Arts and Culture

Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) Celebrates 10 Years

Published

5 years ago

October 10, 2019

With 85 films, representing 35 African countries packed in one weekend, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) celebrated 10 years at the historic Hoover Theater in San Jose Oct. 4 – 6.

The cultural extravaganza opened ceremoniously with a parade of African flags, saxophonist OluJazz and singer Victoria McDowell, who performed the Black National Anthem and “The Greatest Love of All”.

Festival director, Chike C. Nwoffia and his team were presented recognitions from Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, California State Senator Bob Wieckowski, San Jose Vice Mayor Charles “Chappie” Jones and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

Nwoffiah presented the festival’s cultural icon award to The Honorable Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas. The entrepreneur, philanthropist and author shared her story of rising from poverty and racism in the Bahamas to becoming a member of parliament, the first female minister of national security, deputy prime minister and acting prime minister of the Bahamas.

“I was given an opportunity to go to college when I was a wife with children,” said Pratt. “My husband was very supportive, so I took the opportunity.”

As a result, Pratt says she entered the college employed as a volleyball recruiter and a student among people half her age.

“I traveled to and from the Bahamas recruiting the disadvantaged because I knew all they needed was an opportunity to change the course of their lives,” she said. “Today, there are hundreds of doctors, lawyers and professionals because I sacrificed and I opened doors for others. Use your life to help others. The only way the minorities in power dominate you is by keeping you ignorant, so get your education.”

For the SVAFF festival director Nwoffiah, creating festival was his calling to share “Africa through the lens of Africans.

“I wanted to confront the sad reality that after over 50 years of post-colonial rule in Africa, most of Africa’s narrative is still presented to the world through a foreign lens with narratives that have created blurred interpretations and perceptions of Africa and Africans,” he said. “The affordability of filmmaking in the last few decades has catapulted the growth of the African film industry with African filmmakers eager to share the true stories, hopes and dreams of Africa with the global community.”

Sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Silicon Valley chapter, the opening film, “Veronica’s Wish,” was directed by Ugandan filmmaker Nisha Kalema. Kalema produced and starred in the film portraying a woman whose was life interrupted by a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis days before her dream wedding to her millionaire boyfriend.

“I wanted to share the strength, love and determination of the couple along with the awareness that my country does not have the proper technology to diagnose cancer in the early stages to prevent death,” said Kalema.

Kalema’s film, which is based on a true story, won 12 nominations at the 2018 Uganda Film Festival, including best actress. Kalema continues to advocate for better medical technology in her country.

“It is wonderful to celebrate 10 years and have so much support locally and globally for African filmmakers showcasing their art,” said Nwoffiah. “ ‘Veronica’s Wish’ is a prime example of the power of film and its transformative uses.”

For more information visit: www.svaff.org

Carla Thomas

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Arts and Culture

Faces Around the Bay Dr. Carl Blake, Pianist

Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999. One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Carl Blake

By Barbara Fluhrer

Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999.

One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.

Blake obtained a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and continued post-baccalaureate studies in Jamaica before earning a Master of Arts in Music at San Jose State University. He was the recipient of two Fulbright residencies in Honduras and completed a third residency at the University of St. Petersburg in Russia. He has a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University.

At age 19, Blake, then an undergraduate piano major at Boston University, was “discovered” by Impresario Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, who is the Founder and Director of Today’s Artists/Four Seasons Arts.

Williams honored Blake by awarding him the first Marian Anderson Young Artist Award. Anderson personally presented the award at the Masonic Auditorium in S.F. Subsequently, Blake was presented by Dr. Williams in his San Francisco debut at The Herbst Theatre. Williams subsidized a year of study abroad for Blake at the Paris Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Williams sponsored Blake’s New York Weill Hall debut, where he has performed twice since. Blake performed several times at the Yachats Music Festival in Oregon.

Blake continues to perform nationally and abroad. His hobbies are reading, baking and travel. He says, “I’m still pumping ivories, as Belgian pianist Jeanne Stark described the disciplined practice of concert piano.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Arts and Culture

Oakland Jazz Great Offers Master Class as City Declares “John Handy Day”

World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city. Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).

Published

2 months ago

February 24, 2024

Oakland Post

(L-R) Del Handy, John Handy, Roger Glenn, and Joe Warner celebrate John Handy Day at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, Oakland. Photo by Lady Bianca.

By Conway Jones

World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city.

Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).

“John Handy is a jazz icon and an inspiration to musicians everywhere,” said Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old Oakland tenor saxophone player who is enrolled at the Oakland School for the Arts.

In celebration of this day, the reception in downtown Oakland at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle was a gathering of artists, young and old, coming together in his honor and celebrating his 91st birthday.

Handy presented a Saxophone Colossus free masterclass for musicians. This class afforded a rare opportunity to learn about the saxophone from an aficionado. The class was free and open to all – saxophonists, vocalists, aficionados, students, and casual listeners.

“As a longtime friend for over 60 years, and fellow musician who has had numerous opportunities to share the stage with John, it has always been a pleasure performing with him and hearing his creative interpretations of the music and his gift of ease inspiring the next generation of jazz musicians,” said Roger Glenn, a multi-instrumentalist.

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Musical Chronicling Life of Betty Reid Soskin Set for Bay Area Debut

Betty Reid Soskin’s storied 102 years includes time spent as a WWII defense worker, activist, business owner, songwriter, National Park Service park ranger and so much more. Now the Richmond icon is the subject of a musical based on her incredible life.

Published

2 months ago

February 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Betty Reid Soskin. Photo courtesy of Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond.

The Richmond Standard

“Sign My Name to Freedom,” a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) production which will focus on the life, music and writing of Ms. Soskin, will premiere at San Francisco’s Z Space Friday, March 29 and continue through Saturday, April 13. Tickets range from $15–$65 and can be purchased online at https://www.sfbatco.org/smntf

The musical is directed by Elizabeth Carter, while playwright Michael Gene Sullivan integrates Ms. Soskin’s own music throughout dialogue between what SFBATCO calls “The Four Bettys” as they progress through a century of experiences of this awe-inspiring American woman.

The cast of “Sign My Name to Freedom” features Tierra Allen as Little Betty, Aidaa Peerzada as Married Betty, Lucca Troutman as Revolutionary Betty and Cathleen Riddley as Present Betty Reid Soskin, according to Artistic Director Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. and Managing Director Adam Maggio. Other casting will be announced in the future.

Jackson said that having Soskin’s blessing to steward her life’s story is an honor and career highlight for him and that her journey stands as “a beacon for Black Americans, women and people of color all across the world [and] is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.”

San Francisco’s Z Space is located at 450 Florida St. in San Francisco. Check out the trailer here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ap9N2XBB0