The Matatu Festival of Stories is in full swing

by The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey

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The Matatu Festival of Stories is in full swing this week, with opening night dinner at Miss Ollie’s featuring Saul Williams, Donte Clark and Bryant Terry. Some of the activities of the festival that I am looking forward to are the Thursday night concert featuring neo-soul musician and producer Shafiq Husayn, the Friday night showing of a documentary about a provocative and legendary Ethiopian musician and thespian by the name of Asknaketch Worku from the ’50s and ‘60s, as well as Saturday’s performance by the Alonzo King Lines Ballet, who will be performing in an excerpt from a dance piece called “Rasa.”

White-art-by-Mahader-Tesfai-web-300x212, The Matatu Festival of Stories is in full swing, Culture Currents
This design by Eritrea born, Oakland raised visual artist Mahader Tesfai is the theme art for the Matatu Festival.

Right alongside the legendary Hiero Day, the Matatu Festival of Stories is one of the premiere events that is organized in the Bay for the Bay. Get more info at Matatufestival.org.

Here is an interview that I did with the filmmaker of “Incorruptible,” which will be screening Thursday night, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Flight Deck, 1540 Broadway, Oakland.

The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey is associate editor of the Bay View, author of “Block Reportin’” and “Unfinished Business: Block Reportin’ 2” and filmmaker of “Operation Small Axe” and “Block Reportin’ 101,” available, along with many more interviews, at www.blockreportradio.com. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com.