ITS BRAAP ~ ITS LIFE!!

What can we learn from Masterchef Australia?

2023-09-28T20:51:00.001+01:00

Welcome Braapers

I absolutely love Masterchef Australia, an addict you could say having pretty much binge watched the last two series of 60 episodes! Masterchef is what it says, a cookery competition, however, there is much to be learnt with it being an all-in experience that runs over a number of months. So what can we learn?

Tongue in cheek- but I have to be honest here and say that the first thing Masterchef Australia taught me is that there is no way on this earth the UK version can compete- not even our professional version!
Successful contestants sacrifice a great deal to live their dream, not seeing families and friends for a few months if they are relatively successful.
All contestants have practiced their craft before applying for the competition. Their initial dishes are such a high standard that they portray the passion and dedication needed to create excellence. This shows how seriously people take this competition and what an incredible reputation the show has earnt.
The sense of unity amongst contestants far outweighs anything I have seen in other reality shows such as RuPaul's Drag Race. You can sense how deeply contestants are affected when one of them leaves the competition. They actively encourage one another throughout every challenge and this culture is deeply embedded in each series... support from the Galley! Obviously, Drag Race embodies a level of bitchiness because this pertains somewhat to the culture and is expected. Drag Race without the shade would not be the same and care is clearly taken to select spicy incidents to screen publicly. This does not take away from the empathy that is also shown on Drag Race, but spats simply don't exist on screen in Masterchef, even if one contestant caused their entire team to lose a challenge and be up for elimination.
Let's just move on to the sense of compassion that is evident amongst contestants when a dish goes wrong, or one of the hundred recipe steps is misinterpreted during a challenge. Those who are watching often appear agonised as there is nothing they can do to help except call out advice.
Very occasionally a contestant will leave the show of their own volition, which tends to be down to their inability to cope with the pressure, or due to missing their family. The remaining contestants are always extremely upset. Fortunately, contestants are often happy with their journey to date and have benefitted from so much new learning which has given them the momentum needed to push forwards independently
Sometimes I cannot believe what I'm seeing. One particular challenge remains in my memory. A top chef was demonstrating his world class roast dinner which the contestants were cooking simultaneously, trying to keep up with him. The pace had quickened considerably and one contestant accidentally cut her hand quite badly. She had to stop for treatment and whilst in agony, remained focused on the professional chef whilst trying to memorise the steps. Eventually, first aid complete, she re-entered the cooking arena and with mega determination worked from a mixture of memory and instinct, somehow completing the challenge to a standard that enabled her to remain in the competition. The only word I can use is PHENOMENAL. This is only one of many examples where people fall behind one way or another yet pull themselves up and get back into the game. It shows me that, when we think we have no more to give, humans can become even more determined and resourceful than we know. I really admire the contestants desire to win and would love to embody this level of super passion.
Being part of a team, even in a competitive environment, is definitely easier than going it alone. People spur other people on, an energetic reaction that we cannot imitate as individuals. Our personal energy can keep flowing when we do things that generate good results, but it's not the same when you don't have people cheering for you, or a competitive element.

These are just some of the main points that spring to mind, and as I become so addicted Masterchef is currently banned from my programme list- although I might allow myself one episode a week when the new series begins. If you enjoy cookery programmes, this is the cherry on the cake so comes on my highly recommended list. Alternatively, if you wish to connect more with genuine drive, passion, solution seeking, inspired people, here they are!

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Champion~ NEW: Thought provoking single from JayJayBorn2Sing

2023-08-28T20:04:00.005+01:00

Welcome Braapers!

When we say, 'JayJayborn2sing,' we know straight away that whichever of JayJay's songs is played it will always be from the heart. When we think of songs with great lyrics; consider Don Mclean's, 'Crying,' The Rolling Stones, 'Ruby Tuesday' or alternatively, extremely impactful Reggae hit, '96 Degrees in The Shade'- Third World. Each of these classics reflect different human experiences, stories and emotions that you can instantly recognize and relate to even if they are beyond your personal experience. There is always something in them that touches you and that vibration is echoed musically which cements the song in our hearts. This is certainly the case with Champion!

Personally, I believe Champion to be an extremely powerful song that has been created from a space of personal pain and is set to reinforce people's self-belief as they come through a period of depression. Equally, the lyrics can act as a tool to aid people by steering their inner-selves towards not only survival but the realisation of a better future. You did it, therefore, you are a champion.

Photo: OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Context: This song was prompted by JayJay's personal circumstances, supporting a close family member through suicide attempts which is unbelievably hard to bear. Sadly, JayJay informed me that it was actually written the day before he lost a very close friend.

On top of this, the Covid pandemic rampaged worldwide in 2020 and left an ever increasing wave of suicides in its wake- we are not through this devastation yet and are still picking up the pieces, remaining for the foreseeable future in a recession. The figure quoted above in the press release (further information can be found on the Champion Health website,) indicates that a quarter of the population suffer with mental health issues at some point in their lives and unfortunately this results in horrendous suicide statistics. On average there are 115 suicides per week and sadly this occasionally includes a child. Not only do children suffer from family related anxieties and mental health issues, many are being drawn into the toxic world of social media expectations which they then impose upon themselves, losing more than just their childhood- for more information refer to the Dove reverse selfie campaign.

Facts also state that men are three times as likely as women to commit suicide which is possibly because women have always talked more about emotional issues and are more likely to ask for help. The reason underlying such high levels of depression are understandable when we consider financial pressures, family make-up, roles and expectations; often underpinned with loneliness and also embedded society attitudes. Thankfully it is becoming acceptable for people to discuss their mental health and much of the stigma has been alleviated. Sadly, the vast majority of depression still goes untreated often due to lack of resources, specifically funding, therefore it is essential that this subject remains prominent in our awareness. This is where Jay Jay's song comes up trumps. Champion takes an extremely positive and pro-active approach, guiding us towards helping one another and ourselves, so let's study it in more detail.

Plea: JayJay encourages people to look inwards. Who is the real person that has become lost, experiencing the weight of personal circumstance adhered to their being? We often see changes occurring in people, however, may overlook the fact that their real spirit is still alive but muted within and may be activated by trying to find little things that re-ignite flashes of happiness within them.

Depression takes many forms and often people, myself included, do not recognise it when it occurs. Others are very clear about being depressed and their baseline is so low that to actually feel and become angry about their circumstances is a sign of improvement. Consideration for mental health is high on the work place agenda (statics in Champion Health link above) and this is why the government are encouraging us to develop mutually supportive work environments where people feel alright about asking for help. Currently there are many initiatives in society trying to erase the stigma of depression, especially in young men, and JayJay's song Champion directs people to really consider one another and spot those signs. Identification of depression really is an important part of the process.

Pathway to healing: Champion provides a way forwards enabling a person to study themselves- a form of mirror work through which they can consider their personal bodily attributes (listen carefully to the lyrics) and then begin to dig deeper and recognise the needs of their inner child- which is a very hot, current topic. This approach is also good for those who are supporting someone with depression. Depressed people may develop dulled eyes as they lose their natural, joyful sparkle, a hardened heart and some carry physical scars inflicted through self-harm or abuse- 'Look at my heart, look at my arms, look at my scars.'

Depressed people may become very self-centred as their world begins to shrink, however, often people have true inner strength which helps them to wake up and decide to take control of their life often by seeking help. This is the beginning of the re-birth from which they will emerge a champion. I think the lyric that really highlights this is, 'coz there's a light that sometimes sleeps' reminding us that everything is temporary. We have the power to change and sometimes all it takes to begin that process is genuine concern and support.

Individuality: Ultimately this song is about us as individuals living our own lives and facing our demons; a product of nature, nurture and circumstance. Champion highlights individual pain alongside individual power and that is the heart of the matter. We are changing every day and the more we develop self-awareness the better we become at feeding the parts of us that need to grow whilst taking a sympathetic, loving approach towards the thoughts and attitudes we possess and dislike. Champion's lyrics are powerful- 'coz there is a child I sometimes feed coz he's a big part of me.' When you're depressed start feeding it with positive crumbs and work towards loaves- stoke your internal bakery so that the healing yeast will rise. Whatever we go through in our lives it is up to us to believe in ourselves and make those changes. Take a day at a time or even a moment at a time- eventually things become easier.

Music: I am very struck by the musical aspect of Champion, whose opening melody is quite haunting and runs across the beat throughout. This ethereal quality picks up the thread of a meditative tune and plays directly to your brainwaves. It is beautifully executed and lifts your vibration in a way that is a little like R Kelly's major hit, I Believe I Can Fly. Music that has the ability to lift your spirits and help you soar is in itself a powerful tool that comes into play when feeling down or depressed. Jay Jay has reigned his pretty awesome voice in quite considerably throughout Champion, enabling the lyrics to speak for themselves- don't worry, his voice is as beautiful as ever and JayJay always applies vocal emphasis where required!

In summary, I consider Champion to be the right song at the right time. This world is changing and we are coming to the realisation that the power to change is within us. Whatever is facing you, don't give up, push through instead and become your own Champion.

Jaz McKenzie

Previous review in which JayJayBorn2Sing is featured.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Nicole Scherzinger: Don't Cry For Me Argentina (2013)

2023-08-14T21:50:00.001+01:00

Nicole Scherzinger first came to my attention when she was lead singer of the Pussy Cat Dolls (obviously) - Don't Cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me! So hearing this absolutely beautiful rendition of Don't Cry For Me Argentina knocked me for six. Evidently, Nicole started out studying musical theatre at Wright State University, aged 14, and has clearly developed the ability to portray a character very accurately.

I must say, Nicole quite literally makes the hairs on your arms stand up when she sings these more operatic type of songs. Having discovered Don't Cry For Me Argentina I had to investigate the classical side of her and discovered another outstanding performance as Christine, Phantom of the Opera. Nicole manages to hit all those high notes effortlessly and her voice really is perfection.

When it comes to characters, Nicole totally embraced Grizabella, the elderly cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical CATS during her performance of Memory at the Olivier awards, 2015. To be able to wear such a stunning, figure hugging outfit while portraying a washed out stinking old street cat is no mean feat! And this really is the thing about Nicole- whatever she does she gives 100% and is the real deal. You see it time and again in the comments on YouTube- 'Nicole is the most under-rated singer' and when you consider her versatility combined with vocal agility and gift of interpretation, I think this conclusion is undeniable.

Don't Cha and I Put A Spell on You, both of which feature Nicole as a solo artist, really show her ability to interpret and adapt popular songs in her own way. I think the story behind Don't Cha comes across just as effectively as it did 14 years ago in the original video featuring Busta Rhymes. The acoustic version I have shared was made during Covid in 2021 and still displays the cheeky side of Nicole combined with her sultry swag. What you also get from both of these songs is the real Nicole and not just the commercialised version- it's there in the add-libs and brings a level of authenticity to the occasion. Side note here, Andre's solo guitar in I put a Spell on You is worth a listen and the whole piece has the old blues flow that it demands. Here we have it- Nicole can head a pop festival, stand on the stage at the Royal Opera House or slot into a New Orleans Jazz club- and how many artists can do that?

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

#AfricaTrending~ Manjak Fabric by Dean Brown

2023-08-07T21:36:00.000+01:00

Time to share another post by Dean in our #Africa Trending series

For my readers out there~ Dean Brown

'Manjak' is a Traditional West African Fabric from the beautiful region of Guinnea Bissau. The Manjak fabric is named after our Manjak Nation who originated it long ago in the region now called Guinnea Bissau. It is a soft cotton fabric handmade manually with a weaving loom.

According to legend, a spirit inspired a master artisan from the village of Kalekis to Invision and innovate this weaving style, and he passed the technique onward to his community. It is connected to the weaving traditions our African foreparents brought to the United States as enslaved people. These traditions long predate the era of U.S. Slavery, and like Adire', Kente', Mudcloth and Akwete' textiles, they are an example of what African societies were doing with cotton cultivation, weaving and fabric dyeing long before the United States even existed.

This info is having an extra relevance with cities like Macon, Georgia celebrating it's bicentennial in (1823 to 2023) and economic birth on a cotton industry, eventually with 9 textile factories built on the skills of Africans from the Gullah and Tybee region. The city of Macon, the first banks (first national bank was at the location of The current Bohamian Den on cherry street) and railroads and booming economic growth wouldn't have even existed without the free labor... Much more to this story! These pics have to be seen as part of that story because the traditional fabrics are still around today. #TheAfricaYouDontSeeOnTV

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Introducing Natalia Sokol and her incredibly powerful representation of the war in Ukraine

2023-08-01T20:22:00.003+01:00

One of the highlights I spotted recently at Parallax art fair was this incredibly emotive painting by Ukraine artist Natalia Sokol. The power in Natalia's painting is undeniable impactful and I am very grateful to her for taking the time to speak about this striking composition and a little about her subsequent journey.

Regarding the painting, Natalia enjoys working with oil paints which are applied using brushes and a palette knife. I think this really adds depth resulting in the richness that is subsequently portrayed. In terms of content, the red poppies represent soldiers whilst the white poppies stand for peace. The smoky arch above pays tribute to the ongoing war providing a sense of battle and destruction. As you are most likely aware, we are currently at a point where the red poppies dominate, however, the cry for peace is paramount. You cannot fail to be touched by those streaming tears of blood which are extremely powerful and flow beyond the picture, over-spilling onto the frame. In her leaflet Natalia states, 'The tears are not a sign of weakness. This is a sign of compassion, empathy and vulnerability, which measures our humanity.' This statement runs deep and affected me as much as the painting, because, therein lies the truth whether we wish to face it or not. How do we measure our humanity? Where do we sit as individuals on that scale? What events personal, community or worldwide elicit your compassion, empathy or expose your vulnerability? These are excellent questions to ask ourselves if we wish to expand in the areas of personal growth and contribution.

As a citizen of the Ukraine Natalia has been very deeply and directly affected by the war and love of her country, which she was forced to flee and is currently living in the UK. If I recall correctly she resided in Germany for a while too. Natalia has experienced some difficult situations since arriving in the UK, however, holds genuine compassion for people she has met along the way, especially those who were facing their own demons. I really admire her non-judgemental attitude and the way she takes life in her stride. We can learn a great deal from Natalia's compassionate, positive outlook.

I spoke with Natalia briefly and my most surprising takeaway was her response to this question, 'what is the main thing you would like to achieve at this point in life?' I was stunned by her answer. Natalia said that she knows she is a powerful woman who can succeed at whatever she sets her mind to, so above all else she wants peace for her country.' That level of self confidence is not only wonderful to witness, but the very fact her work was shown at this major art fair speaks volumes. I must also pay tribute to the way Natalia views the war, framing it positively by comparing it to a woman who goes through childbirth to create a new life- she upholds the same hope for the future of her country- a new life of freedom and love.

Instagram: tesoro_bella

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Real Love~ Quote from Lao Tzu

2023-07-27T22:38:00.000+01:00

This is one of the best quotes I have come across regarding love because it speaks from a solid foundation and lacks whimsicality!

True love has to possess qualities that serve us from a place of sincerity and the union of strength with courage is an ideal pairing; they definitely go together hand in hand. There are times when we may feel below par, afraid of something and need both strength and courage to see us through. You definitely need to possess both of these if you wish to advance in life and when they are generated within a partnership of any kind you instantly have another person covering your back. It can be so hard trying to will yourself on, but when you know loved ones are in your corner this creates a little momentum to start with. Going it alone is hard, but with support everything seems a little more attainable.

Strength is an attribute that helps us to keep on going whereas courage is the quality that actually gets us started and may propel us to the next level. You could be very strong yet afraid and fear is what prevents us from trying to elevate. If you have courage but lack strength, you could start and quickly fade out! To be strong is referring to emotional strength, digging deep when you feel depleted, facing each day anew during a difficult period where you mind is constantly nagging at you to give in. Courage is the quality that keeps you pushing forwards and helps you to draw on your inner strength.

You do gain strength when you are loved and it definitely takes courage to love someone if you have been hurt in the past. This is because you need to leave previous experiences behind in order to risk love again. When you relax enough to love someone you open your heart at the risk of having it hurt all over again, or even for the first time if you had an emotionally distressing childhood and are afraid to trust others. This is why it can be easier to have shallow relationships in which you protect your heart instead of committing, and this is understandable. When the person concerned actually loves you this can release your fear and ignite your courage. It can be a very big step to take as there are no guarantees that a relationship will work out.

These days we hear a great deal about self-love, which produces both strength and courage as everything starts from within. We hear about attraction and magnetism, but even if you know nothing about this side of things it is worth investing in yourself first and there are umpteen books and videos about self-love to get you started.

Ultimately, you need to discover what you want from a relationship, what you expect and where your boundaries lie. Getting these things into place and upholding them will significantly increase your chances of finding the ideal partner.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Why it's good being open to your surroundings ~Art About Town

2023-07-24T21:21:00.001+01:00

Last Wednesday I spent the afternoon in Islington with a friend whom I haven't seen in ages. We met around lunchtime and decided to get something to eat in a local pub for a change- It was 'do something different time,' as these days we're more likely to end up in Starbucks or somewhere similar! There was no specific reason for our choice of eatery, we just noticed the pub before passing by and it appeared traditional therefore would have a different atmosphere to a small cafe, so we decided to give it a try.

The place was large, airy and we went and sat by the back wall. I trotted off to the ladies toilets and WOW, a surprise awaited me- I came across the picture of the ladies above and immediately fell in love with it. These women shout fashion at you as they parade around in their hats/fascinators, looking very confident, sexy and extremely curvaceous. Some very powerful imagery of times past.

I think this picture is what really opened my eyes beyond the tanned leather benches and encouraged me to take note of the other artistic aspects in the immediate environment.

The walls were embellished with the above- I'm not quite sure of their purpose but it adds a little something extra. More significant were the paintings and accompanying information about Michael Faraday, the scientist who had lived locally and uncovered significant discoveries concerning electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Funny to think how these discoveries made during the 1800's have become pretty foundational in the energy field these days. Now we're immersed in Quantum and meta physics.

As you can see, I didn't get the best pictures due to light reflection so I'll end on a good one for you!

Before doing so let's mention lunch in passing. I was surprised by the way sausages, mash and gravy were served- big dishes swimming in gravy. This must be a more traditional style than the usual delicate plating which is fashionable these days- and I image this to be gravy lovers heaven!

Let's just finish off with a much better picture which is of the bar. It looked really great so definitely needs including to give an overall view. Just look at those chandeliers- gorgeous! So if you're in Islington, pop in an order a pint or something and take stock of your surroundings. It's a nice place to spend and hour or two.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Death of a Bumble Bee~ A poem by Jaz McKenzie

2023-07-17T20:36:00.000+01:00

I wrote this poem several years ago and am sharing it as it popped into my mind due to seeing too many bees in this condition recently. Bees are so important to our planet and survival so it's time to celebrate them. They do actually have a day dedicated to them which was World Bee Day, 20th May.

Death of The Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee

DEAD

Lying lifeless

On the warm grey pavement

A sunny day

DEAD

No more humming and buzzing

Making the impossible flight

No more collecting sweet nectar

No more beautiful yellow and black stripe

Funny how death robbed you of your colour

Wings still splayed

How come you landed on the pavement?

Did you fall from the sky and die?

Not a good location

Unfitting

Between the stems of daisies you should lie

Or in the midst of honeysuckle

Evening perfume

A beautiful surround

Your tomb

But a hot summer pavement

Un-noticed by the average passer by

Until a stray dog might toss you in the air

No care for you have lost your sting

If you ever used it???

Now that’s another thing

And I doubt you ever realized that your death

The death of one small bumble bee

Would be such an inspiration

To a human... To me!!

Jaz McKenzie 19/04/10 ©

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Parallax Art Fair July 2023~ Tatiana Rezvaya

2023-07-13T22:24:00.000+01:00

Hello Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly!

Just look at the power dynamics and balance in these two beautiful works by Tatiana Rezvaya, who resides in the UK. I have such a love of ballet and birds therefore associate instantly with the beautiful marriage that has come together in these fine exhibits.

I asked Tatiana how she came to paint male ballet dancers paired with birds. Tatiana said it is because of the element of flight which is only to be found in dancers- and when you think about it, dancers are in flight at times and achieve this unaided whereas other types of sport require some form of equipment to achieve this. Tatiana also has a deep appreciation for male ballet dancers which I understand as the male form has beautifully elongated muscles sculpted on a perfect frame. This is captured very clearly in Tatiana's paintings, all of which are created by using oil paints on canvas. So, why seagulls? Tatiana regards these as very powerful birds which contrasts with the way I perceived them during a meditation recently. The eagle has always been my idea of a powerful bird, however, there is definitely power in Tatiana's seagulls who almost appear to have been summoned by the dancer and remain behind him. You will also notice that the sea and the sand have definition prior to meeting the main body of the dancer, where they merge as one. I adore the colours of both paintings and think the simplicity of sticking mainly to the blue and white theme strengthens the imagery- just imagine if the sand were yellow-Noooooo! This dancer is commanding and triumphant. He has arrived at his destination and is embracing his worth.

The picture above it is equally powerful. The blue trousers the dancer wears matches the peacocks; an essential detail true to form. This is more of a dance in progress where the peacocks replace ballerinas. I feel as if this dancer is so focused on his dance that to him, the peacocks are simply part of the periphery whilst they are integral to us as onlookers. Energy literally abounds in waves and almost comes out from the picture. The energy depicted adds a dimension creating the impression that this painting lives and breathes, whereas, the dancer shown with seagulls is more about capturing a moment in time. This is my take but you may read it differently.

If these paintings interest you it is well worth following the first link to Tatiana's singular art page, or, alternatively, her Instagram.

I will be featuring a few more artists whose work appealed to me shortly and hope this mini series will be an inspiration to you.

Previous Parallax Art Fair review. Poem: Ballerina Overkill~ inspired by a painting of German Zwanik's.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Stand By Me Cover By @BenEKing-sv1kg

2023-07-10T22:36:00.004+01:00

These youngsters are so incredible I've been meaning to share their music for a while. I first came across this talented trio when they popped up in my Instagram feed which resulted in a couple of hours spent checking out their page. My research revealed 'The Nhlangothi family' who are from South Africa. Biko is the beautiful 16 year old female vocalist with Manna (13) accompanying her on the guitar whilst providing perfect harmonies that help lift the songs to new heights. Mfundo (8) clearly has a very lively personality and can be seen doing his own thing in the background- which is usually free-style dancing but occasionally he plays the piano. I discovered somewhere that Manna, who is inspired by singer/songwriter Jacob Collier, really wants to learn to play every instrument so has set himself quite a challenge!

Like thousands of others I am absolutely smitten with Biko's voice, which she uses effortlessly sounding fresh but equally like 'an old soul'- as judges would no doubt say if they were on a talent show. In fact, I gather it's been confirmed that they will be on the next season of America's Got Talent following their invitation to audition. Personally, I'm glad it's AGT as I imagine they will have more freedom to follow their own path that way as opposed to being contracted to shows like the X-factor- I certainly hope so because currently they are free to do as they please which comes through in their song choices and video recordings.

I was not surprised to discover that the children come from a long line of musical family members so are very grounded in the art. Their mother, Ayanda Nhlangothi is a singer/actress and also their manager. Evidently both of their parents perform with them at times when the trio are booked to perform. Biko really knows how to use her voice and occasionally she produces a Corinne Bailey-Rae type of vocal which I love, especially being a huge fan of Corinne Bailey-Rae and finding it easy to relate to her songs. Biko has covered at least one of them giving a stunning interpretation.

I particularly like the trio's attitude to life. They come across as very happy, grounded and believe in themselves, knowing that their talent will ultimately manifest in the ways they want. Biko leads the Instagram lives and displays a mature level of patience with Mfundo, allowing him time to do his thing. They share songs/ music they are working on and at these times you see beyond the covers! In fact, they started making their own music and songs from a very young age and are very tuned in to one another.

Biko's Manna and Mfundo already have a large following and I can only imagine how rapidly this is set to expand once they appear on AGT. This trio is the 'real deal' and it is exciting to catch them before their journey hits full swing.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Macon Music Photography~ Dean Brown

2023-07-05T18:45:00.000+01:00

This article was posted by Dean quite some time ago and is still worth a share as it is highly informative, especially from a music perspective- take a read!

The original article (Dean shared) was about the amazing photographer Dsto Moore and his Macon Music Photography Project and of course I shared this because they used MY picha But I am one among many. Macon itself is the birthplace of Rock N Roll, Soul, Funk and Southern Rock (Literally, Mulberry to Poplar Street and thru the Memphis/Mobile portal for specificakittiness) Thru this alley behind me is Mulberry Street, where William and Ellen Craft Made their excape from Bondage from the shacks behind the 'General Lee' building that decades later housed WIBB radio and recording studios, where James Browns recorded his first song, the same street where his drummer, the original Funky Drummer worked as a studio musician in Georgia's first Recording Studio on Mulberry Street before he met James. Up the street from Douglass Theatre, where Otis Redding launched his career and Little Richard Learned to Scream and wash dishes just down Cherry street here in his Hometown, and in the Barell Houses over the Terminal Station Railroad tracks 3 blocks away that Nurtured the community DNA of Rock N Roll on the Upper Edge of Little Tybee where the Gullah Geechee people carried their Ancient African Cotton Industry expertise (Weaving, Cultivation, Textiles and Plant Based Dyes) to the Americas and into Macon and birthed (under pressure cooker force) the cotton industry that birthed First National Bank, which funded the Railroads and initial growth of the City of Macon exactly 200 years ago as I type this . . . in 1823 . . and ting. So Happy Bi-Centennial Macon. DSTO planned this photo shoot and sat me on this legendary Speaker Box. One block in front of me is Grants Lounge where Allman Brothers worked and played, where Sweet Home Alabama was recorded, and all of this Downtown sits on Sacred Native Ocmulgee Land, destroyed Earth Pyramid Mounds where Indiginus People had built their own city called Ocmulgee, where they used to Chant with the Ancient Name of that Musical River "Ocmulgee" which in the Muscogee Language means "Boiling Water" That's a serious run-on sentence but you get the point Read this great article about DSTO and his work. https://maconmagazine.com/speak-song-to-me-the-macon-music-project/

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

'EMERGENCY' ~ Impactful track from Layne Tadesse

2023-07-02T17:45:00.002+01:00

Welcome Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly! EMERGENCY- Play here.

Those of you who are familiar with Layne Tadesse know what a quality artist he is. The last time I reviewed Layne's music was 2015-EP, 'For The Love.' The most recent of Layne's songs which I'm reviewing today is, 'Emergency.' Released earlier this year on 17th St Recordings and produced by Lewis Richards it contains all the hallmarks I associate with Layne Tadesse. Layne was originally from Eritrea, a war stricken land which he escaped many years ago and has since resided in California. Layne remains very politically, socially and economically aware, bringing the strength of his conviction into both his lyrics and music.

Let's place this song in context. The last few years have given rise to changes that were almost beyond our imagination. Covid arrived with a bang and suddenly we were in lockdown- who would have thought it possible? The effects of covid were devastating and opened the flood gates of fear building on existing fears in the community. During this period, 25th May 2020, the world was shocked, stunned and galvanised into action by the brutal and senseless murder of George Floyd which resulted in the development of the Black Lives Matter movement- its very name provoking some controversy. I am currently reading, 'Why We Kneel, How We Rise,' written by sports commentator Michael Holding and I have to say what a poignant and pertinent read it is, giving me a very different insight into both racism and white privilege. The content for this book is provided by athletes, however, highlights racist experiences that can be found across society.

Layne Tadesse's song 'Emergency,' is speaking specifically about daily life in America and how the rioting and police presence have continued to rise. The facts on Statista show quite clearly how the number of fatal police shootings, particularly within the black community, is entirely disproportionate giving rise to genuine fear. The actual statistics from 2015-May 23 currently stands at 5.8 Black people per million compared to 2.5 Hispanic, 2.3 White and 0.9 other. This means that twice as many Black people are are fatally shot so the reality of these figures backs up everything Layne has to say and re-emphasises the state of emergency. We all know that when a serious situation errupts, riots usually follow and this is also mentioned in Michael Holding's book.

As the track commences Layne introduces his subject very clearly and builds a picture of the current situation before bringing the constitution and lack of freedom into play. He speaks about the youth being blindsided whereas his ancestors were gifted with foresight and prophesised the future. I love the way the music really captures the feelings we get, even second hand when watching the news, as devastating events are relayed. Layne's voice is very distinctive as is the way he uses music- the rise and fall combined with changes of tempo which almost place you at the scene; it is so very powerful.

In summary, 'Emergency' is a critical work that captures a slice from the bottom of the pie- a disturbing reality with no immediate resolution. We really are living in a turbulent world where fear and ignorance are often encouraged whilst the gap between poverty and riches widens rapidly. Let's just add that this is especially critical with the increasing use of AI, which needs to be curbed quickly before it's capable of far worse than taking over our workforce.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Summer Madness~ A quick poem by Jaz McKenzie

2023-06-26T21:16:00.000+01:00

SUMMER MADNESS!

It’s Summer- finally Summer- SUMMER IS HERE!

Summer Solstice arrived as it does every year

But the Summer’s we knew and loved have long gone

Endless days of glorious sun

Countless picnics; trips to the sea

All types of fun as we were free

To do what we wanted whenever

With ease…

The Summer weather was there to please

Soooo what happened?

Where did our Summer go?

Global warming kicked in

And now we know….

Summer seasonal madness!

Strong winds and belting rain

Summer is no longer the same

Storms raging in the early hours

Not the same as light Summer showers

Quick, quick, put the wellie boots on

As mini fords flood the kerb full on

But in the afternoon the sun beats down

Sun hats and cream in country and town

Beautiful evenings, hear the birds sing

QUESTION

What kind of weather will tomorrow bring?

Jaz McKenzie 2023 ©

How to keep moving on up when you're feeling down!

2023-06-22T21:47:00.001+01:00

Hi Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly

Isn't this poster inspiring! We're unintentionally continuing with the colour feel-good factor. This wasn't my first thought, however, the colours speak to me, they lift my spirits and right now that fits the bill. In fact, every day we need to find things to elevate our thoughts and give thanks for them which has been said a million times and the reason for this is because it's a powerful and proven truth. We can set the intention to stay positive and when life is going well this is easy. When we face adversity or if times become hard staying 'upful' becomes a challenge. Our level of commitment will invariably be tested and during such times our self-discipline needs to kick in. Continuing to find as many positive things as possible can be a real stretch, however, it's necessary so we can nurture a thankful and appreciative mindset- vital if we wish to keep moving in the right direction. We all know, like attracts like and misery attracts company!

Whatever we may be feeling, even when functioning way below par on very limited energy, this should not deter us from finding things to feel thankful for. You always have the choice whether to:

1. Complain about your circumstances

2. Accept your circumstances and wait for them to improve

3. Be thankful despite your circumstances and maintain the expectation that they will improve

You cannot move on up without taking action and having awareness of the things that serve us in life. Being grateful for the people and experiences that contribute to our lives is an action and the key here is to understand that actions don't have to be huge but they do require consistency. There are so many inspirational speakers who encourage us to record anything from 10-100 things everyday to be grateful for. I tried this and got bored. Sitting making lists is not inspiring and it's not the point of the exercise either. Yes, it's always good to write down the things we are grateful for then we can go back over them when we need to lift our mood, but a book full of 'food on the table and a roof over my head,' doesn't make the soul sing. I have decided to use Samsung Notes to create a Gratitude Folder in my phone and am using this pic as the first entry because I'm feeling it due to its timing. Pictures are powerful and had I used a picture from the park I would instantly be taken back to that day and experience it in full- feel the emotions, smell the flowers, feel the warmth of the sun, reflect on the company, conversation or solitude. It is the appreciation and feeling of gratitude that speaks to the universe, not just words. I also noticed that you can add audio recordings to this and similar files, so if you're feeling great, speak about it into your phone quickly and upload this- you can download a gratitude diary if you prefer as they must have some in the app store.

I'm going to round off this short article very simply- whatever elevates your mood will elevate your status. Thoughts can be switched up quickly when you really get into the flow of practicing this necessary skill. Do whatever makes you feel good as often as possible as this helps to keep your enjoyment of life and passion flowing. Actually, just thinking about this subject raises my spirits and I hope this has done the same for you!

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

So you think you can fly? Try using this non-guided meditation- fascinating stuff!

2023-06-13T17:32:00.002+01:00

Welcome Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly!

I'm flying right now and am playing this music while I'm typing to keep in touch with the amazing experience received throughout this meditation. I must add that this is my go-to music in times of stress as it emits exceptionally calming vibes.

It's a long time since I've sat down and just focused on meditation music with no aim in mind other than to ride the vibe. Recently, I've been doing specific meditations that have definite aims to help improve different aspects of my being- becoming more grounded, working on forgiveness... and I will shortly be committed to empowering good health which is 100% essential going forwards (maybe you have noticed the more spasmodic posts recently!) That is why I say, 'commit to good health,' which has to be my greatest priority for the rest of the year. Anyway, back to this incredible experience.

I prepared myself to meditate prior to turning on the video- spiritual protection, deep breaths & full body relaxation. I find it far better to prepare than jump straight in because this enables us to receive right from the onset. Today, the only intention I held was to remain focused on the music and see where it took me. With the opening bars I suddenly thought 'Eagle,' and felt as if I were an eagle. I'm not saying I morphed into an eagle, although once I actually felt as if I were morphing into a lion which was a very peculiar experience. Today I felt the power of the eagle. Initially I was inflight and came to rest on a nest in the mountains. At this point I decided to milk the experience and imagined I was the eagle, feeling my feet grip tight while I looked around from this vantage point. I needed to fly again and as I focused on my arms I felt the power of my wings (the energy, not actual wings) as they began to stretch and beat before soaring into the sky. I tried to look through the eagle's eyes and am not sure how successful that was, however, I did see the land sweeping past below. Suddenly it was time to descend down into a mountain stream and I could feel my mouth pull like a beak as the eagle hit the water, diving below and snapping a fish in its powerful beak (I did not bite a fish!) Before you knew it, we were back in the air and headed for the nest. Funny, as soon as we landed my mind went, 'seagull,' and the scenario changed.

It's a very strange experience suddenly swapping birds and finding yourself on a British beach strutting with that classic seagull walk across the stones while looking for food. All the power of the eagle had gone, wiped out in an instant as its powerful individuality was erased by a flock creature who was individually taking part in a community activity. That caused pause for thought. I felt comfortable whereas the eagle felt edgy yet in control. As a seagull you are aware of other seagulls and whatever else is going on in the environment you simply focus on the task in hand- food first! But at the same time, are ever ready to move as the danger might be real. That is the sense I experience whilst picking through the stones. The seagull experience was more grounded and pedestrian as I didn't fly much at all, just a quick glide. As I said, it's a feeling of awareness regarding the seagull- I did not become a seagull.

When I analyse the two experiences I believe it was showing the infinite power we have when we chose to go on our own path rather than be one of the flock. The comfort zone lies within the flock whereas an individual needs to engage their awareness and inner strength at all times. Although we may not think so, we are more vulnerable as part of the flock due to the predictability factor. The world knows what its preying on, whereas by making your own moves you keep others guessing.

I found this experience interesting and it has encouraged me to do more musical meditations. I do find that I receive intuitive experiences when undertaking my own meditation. Like many others, I find it hard to envisage the process during guided meditation and am often worrying over the details. example; 'imagine yourself on a chair'- I pick a very simple wooden chair- 'now turn the dial on the side of the chair.' My chair does not have arms, so I have to interrupt my thoughts and redesign it to incorporate arms with a dial. Once you've been through an excellent guided meditation and know what's coming you are prepared! But I still think that it's good to be still and open to whatever our higher self needs us to address and this is done by sitting with yourself. The term, 'Word Magician' came to many many years ago in the stillness of meditation so I know that allowing for personal interpretation on a regular basis is good practice. For this reason it makes sense to decide what you think you need to focus on and select some suitable guided meditations for that purpose- it's often best to stick with one for a while which will enable you to go deeper- remember the power of practice but don't allow yourself to become bored with it or you will lose focus.

I have a few articles pertaining to meditation on this blog, which you can find using the search box, and here is a link to one that is great for getting started- I used it when I was totally unable to meditate.

Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Thank you.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

#Africa Trending (# ) African Wisdom- build other's up. Written by Mamadou Diop

2023-06-05T17:26:00.003+01:00

AFRICAN WISDOM!!! "If you cannot add to the person you are with, Pease. don't subtract from him" The proverb says the golden rule of life is to do to others what we would like them to do to us. if we cannot improve the lives of people we should at least not worsen their life. If you can't speak life into someone, do not drag them down with sharp words. Do not demean them. If you can't find something to praise them for, do not start a campaign to criticize, them harshly and unjustly. Even when you criticize a person, do it in a way that will build them up, and help them to grow- a criticism that holds lessons in its hands. Not a criticism full of scorn and malice. Make people believe in themselves, don't take away the little confidence that they have. As Mama used to say "if you have nothing good to say, shush your mouth."

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

If I'm wearing beige I fear I might die! Colour is King, Queen & everything else, or is it?

2023-06-01T21:54:00.002+01:00

Sue Kreitzman~Photo by Richard Kay

Hello Braapers~Be Ready And Act Promptly!

Colour is essential for life and a lack of colour is pretty catastrophic- so you can see why I welcome Sue Kreitzman's wise words, printed 5 years ago in Beauty Magazine UK.

As you can tell, Sue is a huge advocate for colour which forms the basis of her life philosophy- along with good food, given Sue spent many years sharing her culinary skills as a TV chef. I first came across Sue on Facebook and finally met her at an art evening on International Women's Day, March 2020. Looking at the date, that was a blessing being before lockdown. Here's my pic of Sue and for a first attempt, it's not bad LOL!

I particularly like Sue's comment about a beige environment. We talk about variety being the spice of life, so how come the majority of children's nurseries have adopted the beige phenomena so enthusiastically? In reality, some studies argue for colour and others against- whatever your view, you can find the evidence to back it up. Sue mentions, 'turning to bright, childish, primary colours,' but I kid you not when I say that the modern trend in childcare is to surround children with wooden furniture and the use of colour is very minimalistic. So who else benefits? The people who have been doing really well out of the beige rampage, having been established for a considerable length of time are Community Playthings; a religious sect that made its way from America to Robertsbridge, Kent. In fact, I remember visiting them many years ago during my childcare training. Every nursery in the country probably has a few items from this supplier as they are extremely well made and highly functional.

Typical nursery environment recommended by Nursery World

The picture above is described as the ideal environment for babies. What do you think? Everything these days is about embracing natural materials and doing away with plastic which is so far removed from the real world. Yes, some children do not respond well to an environment full of bright colours, but going from a child's home into this type of environment must be a bit of a culture shock. Clearly, carpeting isn't the best thing these days post pandemic, however, the overall affect of this approach lacks the feel-good factor... and it's not the best for staff well-being either! As Sue says, it is a grey, scared world and many people really do live in fear, therefore childhood is the time for joy and looking at that picture, I'm not feeling it!

This piece of equipment is called a Wren's Nest. I didn't know that until today; I refer to it as the confessional because that's what it reminds me of. Obviously, the idea is to give children a cosy, secure space where they can take time out or just play alone. The young model here is fortunate to have a piece of blue cloth over the top of her nest, providing one opportunity to add a splash of colour to the room, so I'm glad they're making the most of it!

To be fair, nursery environments were too colourful and busy in the past with every bit of space covered in pictures. Not just on boards but directly on the walls making the room visually confusing, providing too many over-stimulating messages which clearly resulted in frustrated behaviours. Personally, a balance is needed and can be obtained by painting walls in pastel colours and complimenting them by using stronger colours in strategic places around the room. Thankfully in my room, we have some light yellow on one wall and a little green in the flooring which provides more warmth than we see here- I still think we would benefit from a nice bright picture on the wall. On the up side, children are provided with a wonderful selection of paints and paint sticks to encourage experimentation which is essential for both learning and enjoyment; along with encouraging them to develop their sense of individuality and achievement. 'I am enough', is the current buzz phrase so let's help them get off to a good start.

Returning to plastic for a minute, many nurseries are quite literally doing away with it. The new owner of my previous nursery threw every bit of plastic into a skip including some new remote control cars. How crazy is that? Look out landfill because this approach is wrecking the planet. I think we live in the real world and the real world contains a mix of materials, therefore I see no reason why this cannot be reflected in a child's immediate environment. Balance is key in every aspect of life, which forms the basis of my argument.

Another important thing to remember is colour therapy/art therapy. When I worked at Springfield Psychiatric Hospital this played a huge role. Patients really benefitted from their art therapy sessions which had a very positive effect on them. Wearing colour is regarded as an important way to lift your mood and is essential in the world of fashion and design. I interviewed styling consultant Lisa Gillbie in 2011. Lisa understands how she can help people feel so much better when they wear colours that really suit them and this helps with confidence and self-esteem.

Finally, the biggie- Mother Nature. Can you imagine if she were stripped of colour? Don't we just love looking at colour whether in the form of individual flowers or fields of green grass, red poppies and especially glorious yellow- Rapeseed is just gorgeous. And, those beautiful blue skies and amazing sunsets!

You know, I'm not concerned as to which psychologist persuaded people to latch onto the idea of providing biscuit-beige nursery environments. I remember seeing the prototype set out at the Nursery World exhibition or Childcare Expo... whichever, and thinking, 'please don't let this be the future!' But it was, and this gives rise to my final thought on the subject... if you know the story maybe you can follow! 'The King is in the Altogether now...' and I'm just hoping for our children's sake that we can traverse backwards a little.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Tina Turner - Definitely winner of the category, 'The Best Role Model,' and not exactly a wild horse!

2023-05-29T12:32:00.000+01:00

Welcome Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly!

Like many others, Its Braap 100% has to pay tribute to Tina Turner, who remains an incredible role model for all of us, not just for women who face extreme challenges in their lives. Tina is and always will be the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll; hers is the household name that most people think of if asked.

Tina has such a wonderful catalogue of songs all charged with her incredible energy. I decided to run with 'The Best' because it's the obvious choice- watch the video, it uses incredibly powerful imagery that encapsulates everything about Tina from her inner strength, energetic vibration (not just physical energy) and determination to be herself. I love the powerful horses in the video and they brought to mind wild horses. Saying that, Tina could not be described as a wild horse as this doesn't do justice to her high level of commitment to life, including the personal discipline required to serve herself and others through music and personal example. In the video, Tina is the one holding the reigns and very much in control; which is spot on.

A wild horse is a creature that cannot be tamed and is focused upon itself. Being a Buddhist, Tina's focus was world-centric and not ego-centric, walking a path of daily enlightenment based on spiritual practices. I am not a Buddhist so have little understanding of how individual achievement fits in with the level of super-stardom Tina attained, but I think people are given gifts and we should all acknowledge and celebrate our achievements as failure to do so detracts from that gift. This does not allow for boasting- going above and beyond is not the same as genuine, heartfelt acknowledgement.

I think it is clear that Tina had a very grounded take on life including her success and life purpose; this is obvious from both of these pictures. We need leaders, those who inspire us to do better, and most leaders also have icons of their own- life is a circle. Have you noticed how often the strong in life have times of extreme weakness, their strength being derived from those episodes of weakness? I used to wonder why so many strong women end up at the hands of an abuser. I think it's a necessary part of the process. You need to be so vulnerable that it switches on the determination to never allow that to happen again. Once enlightened, we can forgive ourselves and our abusers, making the necessary changes to become the person we are truly meant to be. I know this from personal experience. I would suggest that if you have a chance to revisit the documentary about Tina's life and career you do so, looking at it from the aspect of rebirth. I believe our individual challenges are designed to initiate deep levels of growth, and help to increase empathy with others. Striving for success on our own terms is a very clear message highlighted by Tina's reality- ultimately Tina achieved on her terms and now it's up to us to follow her example and clarify our own path- what we desire to achieve and what we are prepared to do in order to embrace the journey.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you. Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

The Sunflower, The Rose and The Butterfly~ A Jaz McKenzie Poem

2023-05-19T21:08:00.004+01:00

THE SUNFLOWER, THE ROSE AND THE BUTTERFLY

A poem arising from meditation

The Sunflower

Golden glowing sunflower your countenance is strong

Reflecting the rays of a summer’s day

Enhancing your glowing beauty, natural appeal

You are a masterful work, true centrepiece

All eyes turn to drink in your glory

Moments of true beauty sustained before

We gather up your seeds for sustenance

And the continuation of eternal splendour

An annual reminder of the qualities enhanced

Confidence, a sunny disposition, eternal joy

Resulting in a feeling of well-being and happiness

The Rose

Perfect petals, perfectly assembled

Balancing precariously on a slender stem

Swaying to and fro with the slightest breeze

Wafting the sweetest perfume for all

Who truly appreciate your scent

The rose garden, a colourful affair

With names chosen to honour

Those who are deemed worthy

I wonder, could there be a Fred Bloggs

Chosen to represent the average man

In honour of our everyday lives?

Planted for everyone to enjoy

Gracing parks and private gardens

Look beyond the beauty and you will find

The power of the rose really lies in the thorns

In the depths below the shimmering petals

Best to look and remain cautious

This beauty may appear vulnerable

But harnesses hidden truths

Nature is the eternal trickster

Always favouring the strong.

The Butterfly

The Butterfly chooses where to alight

Be it upon the sunflower or the rose

As she rides the currents of a noonday breeze

Pausing to sup wherever she please

For unlike both the rose and sunflower

Essentially, she is free, free to dance

Fluttering across many a meadow

In the light of a glorious summer day

Until the evening comes

When she will gently slip away

Hello Braapers! I just discovered this poem, which was written a few years ago, and consider this immaculate timing as tomorrow is World Bee Day- both bees and butterflies are essential for cross-pollination. Funnily enough, I sent my Mum a bouquet based on sunflowers yesterday- life is full of coincidences!

I was also interested to see that this poem was written following meditation, something I have not tried in ages, and symbolises many aspects of life when you stop to consider the verses. I enjoyed re-working it as most earlier poems require some attention! Hope you enjoy it too.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap. Thank you~ Jaz McKenzie

Etana Live~ The Message is in the Music!

2023-05-17T20:20:00.005+01:00

Hello Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly!

Link to Etana's live show, (Islington Town Hall)- Courtesy of Music Media Management.

Let's begin with the brilliant Mixmaster J- definitely perfect for the occasion! Mixmaster J expertly created the fun factor by taking people on a trip down memory lane ensuring they were happily engaged in singing and dancing to the soundtrack of their lives; adding an element of fun which made the time pass very quickly. I'm going to give extra credit here for Mixmaster J's choice of last tune- a tribute to the late Harry Belafonte- Banana Boat Song, a truly fitting gesture which everyone loved- you can read my tribute to Harry Belafonte here.

Diania of Music Media Management with Mixmaster J

The Banana Boat Song acted as a great platform for the Hostess with the Mostess, Alison Mason, to sashay onto stage full of energy and bringing the glamour as always- naturally she received an instantaneous round of applause. Fact: I still remember the first time I ever came across Alison at Hootennay, Brixton, and the only word that truly describes her is Fabulous! Quick mention here, Alison is co-founder of Shining Stars Ent UK along with Andrew Sloley, and they have successfully elevated their business over the last few years.

Alison Mason

Tonight we were treated to a performance by upcoming talent L.A. Gray, who stood in for Nereus Joseph and delivered three songs 'for the ladies!' L.A. Gray has an excellent voice which, when combined with such well controlled vocals, resulted in a really smooth delivery... tingle time I guess! I will definitely give kudo's for his great performance and also for his intro speech- fascinating!

L.A. Gray

Now back to Alison who introduced the band for the night, Reggae Street- who just took it away doing a great job. Alison danced along with them whilst awaiting Etana's backing singers who shortly made their way to the stage and also performed well all night. Soon afterwards Etana appeared, to the excitement of the crowd, and she went on to deliver a full set which included covers of popular Reggae songs such as Love & Hate Can Never Be Friends and Bob Marley's One Love.

What I really want to say about Etana is that not only does she looks stunning, but her voice is every bit as amazing. Unlike some artists, what you hear on the record is what you get live and the clarity of Etana's voice is just beautiful. I consider her a very good ambassador in the world of contemporary Reggae music, sharing her message with conviction. I started following Etana last year so am better versed in her more recent music as opposed to her earlier hits- Etana released her first album, The Strong One, back in 2008, so clearly I have a lot of catching up to do! I started following her Facebook Page last year when a friend of mine joined her band as guitarist. This proved a revelation when tuning into Etana's lives as she would sing and also speak her truths with us fans. I was very impressed and wrote about one occasion where everything she spoke about was truly inspiring. I also discovered Etana is Rastafarian, which is not immediately obvious, and I was pleased when she addressed some questions during her Facebook live which dealt with her dress choices and decision not to wear locks. Here's a link to the article breaking down the first half of that live. On this point, Etana sang a song about Marijuana in order to highlight the number of 'our people who are incarcerated' whilst others grow rich from it. This is an appalling truth and I was shocked when I watched a documentary about crack cocaine during the 80's on Netflix. This type of discrimination is still rife.

My favourite song of Etana's is, 'I Rise.' It's so inspirational therefore I often play it as motivational music- even to the babies at work! I think I Rise is a real modern day anthem as everyone can relate to it, deriving inner strength and determination not only from the lyrics but the way in which they are delivered; by the time Etana sang this song the vibes were pretty electric. Besides her singing, I'd like to credit Etana for apologising to people who had booked tickets for her original event scheduled last year- it's always good to acknowledge your fans patience and disappointment. I compared Etana to Mikey Spice recently in a quick video! Etana is very sincere and this was endorsed when she introduced young Kayla, who she met at the Brixton meet and greet, to the stage. Kayla gave an excellent rendition of one of Etana's most popular songs, People Talk, and it must have been a real blessing for Kayla to be given this unique opportunity to sing with such a great artist.

Kayla

When we nearing the close of the evening there was a surprise presentation made by Orlando Gibbons who is organising the first ever Annual Universal Reggae Awards. Etana was presented with an award for #1 Contemporary Female Reggae Artist In The World, and it was announced that she will be performing live at this event 29th July in London.

I love live music where you can really feel the artists vibe, so am really happy to have been to Etana's show and have to add that above all I love her original songs.

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV & contact me via my Facebook group if you would like to contribute to Its Braap Thank you.

A point for debate. Coronation UK V Christmas celebrations Karachi.

2023-05-11T21:00:00.058+01:00

Last weekend was an absolute eye-opener for me. I met Jane, one of my sister's friends who worked as a missionary in Karachi for many years before returning to the UK. I really enjoyed listened to Jane's story, and later on, a strange comparison suddenly jumped into my mind so I decided to share it with you all- and it would be interesting to hear your opinion.

In the video I speak about a decision made by the local Christian community in Karachi and came to a deeper understanding that each decision we make in life is validated, either consciously or sub-consciously. Their decision related to creating a community fund for Christmas, which was a major decision in a poor community. This got me thinking how we can operate primarily on pre-programmed decisions which are not made consciously, or we can make a decided effort to take the reigns in our lives and contemplate our decisions carefully. As a side note, the brain has room to cope with a specific number of decisions each day which is why many successful business people introduce routines that eliminate the need for basic decisions so they can apply their thinking to important matters.

Returning to the video, in this country the coronation was a massive event and received positively by many- and also negatively by many. I have no idea where the figures lie. Even so, much has been invested in the UK's future and as a 'Christian' country we retain the Christian element given King Charles 3rd is head of the Church of England. This is something Jane felt very strongly about. My view is that we left our identity behind long ago, embracing many different cultures and ways of life along the way and children are educated accordingly from nursery age upwards. Clearly the effect of such teaching is limited as individuals will always uphold their personal views, hence, all the 'isms' and differences in society continue.

Finally, a quick thought pertaining to the focus of the video which is about deciding what is important to us and our communities. Maybe it's something we need to think about a little more especially with regard doing our best to remain non-judgemental.

Over to you!!! Do you have a great story to tell? What have you overcome and how? Are you organizing an event that you’d love to share? Have you written an article, poem or short story you would like featured? If so, please contact me with brief info via my Facebook Group Its Braap and I will get back to you. And subscribe to our YouTube channel at Its Braap TV

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Etana - I Rise | Official Music Video~ My Favourite Anthem & More

2023-05-08T20:14:00.000+01:00

Hello Braapers (Be Ready And Act Promptly)

Those of you who know I went to Etana's concert recently may well be expecting a review today. Sorry Braapers, but due to the amount of work involved and the fact I've just returned from a long weekend in Oxford, you'll have to wait just a little longer. I like to post products I'm happy with rather than rush at it and do something below par. However, this really is my favourite song and has been for quite a while so I deffo have to share! I'll speak more about it next time.

To continue, I'd like to thank everyone who has subscribed to Its Braap TV and will just mention that it really helps when you add notifications. If you don't you may well miss posts and I'm very keen to have you tune into our Morning Minute. On this subject, I'm going to start putting up the back catalogue as reels on both Facebook and Instagram- I'm even toying with the idea of Tik Tok- uuuugh! Mind you, two of my granddaughters absolutely love making cookery videos which are informative and highly entertaining. Being aged 6 & 8, you can imagine! They're on Georgia Lily Major B's channel if you're interested, and I gather they're having a go at home-made ravioli today.

Moving forwards, I really need to learn how to edit videos. Having had a couple of upsets with my recordings this weekend, editing skills are definitely essential. You know that point when your phone memory is suddenly full and chops you off at the end!! I am having to learn patience- with people, technology, myself-you name it! Life is funny really. I was doing a video about the fact you cannot take words back when my son entered the room right at the end. That threw me and instead of being calm and happy I was suddenly mad... not exactly what I had intended and the video ended on Bye instead of a decent close- so that needs editing.

Having been asked to make more videos I am upping my output and aim to keep them rolling. As previously mentioned I'm determined to stick with my commitment and deliver, so am posting this blog today and the next will be Thursday. Finally, I hope you have all had a brilliant long weekend with the coronation and additional bank holiday, or normal weekend if you're not in the UK. I have made a video I'll share shortly which resulted from my visit to Oxford and compares the coronation celebrations to Karachi- no you can't guess! That said, let's continue the week with a positive attitude, stay cheerful and make the best decisions possible. Above all- Be BRAAP!

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

#Africa Trending~ Ancient Indigenous African Literature. Article by Dean Brown.

2023-05-04T20:30:00.010+01:00

What a beautiful picture

Many West African families have private library collections dated back to the 8th Century A.D. This is Indigenous African Literature 600 to 900 years old containing information that is of a much older era in Africa's history. There are 11,000 books in private collections in Niger Republic. Meanwhile in Timbuktu, Mali, there are about 700,000 surviving books. Also the Mauritanian cities of Chinguetti and Oudane have a total of 3,450 hand written mediaeval books and 6,000 books surviving in the other city of Walata.

Most scholars of Timbuktu during this era were far ahead of their counterparts in Europe. In 15th century Timbuktu the mathematicians were writing about the oribits and rotation of the planets, and the details of the eclipse. These are things which we had to wait for almost 150-200 years to know in Europe before Galileo and Copernicus came up with these same calculations and were given a very hard time for it by the Europeans of that time.

The literature in these ancient African books is flipping the Colonial Historical Narrative on its head and only a fraction of it has been revealed because the writings have been kept in hiding for many generations to protect them from colonizers (The French and etc.) who burned an estimated first half of them. You can imagine having to duplicate information manually before printers and hard drives! Timbuctu was the Book Copying Center during the 8th to 1400s so the information is actually much much older. This continued until about the 1500s when Slavery, Invasions and Depopulation began the chaotic disruption of the West African region and many of these scientists found themselves marched to the coast and sold to Arabs and Europeans.

Big thanks to Dean for allowing Its Braap to share his work with us.

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Walking With Love ❤️~ Our Braap Morning Minute!

2023-05-03T20:53:00.000+01:00

Hello Braapers~ Be Ready And Act Promptly!

Recently I have been asked to do more longer videos so I have recorded a couple ready to go. In the meantime I'm going to share this one about love. This is part of a new series I'm producing and we're now in our third week of posting videos every day Monday through to Friday. These are very short as they are designed to give you a little something to think about at the start of the day.

I'd just like to mention that I really appreciate people's support and if you wish to catch all of my videos you need to hit the notifications, preferable when you subscribe. If you have any subjects you would like me to speak about, I am happy to do so during longer videos of 5 minutes or more. Please add your comments directly under the videos. It would be great to hear from you as I would like to make sure content is highly relevant to our Braapers!

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician

Candy Floss Says, 'Stay Safe.'- But do you know of Candy Floss, Bright Horizon's Superhero?

2023-04-30T20:00:00.001+01:00

Are superheroes good or bad influences over young minds?

Whilst the debate may continue, clearly it is all down to the superhero. Ideally we would love every child to grow up as their own superhero, however, they definitely benefit from guidance along the way. In my slightly skewered opinion it's not dissimilar to the nature/nurture debate- everything comes down to the individual therefore whether superhero worship is mostly good or bad cannot be accurately ascertained. It is always going to be 50/50 dependent on the child as each one is an individual. Personality plays a huge part in everything psychological; some children will be drawn to the dark side and others the light so to speak. Imagination is everything and there will always be the occasional child who is more on the side of the wolf than red riding hood! This is the reason I like the 50/50 statistic- you either do or you don't! It applies in every situation.

A good positive role model will always be an inspiration which is why so many people regard one or both of their parents as their hero. But failing a hero, we still require role models therefore even a fictional role model with the right characteristics can capture the imagination and help children create a set of values which endorse integrity throughout their lives. Where superheroes are concerned, my first thought is always going to be Batman and his enemy The Joker. The question is, who wants to be Robin? The sidekick is essential because no one leads alone; teamwork is everything... okay, I'll quote it, 'There's NO I in TEAM.' This is a very important lesson for children to learn. Their super heroes, whether real life people or cartoon characters, need to be considerate, cooperative, patient etc.

Now onto some background regarding today's superhero, Candy Floss. Bright Horizons is a chain of day nurseries that originated in the USA starting out as children's centres during the mid 80's. The idea was the brainchild of co-founders Linda Mason and Roger Brown; formed in response to a lack of childcare facilities in the workplace. It was a very innovative project to undertake and ahead of its time. Over the years Bright Horizons has grown gradually and literally expanded its own horizons to different corners of the earth, owning nurseries in several countries, recently advancing to Australia if I recall correctly.

The trend to remain innovative continued, eventually birthing Candy Floss, its blue and black superhero who is there to generate an awareness of health and safety amongst the children within their nurseries. I think the concept is great and children warm to Candy Floss- although I do find it hard to get my head around the name, which was chosen by children- perhaps it's a good job Candy Floss can't actually open it's mouth or a few dentists might faint! Braapers in the USA, please note: your superhero is Lolly Pop, Candy Floss's cousin.

Hopefully the Government's drive on teaching oral hygiene to children and their emphasis on healthy eating, both of which are embraced by Bright Horizons, will have more of an impact than one popular name.

In answer to my question are Superheroes a good thing, I personally believe there is a role for them and if you want my opinion, I think Candy Floss is a good thing; and more importantly, so do Ofsted and if it's good with Ofsted it's good for business!

Jaz McKenzie~ The Word Magician