New Reading
BOOKS/DVDs Sweet Soul Music -  Peter Guralnick  MOJO BOOKS 2002 (1986 USA) "The Best history of '60 soul music anyone has written or is likely to write, but it is much more than that." Robert Palmer, New York Times "Stunning .. panoramic .. a heartfelt history - one of the best books ever written on American popular music." Newsweek "No one I've read writes as well about musicians and their music as Peter Guralnick, and Sweet Soul Music is my favourite Guralnick book." Roddy Doyle	home: pcrlfm.co.uk Just launched is the PCRL DVD series and DVD-001. Its our 5th. Birthday party from 1990 featuring an amazing line up of reggae stars. It lasts 2 hours and 45 mins and includes vintage DJ's like Jacko, Cpt. Smiley, Cherry, Gilly, Zookie, Mr Merry, Kenny B. Over 10 live acts. An absolute must if you were there with the 2,500 crowd. Look out for more in this series to come. JJ Barnes, The Elgins and Fantastic Four to follow. Just £6 + postage - email us now. Mark T. Watson Born in the late sixties, Mark showed an early love of poetry, writing his first poem at the age of only 8 years, called “summertime”. It was in celebration of getting off from school for the summer holidays. His father Reginald Wilcox Watson was a merchant seaman, born in 1918 in a sugar cane plantation in Medowbank, Demerara, British Guyana. His father’s nickname was “Slow Train” as he’d walked 250 miles from London to Liverpool, seeking work in the 1950’s after serving on the supply ships throughout World War II and in the battle of the Atlantic. At the age of nine, Mark’s world changed, when his father had a stroke and became a quadriplegic. Mark was one of four siblings raised by his mother Sonia, who came to Liverpool from a little village in the Welsh valleys. A white woman raising four black kids in the 1970’s was a clear social work case and inevitably in 1975 Mark was taken into local authority care. He emerged semiliterate from that era at the age of 18 years, with no formal qualifications and a bitter taste from the injustices he had both suffered and witnessed whilst in so-called “care”. This was to spark a remarkable chain of events which caused him to challenge the system at all levels and compelled him to travel the globe in search of the truth. The journey started with his meeting the infamous political poet and performer “Gil Scott Heron” who took Mark under his wing and schooled him in life. Mark has travelled on and off with Gil and his band from 1984 to the present day, touring the UK, Europe and the USA. During these tours, Gil took it upon himself to mentor Mark and encouraged him to become productive, creative and educated. This mentoring, combined with close study of Gil Scott Heron’s published work had a dramatic effect on Mark, fostering a real sense of social responsibility and a desire to both change himself and bring about positive changes in the world. Mark left Gil for a few years and went away to sea. He used the long days to ponder nature and taught himself to read and write. He wrote to Gil regularly, sending copies of his poems for Gil’s appraisal. This book largely derives from that period, inspired by Gil’s knowledge and the value of his revolutionary poetic work, which not only inspired the black people of three generations in the States, but ricocheted throughout the world. More info on this book@: www.fore-word.com Retail Price: £8.99 UK, E12.99 EU, $16.99 US ISBN: 0-9548867-0-4 Published By:  Fore-Word Press Ltd. Owe, Yoruba in Proverbs In this book, A. A. Kila uses Yoruba proverbs to give us a flavour of a complex and imposing culture. While he is very committed to African culture and values he is also keen on demystification. In his view it is not demystification that kills a tradition but ignorance. When choosing the proverbs presented in the following pages he was careful to avoid romanticizing the Yoruba people nor to attribute to them any bizarre qualities. The human topics covered are resonant and familiar and the analysis original and illuminating; Òwe - Yoruba in Proverbs may be compared to Erasmus of Rotterdam's Adagio and A. Arthaber's Dizionario Comparato. Description  Enjoyable and informative, A.A Kila's account is both a concise introduction to the sayings and myths of a people that have so influenced the black cultures, from Brazil to Britain, and a "little lessons-in-living" that we can all still draw on. Diran Adebayo, author of Some kind of Black. Collection of proverbs.An original and intelligent introduction to Yoruba culture and beliefs. Readership  A must for all those interested in cultural studies and popular sayings for scholars and students of African culture, philosophy, and cultural anthropology. Excerpts from this book:- 'Eni fe arewa fe iyonu' or He who marries beauty marries trouble. The Yoruba language reflects that in the Yoruba mentality there is usually no distinction between the objective and the subjective admiration that is a precursor to the desire to possess. The Yoruba consider it normal that someone who admires something beautiful should, and will, sooner or later try to take it for their own. Contrary to what occurs in other cultural contexts, complimenting a husband on his wife's beauty is neither a common practice, nor one that is appreciated. It is more acceptable that someone praise the virtues, rather than the physical attributes of a woman, when in the presence of her husband. The most commendable qualities are normally her altruism and industry, being a wonderful hostess, a reliable partner, loving mother or a hard-working woman. This saying warns us that the person who seeks to possess an object of value, or to achieve something praiseworthy, will not only be admired but is also likely to stir up envy and competition. 'Ogun omode ki isere gba ogun odun' or Twenty children will not play together for twenty years. This proverb originated in the era when the slave trade was booming and the infantile death rate was high. It was almost impossible then to see a large group of young children grow up into adulthood together. Their fate was sealed by separation. If they were not divided by early death then it would be by the slave traders' chains. Today, some people prefer to interpret the saying as a truism which simply underlines that twenty children will not play together for twenty years because as they grow to become adults they will develop differing interests and preoccupations. Whatever the case may be, it is generally agreed that the overall message is a reminder that since everything in life alters we need to be ready to face these inevitable developments. It has, however, assumed a negative connotation, as people nowadays tend to use it to allude to the risks looming over situations which seem excessively idyllic, such as an apparently perfect relationship flaunted in full public view. Contents/Contributors, Illustrations by Reggie Pedro and Ben Adedipe, Preface by A.A Kila, Forward by Fidel de Silva Published by Akada Press, also from Amazon Black Scientists & Inventors Book 2 This is the second in a series of motivational, educational textbooks that seek to assist children aged 7 – 16 with their English, maths, history, geography and science using biographies of nine scientists and inventors. The book has been launched to coincide with Black History Month 2003. At BIS Publications we value the contribution made to modern life by the many black scientists and inventors. We firmly believe their exemplary stories can help to inspire children and adults alike to passionately pursue their own dreams and ambitions. The individuals featured in Black Scientists & Inventors Book II have climbed heights far beyond even their own imaginations. Cuthbert Dutiro, whilst studying for his MSc invented an environmentally friendly material for use in building roofs, the Queen paid him a visit to congratulate his achievement. Pauline Straker-Rodgers wins awards all over the world for her beautiful porcelain dolls with authentic African features, expressions and dress. From humble beginnings in the refugee camps of war-torn Nigeria the eminent Dr. Philip Emeagwali went on to invent an incredibly fast supercomputer, a world record in 1989. George Washington-Carver born a slave, created paints from flowers to feed his art hobby, progressing to invent over 300 products from peanuts, soy bean and sweet potatoes. The underlying thread in all of the biographies and what we hope the children will explore through answering the set questions, is that success comes from hard work, a positive attitude, support from family, friends, peers, a belief in your own abilities and through never giving up. Lessons we could all apply in our daily lives. If you have or know any children or teachers, buy them a copy of Black Scientists & Inventors Book II. It is a small, but necessary step towards helping children along their journeys of discovery. For further details: Contact: BIS Publications (Ava Henry), Phone: 44 + (0) 20 8880 4066 Fax: 44 + (0) 20 8880 4067, Email: info@bispublications.com Web: www.bispublications.com REGGAE BOOKS
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