Healing in Words - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Michael Collins - Irish Warrior - 1890-1922

Mural in honor of the women in the struggle in Northern Ireland

I began writing as a child. It is no accident that I am a poet and a music journalist! I am blessed to have creativity on both sides of my family, this has been a big influence.
My father's people were musicians, pianists. My father is a jazz musician and composer. From childhood, I was raised listening to and learning about music. I fell in love with music at an early age. Music inspires my writing. I like to share the music that I love with others.
My mother is a storyteller, my grandmother, and great grandmother were storytellers in the Irish tradition. The role of storyteller is central in the Irish community or in any oppressed community. It speaks to resistance to oppressors.
Music, storytelling, poetry, spirituality and a commitment to social justice are all a part of me.
I write about African music. My spirit is moved by music from West Africa, but I am open to music from all of Africa. From my interest in African music, has developed an interest in the history, politics, cultures and spirit of Africa. If you would like to share with me about Africa, I welcome the conversation.
The Bread is Rising Poetry Collective's website
The October 22nd Coalition website

Martin Luther King, Jr.
Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting

My Interests

The Bread is Rising Poetry Collective's website
The Peoples' Organization for Progress website

White Buffalo Calf Woman

I'd like to meet:

I would like to meet other creative people - poets, writers, journalists, storytellers, artists, musicians..
I love to meet people who love music, especially African music! I would also like to meet African people who take pride in their culture, history, music, and who are open to share this with others!
I love meeting spiritual people, people who love the sunshine!
Warriors and activists for justice and for human rights!

The Super Rail Band from Mali - beautiful sounds :)

Kocassale Dioubate with Monica Hofer and Sasha Belle Hunt
Kocassale Dioubate is an amazing Master drummer and Griot from Guinea. Kocassale Dioubate's myspace

Bassekou Kouyate - an amazing Ngoni player from Mali!

Spiritual music from Cheikh Lo - born in Burkina Faso of Senegalese parents - just listen to the voice!

MC Solaar - Caroline

Tiken Jah Fakoly - Y'En A Marre
Uploaded by Tiken-Jah-Fakoly
Tiken Jah Fakoly with Yanis Odua - "Y'en a Marre" - the song speaks of the political realities of Africa.. corruption..

Music:

My deep interest is in both traditional and modern African music/s. I enjoy learning about music from all across Africa, but my main knowledge is in West African music/s. I am an informal student of African musics and enjoy sharing music with others. I am open to all music of the heart and spirit.

Daby Toure - Beautiful singer and musician

Habib Koite - Batoumambe

Born in 1968 in Bamako, Mali, Oumou Sangare sings in the Wassoulou tradition. Wassoulou is a genre in West African music named after the geographic region. Women are especially known for their emotive singing in this style.

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Environmental and Political Activist. For more information visit:
The Green Belt Movement

Movies:

The Director Akira Kurosawa - Dreams, Himalaya, Genghis Blues, The Last King of Scotland

Television:

Christiane Amanpour - Chief International Journalist for CNN

Books:

Currently reading; The World that Made New Orleans by Ned Sublette. This is an amazing book. Check it out!

Heroes:

Just a few of my heroines/ heroes!

My Blog

CD review of Baye Kouyatés "Danama"

Baye Kouyaté is from Mali, and a descendant of griots, the storytellers of West Africa. This is his first CD. He plays the talking drum and he is a musician who knows how to make his drum talk. The...
Posted by Healing in Words on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:31:00 PST

I could be the light to your heat

I could be the light to your heat journey to your journey caress is a musical embraceis a musical connection heartbeat to heart breath the energy between two hearts the touch between two breaths I cou...
Posted by Healing in Words on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 09:37:00 PST

Africa is calling (1st draft)

If I tell you this would you laugh at me? Would you think I was crazy? Would you walk away?Africa is calling me She speaks to my spirit at night In dreams I travel to herImagining her quiet land, the ...
Posted by Healing in Words on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:27:00 PST

The music of West Africa - a personal reflection

I was seven years old when my father first played to me the music of King Sunny Ade from Nigeria, West Africa. Ofcourse, I had never heard anything like it, having grown up in a household filled with...
Posted by Healing in Words on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:34:00 PST

Warrior Woman Comes out Fighting

Dedicated to all Warrior Women!warrior woman comes out fighting with ashes on her face with pure rhythm, delicate grace with hair running in the wind warrior woman comes out fightingwith shawl dancing...
Posted by Healing in Words on Sat, 18 Aug 2007 06:51:00 PST

Freedom breathes..(Poem in progress)

Inspired from listening to Oumou Sangare's singingYour music is a warm breeze across my face Is the night air shimmering across my body if I dream I can flyI can be a bird moving out across the open s...
Posted by Healing in Words on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:16:00 PST

Some thoughts on my ancestors..

As a small child I was raised to the sound of my mother's stories. Listening to her was intoxicating. She took you on a long journey with her words. Sitting on her lap she would weave a tale with wor...
Posted by Healing in Words on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:28:00 PST

Beauty Is - Part 2

This poem is inspired by the wisdom and teachings of Black Elk - Holy man of the LakotaBeauty is in the stars turning in the open sky Beauty is in the flash of lightening as it bursts through the air ...
Posted by Healing in Words on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 06:22:00 PST

The spirit takes flight

The spirit takes flight through the open sky Journeying upwards Moving away from the pain Moving away from the heartache Scars that mark the heart and stop it from beingMoving away from the loneliness...
Posted by Healing in Words on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:16:00 PST

What is the color of the night sky? (new fragment of poem)

What is the color of the night sky? Outside my bedroom window I can feel the cold wind shimmering over the buildings the cold wind journeys up the side of walls and in the cracks of open windows Insid...
Posted by Healing in Words on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:04:00 PST