Somi: New African Soul

Tribal Immunity Artist of the Week

by Nana B.

Genres: Afro Beat, Jazz, Soul
Origins: Rwandan and Ugandan
Influences: Miriam Makeba, Sade, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Cesaira Evora
Albums: If The Rains Come First, Red Soil in My Eyes, Eternal Motive

If you haven’t heard of Somi, you are missing out. Somi is a true musician in an evolving world of African music merging jazz, soul, and African folk music into what she refers to as “new African soul.” Though born in Illinois to parents from Rwandan and Uganda, Somi has a firm grasp and takes pride in her African heritage. This pride translates into her music, which uses a beautiful blend of English, Kiswahili, and other East African languages. Somi is well known for her song of heartbreak entitled "Ingele", off of her sophomore album Red Soil in My Eyes. Somi’s most recent album, If The Rains Come First, is beautiful collection of story-based songs that explore life in the face of blessings and challenges.



All of Somi’s music can be purchased on Amazon.com (let’s support our people). For more on Somi’s music, check out her Website, Youtube and facebook pages.
http://www.somimusic.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/somimusic
http://www.facebook.com/somimusic?ref=search&sid=500391358.4286091365..1

L’union Fait La Force...The African Agenda

by Nana B.

The heart and soul of the African world is crying. Our mother Haiti is in need of help and as Africans, it is our duty to hold our hands around Haiti. Who else but Africans can know the needs of our people (whether they be dietary, spiritual, or physical)? While volunteering at the Haitian embassy, the lack of connectivity in the African body became evermore present to me. On my way to the Haitian Embassy I passed the embassies of Kenya, Egypt, Colombia, the Bahamas, Morocco, Chile…all of which remained closed shut in the sight of the confusion of overflowing donations and frail leadership. With all Haiti has done for Latin American, African, and West Indian nations, would it have been too much for these embassies to assist in the packaging and storage of aid? While sifting through the toiletries donated, I saw practically no African hair and skin products nor feminine hygiene products aside from those I and my friends donated. How long will we continue to let our children look to help from pale faces? F*** the differences in language, nationalities, boundaries and borders. Without Haiti, there would be no Ghana, Brazil, Jamaica, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Panama, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and any other politically free nation that is a part of the African World. The words of Peter Tosh couldn’t be any more relevant than they are now. “No matter where you come from, as long as you’re a Black man [or woman], you are an African”.


The media continues to portray our people as poor and helpless, using Haiti for headlines. And as the weeks pass and the lure of suffering Africans dies down in the hearts of the consumers, what will we do to help our own? We need to help each other, plain and simple. The time of waiting for celebrities and politicians to help us is coming to an end. The usage of pretty, ornamental language is unnecessary during times like these. Our people in Haiti and all around the African world are dying and they need our help. Let the words of the Haitian motto resounding in your heart and inspire you as we reclaim and take pride in our roles as the chosen children of the creator. L’union fait la force (With Unity there is Strength).

Distant Relatives

Tribal Immunity Artists of the Week

by Omega Divine

An unofficial tracklisting of Nas and Damian Marley’s collaborative LP, Distant Relatives, has been revealed. The anticipated album is to feature artists including the 9th Wonder, K’naan, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu and more. There is no established release date yet, but the album is rumored to be a historical moment in music, especially since Marley and Nas are well known and respected artists throughout the Afrikan world. With such a very long list of historically influential Afrikan artists being featured on the album, I hope that this album does well and that its intended message of 'Tribal Immunity' sparks young Afrikan minds to unite for a greater cause...Well, we will hope :)





Track listing for Distant Relatives:
1. Intro (Something New) (prod. Damian Marley)
2. As We Enter (prod. Damian Marley)
3. Revolutionary (prod. Damian Marley)
4. Count Your Blessings (prod. Damian & Stephen Marley)
5. Belief is Key (prod. Damian Marley)
6. Africa Must Wake Up feat. K’naan (prod. Nas, Damian & Stephen Marley)
7. Black Horizon feat. K’naan (prod. Damian Marley)
8. Only the Strong (prod. Damian & Stephen Marley)
9. Our Generation feat. Joss Stone & Stevie Wonder (prod. Damian Marley)
10. Empowerment (prod. Stephen Marley)
11. AID (prod. K’naan & Nas)
12. Let’s End It (Poverty) feat. K’naan (prod. 9th Wonder & Damian Marley)
13. The Earth feat. Bob Marley (prod. Salaam Remix, Damian & Stephen Marley)
14. Black Man’s Paper feat. Erykah Badu (prod. Afry) [UK Bonus]
15. Weed On feat. Snoop Dogg (prod. Damian Marley) [iTunes Bonus]


Peace and Blessings.

Survival Kits @ the Haitian Embassy

Greetings!

I just wanted to let everyone know that we can help the Haitian effort in many ways, and if you are in the Washington, DC area please support the "Survival Kit Drive" today from 11am - 4pm at the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, DC, but I believe they will need help throughout the weeks [and months] to come.

The Embassy is located at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, DC 20008. Even if you cannot make it, try to collect some of the items below to save and send over with a legitimate organization.

ITEMS BEING COLLECTED:

Baby formula (dry/powder)
Baby wipes
Baby bottles
Diapers
Baby clothes
Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste)
Hand sanitizer
Vitamins
First aid kits
Over the counter medicines
Socks
Blankets
Mosquito repellent
Flashlights
Batteries
Candles
Flip flops
T-shirts
Pants
Lightweight jackets
Non perishable food that’s not in cans (seal-paks of tuna or sardines, for example)
Think flat, lightweight, easily packable.

Haiti in Our Hearts

This year has been rough for many of us so far, especially with the devastation occurring in our beloved country of Haiti. We at Tribal Immunity believe that Haiti is a country which paved the way for Afrikan liberation struggles throughout the Diaspora, which is why this event has hit extremely close to home. There are many efforts being made to send aid to Haiti at this time, but before you donate to any cause please do research and make sure that the organization is legit.


If you would like to donate money to Wyclef Jean's organization YELE:
Text "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 [You can text as much as possible!]

When we find more legit organizations to donate to we will post it on our blog, but until then KEEP HAITI IN YOUR PRAYERS!!!

Peace and Blessings.