and generosity.

Source: Unknown

Being able to cook - if your cooking skills don’t lead to her heart, at least they may lead you both towards intimate moments.

A Small Ego (Humility) 17

Young People Drinking

YOUNG PEOPLE DRINK LIKE TROOPERS!

under the previous Labour administration risks being reversed by the cuts programme pursued by the coalition over the past three years, which has hit young people hard. It cited research by the Family and Parenting Institute and Institute for Fiscal Studies predicting that 400,000 more children will be in poverty by 2015/16 due to austerity measures.

The UK has one of the highest alcohol abuse rates by young people, says Unicef’s report card on child well-being British children’s prospects in life trail behind many of their European neighbours, and the present Government’s policies are making the situation worse, a United Nations organisation has warned.

The deputy executive director of Unicef UK, Anita Tiessen, said: “There is no doubt that the situation for children and young people has deteriorated in the last three years, with the Government making policy choices that risk setting children back in their most crucial stages of development.

Unicef’s report card on child well-being placed the UK 16th out of 29 developed countries, but it ranked much lower on key indicators such as involvement in further education (29th), teenage pregnancy (27th) and youth unemployment (24th). The children’s rights organisation warned that a generation of British teenagers is being “sidelined” by the Government’s austerity agenda and called for more targeted state investment in young people.

“With the UK ranking at the bottom, or near the bottom, of the league table on teenage pregnancy and young people not in education, employment or training, we know that many are facing a bleaker future. The Government needs to acknowledge this and act now. While children and young people will be the first to bear the brunt if we fail to safeguard their well-being, over time society as a whole will pay the price.”

The UK has crept up the child well-being tables since Unicef’s last report in 2007, which controversially branded Britain the worst place in the developed world to be a child, ranked 21st out of 21.

But Unicef UK warned that the improvement seen

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The new report draws on statistics from 2010 and shows a general improvement in children’s experiences over the first decade of this century, compared with the previous scorecard, which looked at data from 2001/2. But the brighter picture for younger children is not matched among teenagers, who remain more likely than their peers in other developed countries to drop out of education and get involved in under-age drinking and teenage pregnancy.

Is the DSM (the Psychiatrists and Counsellors Bible) A Scientific Nightmare?

The new edition DSM-5, is the reference manual that psychiatrists and counsellors rely on to classify mental disorders. Now, according to an article in New York Times (7 May 2013), the federal government’s most prominent psychiatric expert has said the book suffers from a scientific “lack of validity” – being a counsellor, myself, this news concerns me.

The Expert, Dr Thomas R Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said in an interview, that his goal was to reshape the direction of psychiatric research to focus on biology, genetics and neuro-science, so that scientists can define disorders by their causes, rather than their symptoms. He also said that his motivation was not to disparage the DSM as a clinical tool, but to encourage researchers and especially outside reviewers who screen proposals for financing from his agency, to disregard its categories and investigate the biological underpinnings of disorders instead. He said he had heard from scientists whose proposals to study processes common to depression, schizophrenia and psychosis, were rejected by grant reviewers because they cut across DSM categories.

Key UK failings identified in the report include: the lowest rates of further education in the developed world, with fewer than 75% of young people studying, compared with more than 80% in all of the other populous developed countries; one of the highest rates of young people not in education, employment, or training (Neets), affecting 10% of 15 to 19-year- olds, and the UK is one of only three OECD countries with teenage pregnancy rates above 30 per 1,000.

It also highlighted that the UK has one of the highest alcohol abuse rates by young people, with around 20% of British 11 to 15-year-olds reporting having been drunk on at least two occasions and the UK is placed in the bottom third of the infant mortality league table with a rate of 4.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, approximately double the rate of Sweden or Finland.

While the DSM, is the best tool available for clinicians treating patients, and should not be tossed out, he said it does not reflect the complexity of many disorders, and its way of categorising mental illnesses should not guide research.

“As long as the research community takes the DSM to be a ‘bible’ we’ll never make progress” Dr Insel said, adding “People think that everything has to match DSM criteria, but you know what? Biology never read that book”.

The child well-being table was topped by the Netherlands, followed by Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, but the UK also trailed behind less wealthy countries such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Portugal. http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/warning-over-ukchild-well-being

Adapted and Edited from article on link below.

For full news item: www.nytimes.com/.../psychiatrysnew-guide-falls-short-experts-say

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as the result of the Congress of Berlin (1878) and the Conference of Berlin (1884-85).

These traumas forced the church to abandon the Pan-African approach to ministry and revert to the old survival approach which had emerged in the context of slavery. This created a theological vacuum in the areas of dignity, African identity, and global significance.

Emergence of Islam in the Black Community

By Adam Edgerly and Carl Ellis (Adapted)

Muslims make up about 6% of the population in the United States. The majority of conversions to this growing religion is occurring within the Black community (a little over 11% of America’s population).

Many Blacks view Christianity as the White man’s religion and associate conversion to Islam with recovering their ethnic heritage.

With the official end of slavery in 1865, the former slaves were devastated and confused about their identity in the economy of God. Yet the indigenous Black church experienced explosive growth. A major contributing factor was the need for a true identity. This was achieved when the church adopted ‘Pan-Africanism’. Under this banner the Black church became actively involved in cultural and economic development in the United States and in missions, especially in Africa.

However, three events radically altered the theological direction of the Black church. They were 1) the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction in the South in 1877, 2) the Industrial Revolution in the North, and 3) the consolidation of European colonialism in Africa

Several non-Christian attempts were made to fill this vacuum. Among them were 1) W. E. B. Dubois and his advocacy of solidarity through education, 2) a few Black Jewish sects, 3) Marcus Garvey and the United Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.), and 4) several Black nationalist oriented Islamic sects.

The allegation that ‘Christianity’ had been used to subjugate Black people is undeniable. Although the Quakers opposed slavery early on, staging the first anti-slavery demonstration in 1688, most churches either defended slavery, ignored it, or were divided over the issue. In light of this fact, the teachings of Elijah Muhammad fell upon eager ears. He was preaching to people who were waiting for a claim to dignity and self-sufficiency, as well as for spiritual fulfilment. He convinced them that the answers to their problems were found only in Islam.

For the most part, Elijah Muhammad was preaching to uneducated people, unfamiliar with Islam. The appeal of his new religion was its emphasis on Black self-awareness, self-sufficiency, and the promise that God was on the side of Blacks in their struggle against racial oppression in America.

A demographic study of Black Muslims

by C. Eric Lincoln revealed some startling insights into who responded to Elijah Muhammad’s message. The majority of those who joined the Nation of Islam were young, economically dis20 advantaged, Black males from Chris-

tian backgrounds. Up to 80% of a typical congregation were between the ages of 17 and 35. Traditionally, the church in the Black community has had difficulty attracting young males. In an article entitled, ‘Why Most Black Men Won’t Go to Church,’ Reverend William Harris attributes the primary reason to economics ‘Many Black males won’t go to church because today’s church does not address their needs. The Black male needs money, job opportunities, business resources, and relevant skills training. The church collects money, but does little to create opportunities through which he can make more money. Jesus understood the need to feed people before preaching to them.

Today’s church must likewise set the table for the Black man before asking him to pay to have the dishes done.

Elijah Muhammad’s program for economic development played a crucial role in the rapid growth of the Nation of Islam. With the money donated by members, Muhammad purchased land for farms, store fronts, bakeries, apartment buildings and schools. The economic base of the organization grew in proportion to numerical growth. By owning businesses and land, Elijah Muhammad was able to provide both housing and employment for needy followers. Furthermore, the members had the added pride of sharing in the ownership of these various enterprises and being, to a great extent, independent of the broader society. Scarcity of employment for young Black males offers one explanation of why they were drawn to the Nation of Islam in such large numbers.

Men were also drawn to the Nation of Islam because of the emphasis placed on male leadership. Black churches tend to be dominated by women, with one central male figure, the pastor in the pulpit.

As a result, many men do not feel affirmed in the church environment. They see the pastor as a threat and even a rival. Elijah Muhammad was able to criticize the Black male while affirming his role. Thus he challenged men to take the lead, and they responded. ‘Unlike the typical Christian church, the Muslim temples attract many more men than women, and men assume the full management of temple affairs. Women are honoured and they perform important functions within a defined role.’

The role of women consists of teaching other women and managing the affairs of the home. Ironically, women were also attracted to the Nation of Islam because they appreciated the strength of the men and the protective posture they took towards Black women. As C. Eric Lincoln noted in his research, the Nation of Islam appeals to the young regardless of gender.

‘A surprising number of young people are attracted by the Muslims’ redefinition of the roles men and women should play in the home and in the religious life of the sect. There is a strong emphasis on the equality of individuals irrespective of sex, but each sex is assigned a role considered proper for itself. The trend in our larger society seems to be towards blurring the distinct line between the traditional social roles of men and women.

The Muslims, on the other hand, claim to have restored the women to a place of dignity and respect...Muslim women seem to welcome the security and protection implicit in this arrangement.

Children seem to profit most, for among Muslim children, delinquency is unheard of.’

Among people who were not accustomed to the security of a strong nuclear family with well-defined roles, the Nation of

Islam provided welcomed structure. The underlying message of the Nation was that the disorder they had experienced up until then had been caused by outside forces beyond their control, evil influences they were now to avoid at all cost.

Under the leadership of Warith D. Muhammad, the former Nation of Islam has become an orthodox community of Sunni Muslims. From the moment he took over as leader, he sought to align the doctrine of the organisation with the Quran. He did away with Elijah Muhammad’s doctrine of racial separation. He struggled to dismantle the cult-like structure. He also restored Malcolm X to a position of honour, naming a mosque after him. Warith began honouring the Constitution and encouraging participation in the political process. Most of the real estate holdings were quickly sold off. He redefined W.D. Fard as a ‘wise man’, and began to teach the five pillars of orthodox Islam. The name of the organisation was changed to the Bilillian Community and later to the World Community AlIslam in the West (WCIW). Although Warith opened the WCIW to people of all races, its membership remained predominantly Black. They continue to be known as Bilillians. Billal was an Ethiopian Muslim who was born in Circa in 600 AD. Billal was so firm in his convictions that when punished by his slave master after refusing to denounce Islam, he cried, ‘Ahad, Ahad’ (One, only one God).

In a 1979 interview with Clifton Marsh, Warith D. Muhammad explained some of his views on women in Islam. ‘Women in the Nation of Islam had a subordinate role to men. Warith D. Muhammad has

changed that role, and in many cases, women are placed over men in administrative roles’. The new structure in the WCIW does not make distinctions based on sex. In the mind of the imam, there was no religious justification for such rigid divisions between men and women.

Imam Muhammad studied the role of women in Arabia during the time of the prophet Muhammad. He concluded that the right of women to equal education was protected under Islamic law. He justified the new status of women in the WCIW by saying,

‘We cannot make any distinction between men and women in terms of intelligence, spirituality or moral nature. Women are equal to men and they are not to be treated any differently’.

Girls’ training courses were changed from home economics to general intellectual development. Women were free to seek employment outside of the home. ‘I have looked at the role of women...in the light of what the prophet Muhammad did, to give more freedom, more equality to women’. He noted that women at the time of the prophet owned businesses, employed men, and had equal rights to education. He added that if women pursue higher education, ‘how can we expect them to stay home? What is all this education for? You can’t keep her at home nursing babies’. This new teaching was a radical departure from the teachings of the Nation of Islam. It also deviated from the traditional expression of Islam in the Middle East.

When asked where he saw the WCIW in the year 2000, Imam Muhammad

replied, ‘I hope Muslims will be so comfortable in America that they won’t have to introduce any structure or anything, just be American Muslims’. This vision has been fulfilled. The structure of the WCIW continued to diminish in scope.

The name of the sect was changed to the American Muslim Mission. Their publication The American Muslim Journal was discontinued in 1984. The group was decentralized and absorbed into a larger body of Muslims in 1985, and Warith D. Muhammad became recognized as an Islamic leader by Muslim people of all national origins.

Because of Islam’s emphasis on external religious practices, Black adherents tend to operate on their internal instincts, which are essentially Christian. If the church takes the Muslim challenge seriously and theologically addresses the issues of dignity, African identity and global significance, then there is the potential of a great harvest among these Muslims. If the church fails to take the challenge seriously, then the Muslim presence will become a Muslim dominance and this will be a scourge upon the church.

For the best in interviews, Chat & Reggae Lady Loy, Sundays 8pm - 10pm (GMT) on www.jamrockradio.com

http://www.answering-islam.org/ReachOut/ emergence.html.

For previous shows: http://loyonlife.podomatic.com

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