BBC News is reporting that Takanakuy, the annual Peruvian fight festival that takes place during the Christmas holidays, has occurred. Takanakuy literally means when the blood is boiling” in Quechua (the primary language in the region) and it is an opportunity for feuding folks to clear their differences by literally punching it out. Suemedha Sood writes:
Each year, the Peruvian province of Chumbivilcas hosts the vibrant Christmastime festival of Takanakuy. High up in the Andes Mountains, at an elevation of around 3,600m in the well-known Cusco region, communities get together for celebrations involving music, dancing, drinking, eating and brightly coloured costumes. It’s much like any number of festivals in Latin America – except this holiday gathering culminates with a series of public fist fights on Christmas Day (December 25).
Entire towns congregate around sporting arenas to watch members of the community fight each other. People of all ages enter the ring, from young children to the elderly, and participation is open to women and men alike. The purpose of Takanakuy is to settle grievances built up over the year — be they civil disputes or personal ones — in a public forum. The festival seeks to resolve conflict, strengthen community bonds and hopefully, arrive at a greater peace.
‘The Preacher’s Wife’ starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance is a holiday staple during the holidays in American households. (Google Images)
By Nsenga K. Burton (portions of this post originally appeared on The Root)
1. Roots: The Gift (1988)
Roots: The Gift is the third installment in the Roots series, the films based on Alex Haley’s seminal book tracing his mother’s ancestry back to the African continent. In this movie set in 1775, Avery Brooks stars as Cletus, a black Northerner who has been working with a network to free slaves. Kunta Kinte (LaVar Burton) and Fiddler (Louis Gossett Jr.) learn of Cletus while accompanying their owner to the Reynolds plantation at Christmas time.
Cletus is captured by bounty hunters and asks Kunta and Fiddler to help the escaping slaves. Fiddler is scared but Kunta has faith that he can help. After Cletus is punished, Fiddler changes his mind and joins Kunta in his quest to give the slaves the most important gift of all — freedom.
This remake of the classic 1947 film The Bishop’s Wife, set in New York City, stars Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines, Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. Rev. Henry Biggs (Vance) is struggling to keep his church going, fighting off Joe Hamilton (Hines) a predatory real estate mogul who is attempting to buy the church so that he can build luxury condominiums. Rev. Biggs’ wife, Julia (Whitney Houston), feels neglected because of his focus on the church and the community. For help, he prays to God, who sends Dudley (Washington), an angel, to help Biggs sort out his life.
Dudley’s mission becomes complicated when he realizes that he’s falling for Julia. If watching Houston, who passed away earlier this year, is too much, too soon, for you, then check out the soundtrack, which is the best-selling gospel album of all time.
Devout Muslim Tariq (Evan Ross) struggles with his religious identity while attending college in the U.S. following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His mother Safiyah (Nia Long) also struggles with the religion, protecting her son and standing up to Tariq’s devout Muslim father Hassan (Roger Guenveur Smith), whose deference to his faith comes with major consequences. Danny Glover stars as Dean Francis, a brother who is more invested in staying in power at the college while Professor Jamal (Dorian Missick) attempts to be advocate and referential point for Tariq and Muslim students at the school.
4. Santa and Pete (1999)
Each year around the Christmas holiday, stories are reported about the controversy erupting over Black Peet (Zwarte Piet), a smiling black helper in Netherlands folklore who accompanies Santa as he delivers gifts. Stereotypical representations of blacks in pop culture aren’t necessarily earth-shattering, but the Dutch dressing up in blackface to celebrate the black “helper” from Spain who ensures a rich Christmas in 2012 under the guise of tradition can be pretty offensive.
In Santa and Pete, the only thing that Black Peet and the character Pete (Flex Alexander) have in common is the fact that the storyline is based loosely on the Dutch Christmas tale. The late, great Hume Cronyn plays Sr. Nick, a bishop known for spreading the word of peace and brotherhood throughout the Old World. The Spanish government thinks he is a spy and has him arrested. Pete, a cook, decides to risk life and limb to help free Sr. Nick so that the bishop can continue to spread his message to the world. Narrated by James Earl Jones, who also stars as Grandpa Nicholas in the New World, this tale is one take on how Pete became one of Santa’s most controversial yet beloved helpers.
Amid a culture that is hostile toward Muslims, independent filmmaker Sultan Sharrief brings us his coming-of-age story that shows a more nuanced image of Islam. The film is based on Sharrief’s own struggle growing up in a Muslim household with real and imagined responsibilities while trying to be true to himself and his desire for a better life through a college education.
Bilal, a Muslim high school senior in Detroit, works long hours to keep up both his grades and his family’s taxi stand. “The Stand” has been the family’s social and financial hub for 60 years, and now Bilal must carry the torch, especially after the death of his father and uncle. Bilal secretly submits a college application wanting to carve out his place in the world and havoc ensues. He must decide whether to be true to himself or his family steeped in faith that calls on him to do something else.
Big Earl (Keith David), the owner of a Christmas tree lot in Compton, and a man with a big heart and a big vision, demands success from everyone around him. All kinds of trouble erupts the week before Christmas when his son, Derrick (Omar Gooding), part-time music producer and part-time Christmas tree lot employee, crosses the line to prove to Big Earl that he is a success.
The colorful characters who populate the tree lot cause additional complications for Derrick as he tries to solve his problems secretly. Things spiral out of Derrick’s control, jeopardizing the survival of the lot, and more importantly, the relationship with his father. The film also stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Eric Roberts and Miguel Nunez.
Hey, hey, hey. It’s Fat Albert and the gang in a cross between The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and No Room at the Inn. This time, the Cosby kids are rehearsing for a Christmas play at the junkyard clubhouse when Mr. Tyrone, who owns the property, interrupts them with a threat to bulldoze their hangout spot in order to make room for another building. If that’s not enough stress for Albert, Mushmouth and Rudy, a little boy named Marshall shows up with his father and very pregnant mother, who have nowhere to live. Fat Albert and the gang work to change Mr. Tyrone’s hardened heart and make room at their inn in order to welcome a new baby into the world.
The holidays are a wonderful time for sharing, caring, giving, receiving — and family drama. This Christmas is no exception, following the shenanigans of the Whitfield clan. The matriarch of the clan is Ma’Dere (Loretta Devine), a mother desperate to hang on to her family as they make their way in the world. Idris Elba stars as Quentin Whitfield, a traveling jazz musician indebted to thugs, who has come home for Christmas for the first time in years. Sharon Leal plays Kelly, the daughter who has hang-ups about not going to college, but lands Malcolm (Laz Alonso), a self-absorbed businessman, nonetheless. Chris Brown stars as Baby, the youngest of the clan, who, to the chagrin of his mother, has dreams of singing superstardom.
Add to the mix Joe, (Delroy Lindo) Ma’Dere’s longtime, on-again, off-again boyfriend. You have a family drama that suffers under the usual Christmas movie clichés but offers strong performances by an all-star black cast.
With all of the hoopla surrounding why Chris Tucker won’t be appearing in the next Friday installment, now is the perfect time to revisit the franchise. Why not start with Friday After Next,which follows cousins Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) as they try to grow up, having moved out of their parents’ homes.
A rogue Santa (played by comedian Rickey Smiley) robs the cousins of their rent money and stereo equipment. The cousins become security guards at the local strip mall to raise rent money and have some cash to buy Christmas presents. Add to the mix John Witherspoon (Craig’s father) and Don D.C. Curry (Day-Day’s dad) as owners of the barbeque pit the cousins must protect while tracking down the rogue Santa, plus an appearance by comedian Katt Williams as Money Mike and you’ve got the gift of laughter.
This Christmas romantic comedy stars our favorite movie couple, Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut. Emily (Khail Bryant) wants the department store Santa — and aspiring singer and office supply clerk — (Morris Chestnut) to find a husband for her single mother, Nancy (Gabrielle Union). Like many mothers, Nancy has been putting the needs of her three children ahead of her own to such an extent that even a child can see that her mother deserves more out of life. Nancy’s only wish for Christmas is to receive a compliment from a man. Emily’s request really touches Santa, as she is willing to forgo a gift for herself so that her mother can be happy, and he sets into motion a plan to make sure that mother and child have the perfect holiday.
The Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure was named African player of the year. This is the second year in a row that the Manchester City midfielder has won the top award. (Zimio)
BBC Sports is reporting that Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year for a second time.
Toure beat fellow Ivory Coast star and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who came in second place and former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song who came in third place.
Toure won the 2012 poll in a vote of head coaches or technical directors of countries affiliated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Ex-Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o holds the most titles, having won four times.
African Nations Cup winners Zambia were named team of the year with their coach Herve Renard named coach of the year.
SoleRebels is a shoe company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that uses recyclable and sustainable materials to create shoes. It is the world’s only certified World Fair Trade Organization footwear company. (Google Images)
Writing for The Root, TheBurtonWire.com’s Editor-in-Chief Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. offers some examples of six groups that are working to make products that help challenged communities help themselves. If you’re in the market for gifts that actually give back, check out the excerpt below:
EXCERPT
(The Root) — The holiday season is in full effect. Yuletide cheer in the form of cards and decorations began appearing in stores in October, as if Americans needed reminders that Christmas was nearly two months away. Shops are full, and people are searching for the best online reviews for a range of different products such as leesa vs casper to ensure we buy our loved ones the best products.
For some, the meaning of Christmas has gotten lost in the heavy focus on the gift giving and the perceived lack of focus on celebrating the birth of Christ. ” ‘Tis the season to be jolly” has been replaced with ” ‘Tis the season to make money,” with the buzz of commercialism ringing so loudly that it often drowns out the classic holiday songs piped through the stores, music that many remember as the soundtrack to wonderful holiday gatherings, yet stokes the desire to buy more and more. Signs of recessions fade to the back as folks literally step over one another in a race to get that mass-produced or one-of-a-kind item that will put a smile on the face of someone special — even if you will frown when your credit card bill arrives next month.
If I seem slightly “Grinchy,” I am. Although I love the holiday season, I struggle with the commercialism that is aimed squarely at helping to stimulate the economy while decreasing our bank accounts and increasing credit card debt exponentially. So I decided that instead of being a Scrooge, I would find stores that actually give back to the communities that create their wares.
With help from a group of students from Goucher’s Peace Studies Program, I came up with a list of businesses that have the goal of giving back. If you notice that obvious choices like Toms, Bobs by Skechers and Product Red are missing from the list, it is because, through research, we have found that sometimes good intentions go awry.
While Toms and Bobs intend to help provide shoes for folks who don’t have them with their initiative to “buy-a-pair, give-a-pair” to someone in need, they often hurt local economies by taking away business from producers of shoes who actually live in the community, increasing the cycle of poverty. Product Red doesn’t have that problem but suffers from what the Economist refers to as the “ineluctable middleman,” in which the amount of money raised by the initiative, although in the millions, is a fraction of what is spent on the marketing, production and distribution.
For example, in 2007 an estimated $100 million was spent in advertising and marketing for Product Red, but it raised only $18 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria according to National Debt Relief. I’m not saying not to buy a Product Red Gap T-shirt, especially if you’re already shopping there, but know that proceeds from your purchase may not make it to the Global Fund.
If it really is the thought that counts, here are some businesses you might think about patronizing during this holiday season. If these businesses don’t interest you, then think about spending money with small businesses and entrepreneurs in your community. Seasons greetings!
Esperanza en Acción
You’ve heard the phrase “fair trade”? How about comercio justo? Esperanza en Acción was founded in 2002 to encourage fair trade by helping artisans in Nicaragua find fair markets for their work. Esperanza en Acción works with artisans living in poverty, whether they are organized in cooperatives or collectives or work in their homes with their families.
Esperanza also provides social- and economic-justice education both in Nicaragua and through its Economic Justice Education Center and Fair Trade shop. The artisans make beautiful handmade pottery, pine-needle baskets, bamboo baskets, stone carvings, paintings, weavings, jewelry, cards, animal whistles and more.
SoleRebels
Founded by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, SoleRebels is the world’s only certified World Fair Trade Organization footwear company. Alemu looks at creating footwear as a means of creating hope, borrowing from the traditional “selate” and “barabasso” shoes — for which the soles are made from recycled tires — that have long been a tradition in Ethiopia.
SoleRebels provides jobs to the community, pays wages that are four times the minimum wage and three times the industry standard, uses sustainable materials that lower the company’s carbon footprint and incorporates artisanal practices and designs, thereby preserving Ethiopian culture. Did I mention the Artisan Education fund, which funds the education of participating artisans’ children and/or the children of close relatives? Artisans can access the fund twice a year. SoleRebels is building hope and communities one foot at a time.
The Woman’s IndustrialExchange
Established in Baltimore shortly after the Civil War, the Woman’s Industrial Exchange emerged as part of a nationwide exchange movement to help women in need discreetly earn a living. The organization has changed hands over the nearly century and a half that it has been in existence, becoming a boardinghouse and tearoom. The one thing that has remained constant is the exchange room, where initially women and now men can sell handmade and handcrafted wares to support themselves. It offers free gift wrapping and ships anywhere in the U.S.
Cayman Islands’ Premier McKeeva Bush was removed from office after a vote of no confidence by lawmakers after being arrested last week for theft. (Google Images)
Caribbean 360 is reporting that Premier McKeeva Bush has been removed from office after a vote of no confidence by lawmakers in the Cayman Islands House of Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
The legislators voted 11-3 in favor of a “no confidence” motion against the ruling government.
Bush abstained from voting on the motion.
In recent days pressure has mounted for Bush to step down from office following his arrest last week on suspicion of theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card.
The motion to remove Premier Bush was brought by opposition leader Alden McLaughlin.
The African-American Film Critics Association named Denzel Washington as 2012 Best Actor for his performance in the hit film, “Flight.” (Google Images)
The African-American Film Critics Association(AAFCA) has named Zero Dark Thirty as the Best Picture of 2012. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the Columbia Pictures release captured a majority vote by the organization, which is comprised of leading African-American media professionals from across the nation.
AAFCA named Ben Affleck as Best Director of 2012 for Argo. Denzel Washington was named Best Actor for Flight, alongside Emayatzy Corinealdi who earned Best Actress for Middle of Nowhere. Sally Field received the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Lincoln and Nate Parker earned Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Arbitrage. Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere was voted Best Screenplay. DuVernay’s film was also honored as Best Independent Film of 2012. France’s entry The Intouchables was named Best Foreign film. Critically-acclaimed newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis was awarded 2012 Best Breakout Performance for Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Peter Ramsey’s, Rise of the Guardians won for Best Animated feature. Eugene Jarecki’s The House I Live In (Charlotte Street Films) and Deborah Riley Draper’s Versailles ’73 (Coffee Bluff Pictures) tied for 2012’s Best Documentary. Composer Kathryn Bostic and Music Supervisor Morgan Rhodes of Middle of Nowhere were honored for Best Music.
AAFCA’s 2012 Special Achievement Award honorees are Billy Dee Williams, Cicely Tyson, Clint Culpepper and Rainforest Films. They are receiving special awards for career achievement.
“The selections made this year reflect the refreshing abundance of both studio and independent work that provided a stellar array of roles for both veteran actors and new faces in front of and behind the camera,” says Gil Robertson IV, AAFCA President and Founder.
Django Unchained starring Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Think Like a Man, starring Meagan Good and Kevin Hart rounded out AAFCA’s top-ten list.
The organization will formally present this year’s honors during a private ceremony at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA on Friday, February 8, 2013 .
Multicultural education is important even though people keep insisting that we’re heading towards a post-racial society. (Google Images)
Many people believe since the President of the United States is a Black man, then everything must be equal now. We’ve been hearing post-racial this and post-racial that and that it’s time to move past discussions about race and inequality and all that unpleasant stuff, even when it comes to education.
However, the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) which recently held its 22nd Annual International conference in Philadelphia, PA, understand just how critical it is to examine how race factors into issues of equality in education in the United States. NAME is an organization developed to advance and advocate for equity and social justice through multicultural education.The theme of this year’s conference was: Realizing the Power of Movements through Multicultural Education. Educators from around the world convened to discuss how movements toward equity and social justice from revolutions to sit-ins, and strikes, have the power to change lives at the local, national, and global levels. Despite the informative and engaging dialogue, many wonder if multicultural educational organizations are still needed? It was clear at this conference that hundreds of educators and policy makers, feel that the need for this type of organization is still paramount. You may wonder why this is the case?
Well, multicultural education remains relevant to all aspects of education because it is at the very heart of what an equal as well as equitable education means to the healthy development of not only the country but the world. There must be ongoing dialogue regarding culturally relevant pedagogy and what that means for the achievement of all children. According to a recently published article by Education Week, the enactment of The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, made the achievement gap more transparent because data had to be disaggregated by student characteristics such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status. This transparency, however, did not put the energy into developing the answers needed to explain and close the gap but rather highlighted the fact that these complex issues indeed exist. This is the purpose of organizations such as NAME — to find answers to difficult questions in order to help all children have access to quality education, thus improving outcomes in the classroom and society.
The conference reminds educators that the fight is not over for all children to receive an equitable education, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. In many states, the battle is being fought for funding equality because there is still an inequality that exists regarding spending per pupil. California anyone? The battle on that front as well as many others, is still being fought.
Rhonda J. Summey, Ed.D. is an educator in the Prince Georges County School system. She holds education degrees from Northwestern University, Harvard University and George Washington University.
Madonna proves why she is the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing musical tour of 2012. (Erin Kyle Photography)
by Christopher A. Daniel
It’s Oct. 6, 1982. An unknown singer, Madonna, releases her uptempo debut single, “Everybody.” The track is funky enough to crack the Top Five of the dance charts. The cover art’s collage depicts New York City’s lively Lower East Side and gives listeners the impression that Madonna is the next breakthrough “black” artist.
Now fast forward exactly thirty years, one month and eleven days. In 1984, the pop star tells host Dick Clark after a rousing debut performance on American Bandstandthat her dream is “to rule the world.” Today, Madonna is pretty close to doing just that with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing music tour of 2012 earning $224.4 million. The material girl topped Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters selling out each of her 72 dates.*
Opening to a packed venue, the stage started out as a replica of a Celtic temple with gongs, a giant revolving smoking lamp, budded crosses, chants and hooded dancers-turned-chiseled, high-heel wearing male dancers. Before long, Madonna, in an all-black catsuit, settled into euphoria with the pulsating “Girl Gone Wild.” The MDNA production and set design was nothing less than extravagant: cinematic special effects, theatrical inclining props, a live band and heavy scarlet red lighting.
What else can one expect from Live Nation’s golden ticket that inked one of the biggest deals in the history of concerts? Even Lil’ Wayne (“Revolver”), Nicki Minaj (“I Don’t Give A”) and M.I.A. (“Give Me All Your Luvin”) were intercut on-screen during their cameos performances. Madonna paid homage to Lady Gaga by performing “Born This Way.” Of course she performed her classic hits: “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Hung Up,” “Express Yourself,” “Justify My Love,” “Vogue,” “Erotica,” “Human Nature,” “Open Your Heart” (percussive and full of Buddhist chanting), “Candy Shop,” “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up The Radio.”
Madonna – the 20th Century’s best-selling female rock artist — is quite a character and consummate entertainer. She morphed into a gun-totin’, pistol whippin’ femme fatale, a flask-sippin’ action film stunt double kickin’ major ass (“Bang Bang”), a booty poppin’ baton twirlin’ drum majorette at a historically black college homecoming halftime show, a guitar twangin’ leather wearing rock star, a tightrope walker, a pin-striped zoot suit wearin’ cover girl and leader of a Southern Baptist gospel choir (“Like A Prayer”). What is a Madonna show without a few stripteases and corsets? During a stripped down version of “Like A Virgin” stylized somewhat similar to The Phantom of the Opera, the Material Girl seductively rolled across the stage in an effort to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The MDNA Tour is an indicator of Madonna’s star power and iconic status. Even at 54 years of age, Madonna’s one talent above performing is clear — pushing buttons. She even chastised the audience: one particular member with a stern face and crossed arms in the front row. “Get up off your asses. I’m tired baby; I’ve been workin’ my ass off,” she says. That’s an understatement for someone who pulled in 1,635,176 fans to music venues near and far. Madonna’s ability to rock trumped her ability to shock amid controversies in Miami (three-hour delay), Denver (waving guns post-Aurora massacre) and lets not forget Super Bowl XLVI with M.I.A.’s “middle-finger” fiasco. Nonetheless, the woman who began her career courting controversy knows what works and how far to go in order to maintain her place in music history.
*Additional reporting by Nsenga K. Burton.
Christopher A. Daniel is a pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
Madonna proves why she is the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing musical tour of 2012. (Erin Kyle Photography)
by Christopher A. Daniel
It’s Oct. 6, 1982. An unknown singer, Madonna, releases her uptempo debut single, “Everybody.” The track is funky enough to crack the Top Five of the dance charts. The cover art’s collage depicts New York City’s lively Lower East Side and gives listeners the impression that Madonna is the next breakthrough “black” artist.
Now fast forward exactly thirty years, one month and eleven days. In 1984, the pop star tells host Dick Clark after a rousing debut performance on American Bandstandthat her dream is “to rule the world.” Today, Madonna is pretty close to doing just that with her MDNA tour, which was the highest-grossing music tour of 2012 earning $224.4 million. The material girl topped Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters selling out each of her 72 dates.*
Opening to a packed venue, the stage started out as a replica of a Celtic temple with gongs, a giant revolving smoking lamp, budded crosses, chants and hooded dancers-turned-chiseled, high-heel wearing male dancers. Before long, Madonna, in an all-black catsuit, settled into euphoria with the pulsating “Girl Gone Wild.” The MDNA production and set design was nothing less than extravagant: cinematic special effects, theatrical inclining props, a live band and heavy scarlet red lighting.
What else can one expect from Live Nation’s golden ticket that inked one of the biggest deals in the history of concerts? Even Lil’ Wayne (“Revolver”), Nicki Minaj (“I Don’t Give A”) and M.I.A. (“Give Me All Your Luvin”) were intercut on-screen during their cameos performances. Madonna paid homage to Lady Gaga by performing “Born This Way.” Of course she performed her classic hits: “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Hung Up,” “Express Yourself,” “Justify My Love,” “Vogue,” “Erotica,” “Human Nature,” “Open Your Heart” (percussive and full of Buddhist chanting), “Candy Shop,” “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up The Radio.”
Madonna – the 20th Century’s best-selling female rock artist — is quite a character and consummate entertainer. She morphed into a gun-totin’, pistol whippin’ femme fatale, a flask-sippin’ action film stunt double kickin’ major ass (“Bang Bang”), a booty poppin’ baton twirlin’ drum majorette at a historically black college homecoming halftime show, a guitar twangin’ leather wearing rock star, a tightrope walker, a pin-striped zoot suit wearin’ cover girl and leader of a Southern Baptist gospel choir (“Like A Prayer”). What is a Madonna show without a few stripteases and corsets? During a stripped down version of “Like A Virgin” stylized somewhat similar to The Phantom of the Opera, the Material Girl seductively rolled across the stage in an effort to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The MDNA Tour is an indicator of Madonna’s star power and iconic status. Even at 54 years of age, Madonna’s one talent above performing is clear — pushing buttons. She even chastised the audience: one particular member with a stern face and crossed arms in the front row. “Get up off your asses. I’m tired baby; I’ve been workin’ my ass off,” she says. That’s an understatement for someone who pulled in 1,635,176 fans to music venues near and far. Madonna’s ability to rock trumped her ability to shock amid controversies in Miami (three-hour delay), Denver (waving guns post-Aurora massacre) and lets not forget Super Bowl XLVI with M.I.A.’s “middle-finger” fiasco. Nonetheless, the woman who began her career courting controversy knows what works and how far to go in order to maintain her place in music history.
*Additional reporting by Nsenga K. Burton.
Christopher A. Daniel is a pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
Angry protesters threw rocks and “booed” Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki during a speech commemorating the 2010 revolution. (Google Images)
Africa News is reporting that a celebration commemorating the anniversary of the revolution in Sidi Bouzid was marred by angry protesters hurling rocks at Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and parliamentary speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar.
The article states:
The incident began after a speech by President Moncef Marzouki in the central Tunisian town, where celebrations are taking place on Monday to mark the anniversary of the revolution.
Mustapha Ben Jaafar, the parliamentary speaker, was about to address the crowd when the violence began.
Security forces swiftly evacuated the two men to the regional government headquarters, the AFP news agency reported.
The protesters invaded the square where the head of state had been addressing the crowd, shouting “the people want the fall of the government”.
Sidi Bouzid is thought to be the cradle of the revolution that sparked the Arab Spring throughout Northern Africa.
Protesters are not satisfied with the slow pace of change in the country since the revolution.
