It's A Food Revolution

This post is not necessarily a discovery, but a rally call for a good cause. Last week was the inaugural episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution; his campaign to change the way America’s school children eat. For those uninitiated, Oliver is a quirky British chef, cookbook author, and former Food Network star. Recently he was awarded a TED Prize, which gives him $100,000 and “one wish to change the world.” His wish? Educating children, parents, administrators, teachers and lunch ladies alike about the evils of overly processed foods and the direct link to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. His message is that the goodness and simplicity of healthy fare is essential to the future well being of our country. To hear his plea directly from the source, view his TED presentation below, and his petition here.

A World of Music: Rokia Traore

Growing up the daughter of a diplomat, Rokia Traore's youth saw expeditions to Saudi Arabia, France, Angola, and Belgium, to name just a few. An ideal childhood for a blossoming young musician, one might think, but significantly less so when you consider that Bamana nobility, the Malian ethnic group of which she is a member, are prohibited from becoming musicians, especially if you're a woman. Her decision to pursue her passion in spite of tradition gives some sense of her how deep her passion for her music must be, but her voice lets you truly understand.
Hers is the pure expression of a singular vision. Rather than wholeheartedly embracing or willfully avoiding the musical traditions of Mali and the other countries of her youth, Traore gracefully subsumes them into a sound all her own: guitar and n'goni (a traditional West African lute) weave together into a gossamer fabric, held taut by deep, resonant bass and speckled with hand percussion and balafon, all in support of her magnificently soaring vocals. Perhaps, though, she put it best herself when asked to describe her sound. "I can't say what style I am", she admitted. "But I just love music". For anyone who feels the same, there a lot to love in what she does.

This pared-down performance from a 2007 TED conference is her at her most ethereal, but Koronoko's dizzying bounce is a must-listen, as is Manian, on which she pairs with classical iconoclasts Kronos Quartet.