Archive: December 2020

The Full Length Project – Video for ‘Destiny Manifest’:

21Dec

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Kennedy Center Performance 11/30/20

1Dec

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Kennedy Center Performance 11/30/20

Destiny Manifest – Available Now

30Nov

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Kennedy Center: Arts Across America – Maine

10Nov

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Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Arts Across America: Sacred Resonance.  Portland Ovations & Indigo Arts Alliance produce an original performance event featuring three Maine artists to be featured in this Kennedy Center national series. Part of the Washington, D.C.-based John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Social Impact Initiatives, Arts Across America is a program to uplift artists and showcase art from communities and regions across the country.  This free, online programming will be available on Facebook Live, YouTube, and the Kennedy Center website.

The Kennedy Center hosts weekly online performances curated by arts organizations in each United State presenting artists and their works, and Maine will air their contribution on November 30th, 2020 @ 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT.

RSVP NOW!

Featured Maine artists include:

  • Firefly, a member of the Penobscot Nation and raised in his people’s ancient village at Indian Island, Maine in Firefly: Sacred Fire. A journey through sound, light and emotion from the ancient to the unknown. Deeply influenced by the traditions of his ancestors, Firefly performs both traditional hand drum, shaker and vocal songs as well as cutting edge musical compositions rooted in his ancestral traditions. A hyper creative, Firefly’s artistry involves powerful vocals, eye popping visuals and cutting-edge costumes created by himself and his team.
  • Maya Williams (pronouns they/she), Definitions of Home, a showcase of poems touching on mental health, suicide, and racism. Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Maya is a Black and Mixed Race suicide survivor residing in Portland since 2017. She has published poems with glitterMOB, The Portland Press Herald, Black Table Arts, Occulum, Littoral Books, Homology Lit, and more. Her work has garnered a Best of the Net Nominee and a PortFringe’s Audience Choice Award as well as residencies with Hewnoaks, Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA), and Voices of Our Nation Arts (VONA) Foundation. Maya hosts open mics on most Tuesday nights with Port Veritas.
  • Atiim Chenzira’s work titled ‘Destiny Manifest’ is a seven-part multi-media art piece utilizing his poetic spoken-word and Hip Hop lyricism to explore his ancestral experience. His expressive storytelling highlights this familial journey from the East Coast to the West and back. ‘Destiny Manifest’ interweaves Atiim’s personal journey as a husband, father, and “new Mainer,” into his American experience with the larger issues of racism, colonialism, capitalism, and displacement.   

WMPG Radio Interview

7Aug

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I had the privilege of sharing some of my story with Robert SanGiovanni  & David Rogers-Berry on WMPG August 7th, 2020.

The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival

17Jul

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Here is a story I had both the pleasure and honor of narrating for the BBCBF titled ‘Going Down Home With Daddy’:

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons

Illustrated by Daniel Minter

Visit the BBCBF at https://beautifulblackbird.com/

Criminal Justice Reform: What Can Maine Do to Change the Police, Prison and Court Systems?

22Jun

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https://www.mainepublic.org/post/criminal-justice-reform-what-can-maine-do-change-police-prison-and-court-systems

FTS!

8Jun

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This is a song I wrote in 2006 right after almost losing my life to a man who appeared to open his door on me on purpose as I rode my bicycle by his truck. I knew that if I were to have passed on without releasing this song, I would not have rested in the afterlife, so here it is:

Lyrics to FTS: https://atiimchenzira.com/lyrics/fts/ ‎

BLACK OUT – 06/02/2020

2Jun

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In Solidarity, Peace, and Respect, Today I Black In & Black Out.

I will breathe through this.

Hello – National Resources – Music

18Mar

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HI FOLKS!

I really hope you and your families are taking the time to review facts, talk, breathe, play, pray, and eat together.

During times of great stress, especially with this pandemic phenomena, our best outlets can be music, art, and other creative expressions, as well as reaching out to loved ones, and/or contacting a mental health professional to talk about our concerns.

Feeling heard and seen is extremely important when we feel isolated, so below I’ve created a list of nation wide resources for you. I am, by the way, in the mental health profession as well as in the music industry, so I just couldn’t help myself. I want to extend some resources to help you too.

 

NATIONAL RESOURCES:

1. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
a. https://www.remedylive.com/suicide/
b. 1-800-273-8255
 
2. Free Telephone Counseling Hotlines in the United States
a. https://www.opencounseling.com/hotlines-us
 
3. National Alliance on Mental Illness / NAMI
a. https://www.nami.org/find-support/nami-helpline
b. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., ET, or send an email to info@nami.org.

 

MUSIC: 

During this COVID-19 crisis, I encourage you to practice self-care, get creative, listen to some phenomenal music, and support musicians who cannot work, like most of you.

Below are two links:

1. Curated by DJ Celeste Lear / Spotify: a. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3lYq4xKhklXDH20zuFn57X…
 
2. Curated by Atiim Chenzira – Blackulah / Soundcloud & Spotify: a. https://soundcloud.com/atiimchenzira

 

KNOW THE FACTS: 

1. Center for Disease Control:
 
2. World Health Organization:
 

 

All the best to you and yours.

 

Sincerely,

 

Atiim Chenzira

http://Atiim.net
Ridah Ridah Entertainment

 

Ridah Ridah Entertainment / R2E 2020