In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kamau Rashid, professor and director of the Kemetic Institute of Chicago. We speak in detail about the importance of African and African-American history and its power to transform the lives of younger generations, and he references the historians and intellectuals who were his own forebears and inspirations. We discuss Nile Valley civilizations, West African history, the Caribbean Islands, Haiti, and the Americas. Dr. Rashid then becomes my first respondent to rapid-fire interviewing, fielding questions about various authors, activists, poets, historians, and scholars. This is the first installment of a series of discussions on black history, with more to come.

South African bassist, composer, and arranger Herbie Tsoaeli is affectionately known, in certain circles, as Malume, a term of respect for older men who serve as elders. In this episode, we discuss his origins and inspiration. He was raised in Cape Town during the 1976 Soweto Uprising and describes the effects of Apartheid on his development. His parents, wanting him to be a doctor, were initially disappointed by his musical path, but he found himself called by legends like Coltrane and Abdullah Ibrahim. He talks in-depth about playing with some of the greatest South African musicians: Bucs Gongco, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Hugh Masekela, Bheki Mseleku, and many others. Before parting, we discuss his concept of the term "African Time" and its many meanings..

https://herbietsoaeli.com

Liza Jessie Peterson’s parents provided her with a grounding that allowed her, she says, to teeter at the edge of the cliff but never jump. The artist, activist, poet, playwright, and actor had early success as a model but discovered it wasn’t her true path. In this episode, she shares how her writing career began with journaling and poetry, eventually leading to her performing and honing her skills at the famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe. We discuss in detail her memoir, All Day: A Year of Love and Survival Teaching Incarcerated Kids at Rikers Island. We also dive into her one-woman play, The Peculiar Patriot, performed at more than 35 prisons across the country and resulting in her documentary Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison. Lastly, we talk about her passion for ancient Egyptian history and culture, which inspired her to take a life-changing trip to visit the temples and pyramids.

https://www.lizajessiep.com