Morountodun – Rhodes Drama Production

Last night, I went to the Nigerian production of Morountodun in the Rhodes Drama department. The play/musical which is written by Femi Osofisan and directed by Andre Buckland tells the triumphant tale of a female leader named Morountodum — which means honorable. What I enjoyed most about the show was seeing my peers performance.

Morountodunis a play written, performed and published in English. Bucklands’ version captures in a moving manner, the intrigues and betrayal of people’s expectation by the government and its functionaries like the police, tax collectors and sanitary inspectors who hold the people down in a terroristic grip. But it also depicts the determination and the struggles of the peasants to combat the tyranny of the military government and the economic hardship being faced.

Flyer

Cape Town

Photos of Cape town for spring break. I spent three days there but I made the most of it. Found a place to crash and moved around the whole time. I took the train which was hella packed and walk alone which was interesting because I saw the gap btw the rich and poor.  I wished I had stayed longer but next time.

Vote Odame for SGA Prez

I am running for SGA President because I want to continue to represent student’s voices and the progress of SGA. I am very blessed in many ways to be apart of this strong community. There are many things I have learned and relationship I have built being actively involved at Wheaton.

I am the best candidate to lead the SGA due to my ability to work with others and my passion to help others. Spring is the time to unite as community and plan for change in 2010 – 2011 yr. Therefore, we have to use the conversations from the past and reflect in the present to move forward towards leadership of action at Wheaton College.

Some of my goals for the 2010-2011 academic year:

- Save money for students but also raise and fund student efforts and initiatives

- Strive for more inclusiveness on Wheaton campus not only through collaborations between student clubs, but with different communities (i.e International Students, People of Color, LGBTQ)

- Encourage community engagement so students can learn outside of classrooms

- Encourage more student art to make our campus more vibrant.

These are only some of the things I plan on working on for the upcoming year. As you can see the task before us is ambitious. But why not go further? We need an individual who has the energy to carry such task and is able to relate to the community on the whole – something of which I am capable. Together, we can reach heights beyond our dreams. I want to listen to your concerns and also act upon them. I need your help so together we can have a better Wheaton. My campaign is about students and for students. And with that said, I kindly ask for your vote. Thank you!

VOTE ME, SOLOMON ODAME FOR SGA PREZ !!

Join the facebook : #mce_temp_url#

Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-UGQQGw1rc

First Physical

Every movement has a story, that was the  thought that resonated with me after the performance pieeces by Gary Gordon and Acty Tang.

Both pieces creatively used screen projectors to tell the their stories.

Overall, I enjoyed both performances. Mr. Tang piece required on stage dress change in front of the audience which shocked some students in the audience. While Go by Gary Gordon, had some powerful combinations. The sync partnership between the dancers show force of the body.

The Drama Department at Rhodes is very  strong. I am enjoying the tats (classes) that I am taking in the deparment. A production assignment, I am working on now is Anansi the Spider  fair tale for school children. Keep you posted!

Music in SA

While in SA I have been expose to some great music. There are some cool Djs that have come to spin their stuff at Rhodes. My playlist has changed dramatically and my recently add list now includes house, dub step and SA rap. House music is very popular in SA. Its soulful full music with nice instrumentals in the background. Yesterday,  I went to another braai for a dancing society called Mapsoc and had such a great time. At first I felt awkward because I didn’t know people, but once the music and drinks started flowing, my spirits went up!  I learned some new dancing moves, (lol) that I wish I can show all.

So far TOP 7 songs i wanna bring back home:

1. I’m you Friend – Gregor Stato

2. Juju – Dj Black Coffee

3. Rap Das Armas – Cidinho & Doca

4. Ready For the Weekend (Spoon Remix) – Calvin Harris

5. Sonic Chronic – TJR & Life is Boring – Cazals

6. Money for Nothing – Dire Straights

7. Show Dem – JR (make the circle bigger lol )

J-Bay: Surf Village Weekend

Last week, I spent a relaxing time at Jeffreye’s Bay, home of surfing, with some international students studying at Rhodes. I had such a great time, chatting about home life, difference and learning some German words.

It was such a great idea to rent a car and  get on the road to explore South Africa. Yes, while driving I did see animals like zebras but it was the vista of mountains, that had me at aww.

The Indian Ocean is very cold and salty. I saw some jelly fishes in the water. Nope I didn’t surf but I rode the waves and I even picked up a shirt at Billabong.

Here are some pics:

I am African

I am an African

I am born of a people who would not tolerate oppression.

I am a proud African.

I am born of the peoples of the continent of Africa.

My mind and my knowledge of myself is formed by the victories that are the jewels in our African crown, the victories we earned from Isandhlwana to Khartoum, as Ethiopians and as the Ashanti of Ghana, as the Berbers of the desert.

I am the grandchild who lays fresh flowers on the Boer graves at St Helena and the Bahamas, who sees in the mind’s eye and suffers the suffering of a simple peasant folk, death, concentration camps, destroyed homesteads, a dream in ruins

I know what if signifies when race and colour are used to determine who is human and who, sub-human.

The pain of the violent conflict that the peoples of Liberia, Somalia, the Sudan, Burundi and Algeria is a pain I also bear.

The dismal shame of poverty, suffering and human degradation of my continent is a blight that we share.

The blight on our happiness that derives from this and from our drift to the periphery of the ordering of human affairs leaves us in a persistent shadow of despair.

Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now!

Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace!

However improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!

All this I know and know to be true because I am an African!

We are all Africans.

For here on, it always feels good to be an African.

(remix of Thabo Mbeki’s I am an African speech)