Part of the ANTHEM OF AVOCADO exhibition of Rootical Folklore: celebrating African and Caribbean Folklore through the flora. Hosted by Fusion Arts, in the Windows Galleries, Friar's Entry, off Gloucester Green, Oxford. From December 2022 to January 2023.
Rootical Folklore
As in Tales of Papine, Jah Folk continues his homage to flora. There, he spoke of tamarind, silk cotton and baobab; here, he speaks of rose apple, mango, rose and a palm. He is the mouthpiece, of what I call Rootical Folklore. From the first syllable, with its obvious connection to flora, to the meaning of rootical: the begining of an idea. These tales then, are the embyro of a vision; an on-going celebration of African and Caribbean Folklore, through flora, via tales. There have been thesis and essays written on plants in folklore – such as those in connection with the orishsas – but this and the previous collection of Papine Tales, are the first through contemporary folktales, introducing a central figure. And rootical is a word of long time use, in Jamaican and Rasta conversation. Speaking further of Rootical Folklore, we often talk of food and medicine, when we talk of our monumental neighbours, but what of their spiritual significance? Trees such as the fig, under which important ceremonies are performed. Baobab, tree of Creation; tamarind, source of rest and reflection. Pumpkin offers a reminder of the beauty of kindness; kola nut, a lesson in respect to the elders. If we learn from animals, then we can learn from the trees also, through celebrating the African and Caribbean oral traditions.
From the introduction to Tale of Beauty and Others.
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The Papine Tales By Natty Mark Samuels $5.00 each All proceeds to help the elders, with healthcare and housing support. To purchase, please head over to Wisemind Publications. |
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African Monarch: Celebrating Historical Kings & Queens of Africa
Date:
11 August Time: 1:00pm to 2:00pm |
In the year that Britain celebrates the Platinum Jubilee, I invite you to African Monarch: Celebrating the Historical Kings and Queens. We’ll be looking at certain figures and why they are honoured, such as King Moshoshoe (pronounced Mo-shwesh-shweh) of Lesotho and Queen Idia of Benin. You and I will explore pre-colonial royalty, in countries such as Ghana, Angola and South Africa. Were they honoured for pioneering educational opportunities? Military strategies? Diplomacy? Governmental reforms? Come with me, as we traverse sub-Saharan Africa, visiting a few of the courts, of the medieval and early modern period.
This event is recommended for ages 10+. Please note that all children must be accompanied by an adult and everyone must have a ticket. |
Celebrating African and
Caribbean Folklore
Caribbean Folklore
Rootical Folklore
Beginning in September, Natty Mark will be delivering a course –
Beginning in September, Natty Mark will be delivering a course –
As part of the Oxford IF Science Festival, on October 8th, Natty will be delivering a workshop, THE SHEA CHANT.
Shea tree,
I beg you come shower me,
With the blessings that you give:
Presentations of butter and oil.
from The Shea Chant
July 17th - Simmer Down Festival, Birmingham.
Through the BLAST project based in Birmingham, Natty Mark will be delivering drop-in, interactive workshops, celebrating the spices and other plants, of African and Caribbean Folklore. 11 - 5 pm
Through the BLAST project based in Birmingham, Natty Mark will be delivering drop-in, interactive workshops, celebrating the spices and other plants, of African and Caribbean Folklore. 11 - 5 pm
July 28th/29th - Botanic Gardens, Oxford,
As part of the 400th Year anniversary of the Gardens, through the CDI Youth project, Natty Mark will deliver two days (one African, the other Caribbean) of drop-in, interactive
workshops - YAN DAWA and PAPA BWA - celebrating the flora through folklore. 11- 4 pm
As part of the 400th Year anniversary of the Gardens, through the CDI Youth project, Natty Mark will deliver two days (one African, the other Caribbean) of drop-in, interactive
workshops - YAN DAWA and PAPA BWA - celebrating the flora through folklore. 11- 4 pm
October/November - Working Men's College, London
Delivery of TAMARIND for SILIMAKA, a four week course, celebrating the flora in the folklore of Africa,
Details of workshop to follow.
Delivery of TAMARIND for SILIMAKA, a four week course, celebrating the flora in the folklore of Africa,
Details of workshop to follow.
Natty Mark will be delivering a workshop - Grandmothers and Griots - at a conference at the University of West Indies, hosted by the Society of Economic Botany, where he will be celebrating African and Caribbean Folklore, through the flora.
Papa Sorrel
ETERNAL: Homage to Bob Andy
BIRAGO DAY: African and Caribbean Folklore Day
December 11th 2022
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#BlackHistoryMonth: Natty Mark Samuels talks to Oxford City Council about setting up the African School. Watch here
Book your tickets HERE! |
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Workshop: Celebrating the Ashanti
Email: africanheritageoxford@gmail.com to register ALL children
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Natty Mark Samuels, founder of the African School in Oxford, is working with the Rumble Museum to run workshops with groups of students of African heritage, looking at African Countries, Artefacts and some of the many languages spoken in the continent.
Read more in the links below: Rumble Museum Oxford Mail |
Natty Mark is delivering the first
course in African Studies at
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The Oxford Academy.
Links to Articles:
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Join us in celebration of Wangari Maathai’s
birthday and her leadership of the Green Belt Movement – 1st April 2021 @ 6pm About this Event: The event will be introduced by Natty
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Ploughkeepsie's Sadie Delaney: Healing From World War Through Reading
A Conversation with the Founder of the African School in England
Sunday, February 21, 2:00 pm. Via Zoom. RSVP/register at: www.DCHSNY.org/Feb21
Natty Mark Samuels
Fancasso
Video
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Let The Story Be Told
to Roy Midwinter: for his musicianship and his humanity.
Time is passing,
So let the story be told.
It is long overdue,
So let the story unfold:
Of the African influence on European art.
Let us start with Vlaminck,
And that bar in Argenteuil.
Where a round of drinks,
Began his African zeal:
Art of the Yoruba and the Baule.
Onward to Derain,
Who was given a Fang mask.
Enjoyed his first drink,
From the African flask:
The Fang of Gabón and Cameroon.
Matisse bought a statue,
From a curio shop.
Took it to a saloñ,
Observed the jaws that dropped:
A Vili statuette from the Congo.
Picasso saw the Vili figure,
Evening of enchantment.
He yearned to see more,
So to the Trocodero he went:
Sculpture of West and Central África.
(c) Natty Mark Samuels, 2020. African School.
Vlaminck – Maurice de Vlaminck, 20th century French artist.
Yoruba – people of south-west Nigeria.
Baule – people of central lvory Coast.
Derain – André Derain, 20th century French artist.
Matisse – Henri Matisse, 20th century French artist.
Vili – people of Democratic Repúblic of the Congo.
Picasso – Pablo Picasso, 20th century Spanish artist.
Trocodero – Parisian ethnographic museum
Submit your response
Ask an adult or carer to submit your respons
ZLecture at Fusion Arts:
drive.google.com/file/d/1BpPkKgMB19p-Pb0rNDgpHim949sl3o4w/view?ts=5ef9d418
Oxfordshire Kindness Wave - Natty Mark Samuels:
https://oxfordshirekindnesswave.org.uk/challenges/natty-mark-samuels/
https://oxfordshirekindnesswave.org.uk/challenges/natty-mark-samuels/
Here are the first two published pieces of art by two budding artists, Year Seven students at The Oxford Academy. The first, by DESTINY WILSON, is of two Kuduo brass bowls of the Ashanti of Ghana; the other, by MILLIE SMITH, is of a Portuguese man, sculpted in ivory by an artist from Benin city. Nigeria, in the 16th century.
Due to the Coronavirus, the Oxford Citrus Festival has been deferred
Natty Mark will be delivering a workshop on citrus at this conference
https://www.econbot.org/home/meetings/economic-botany-2020.html
https://www.econbot.org/home/meetings/economic-botany-2020.html
Celebrating Una
Download file Below
Download file Below
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The Shrine of Womanhood With Natty Mark Samuels https://www.oxford.gov.uk/events/event/636/the_shine_of_womanhood_with_natty_marks_samuels
Honouring the Herbalist Interactive Workshop: if-oxford.com/event/honouring-the-herbalists/https://if-oxford.com/event/honouring-the-herbalists/
