Parrotbeetie

In this episode, Raafeke comes with the long awaited end of the Nation Series, which has been ongoing since episode 6 of the podcast. After a year of creating content with a few pauses, Raafeke reflects on what this project has done for him as a writer and a West Indian person. In this episode, Raafeke announces that the draft for Parrotbeetie as a collection of short stories is now complete, and he will be looking into publishing the collection in the coming year as he continues on the podcast. If you are enjoying listening to his podcast, be sure to like and subscribe. Also, follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram and Twitter. Important Links: - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/interview-may-fortune-about-banda-call-me-o - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/banda-call-me-o - https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/quashi#:~:text=or%20Quashie%20(%CB%88kw%C9%91%CB%90%CA%83%C9%AA%20),Quashi%20that%20anyone%20can%20fool - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwasi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banda_people

In this episode, Raafeke talks about his Halloween experience in NYC before diving into into the last song of the Moko Collection. A recording of the Big Drum Dance song "Hou Mwen Ba File" is shared and broken down before Raafeke's affiliated short story, "A Farmer's Sword" is narrated. If you are a enjoying the content on this podcast, please share and subscribe! Also, follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram and Twitter. Important Sources: - https://intracen.org/news-and-events/news/strengthening-the-caribbean-coconut-value-chain-next-stop-grenada#:~:text=Today%2C%20Grenada%20is%20attempting%20to,plans%20on%20leveraging%20this%20tradition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRRX8qXAku8&list=PLzqUuihqA9R4wuXfFjTNxAMaprwSd-mWR&index=75 - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/interview-may-fortune-about-cest-mwe-nani-moko

In this episode, Raafeke talks about the importance of textual sources in research before introducing Carriacou's Moko Nation, preserved via it's Big Drum Dance Tradition. He also discusses the history of the Moko Jumbie in the Caribbean before sharing a recording of the Big Drum Dance song "Se Mwen Nani Moko" and narrating the story he wrote that was inspired by it. Important Souces: - https://www.amazon.com/Big-Drum-Ritual-Carriacou-Praisesongs/dp/081301607X - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/cest-mwe-nani-moko - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moko_jumbie

In this episode of Parrotbeetie, Raafeke returns with a strong reminder to stay properly informed about the Palestinian genocide before starting and concluding the brief Hausa Collection. This is done with an introduction of Hausa people, the breakdown of "Hausa Wele", the Hausa nation song in Carriacou's Big Drum Dance, and the narration of Raafkee's story "Scream Hausa Scream". Please be sure to share, subscribe, and leave a review on this podcast. Also, follow Raafeke on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on his work, new and old! Important Info: Hausa Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausa_people Hausa Wele Recording: https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/hausa-wele

After nearly 3 months away from Parrotbeetie, Raafeke returns with another episode to bring the Kongo Collection to a close. In this episode, Raafeke also gives a recap on his life, reflecting on his writing journey after recently turning 23, discussing how the work of others influences his own creations, and sharing another song from Carriacou's Big Drum Dance, known as the "Free Ring". This is punctuated by the narration of his story, "Carriacou Dikenga". If you are a fan of the show, be sure to leave a review, share, and subscribe! Make sure to follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram as well! Important Links: Dikenga Infomation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_cosmogram "Free Ring" Performance Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmbF_hHc-NQ&list=PLzqUuihqA9R4wuXfFjTNxAMaprwSd-mWR&index=12

In this episode of Parrotbeetie, Raafeke returns and shares an important call to action for listeners to become aware of growing tensions in West Africa, specifically between Nigeria and Niger. The podcast then resumes its usual trajectory with an introduction into the Kongo Nation and history behind the Kingdom of Kongo, before sharing how these groups of people have survived in the diaspora. This is followed by a recording of the Big Drum Dance song, "Koro Koro", which is then broken down and concluded by an narration of Raafeke's story, "Kongo Storm". If you are enjoying the show, do not hesitate to subscribe and follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Twitter (X), Instagram, Medium, and Threads! Important sources: Kongo Religion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_religion#Derivatives Kingdom of Kongo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kongo Koro Koro Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozWH-kCg9uw&list=PLzqUuihqA9R4wuXfFjTNxAMaprwSd-mWR&index=18 Nigeria - Niger Conflict: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/09/world/africa/niger-coup-nigeria-military.html

In this episode on Parrotbeetie, Raafeke returns solo, starting off with a recap on the importance of drawing connections from media to inform our understanding of ourselves, even if things seem unrelated. He talks about the importance of queer shows, suchas Heartstopper and Sex Education, before sharing his thoughts on his current read; Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde. Raafeke then goes on to conclude the Arada collection, sharing insight into the Fon and Ewe groups of West African, the ancient kingdom of Dahomey, and the infamous religion, Vodun. A recording of the Big Drum Dance song, "Djerika-o!" is shared and deconstructed, and the episode is concluded with a narration of Raafeke's story, "Queen Djerika". If you are enjoying the show, please share episodes with friends and family on social media and follow Parrotbeetie on Apple, Spotify and more! Be sure to stay tuned with Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram and other platfroms. Important Sources: Queen Nanny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanny_of_the_Maroons "Djerika-o" Recording: https://youtu.be/EVxsIRrXaLw "Vagabonds!" by Eloghosa Osunde: https://www.amazon.com/Vagabonds-Novel-Eloghosa-Osunde/dp/0593330021

In this episode, Raafeke is joined by Deanna Lyncook, host of The History Hotline podcast. Together, the two of them discuss the importance of Caribbean studies, the preservation of Caribbean culture (as well as its commodification by the West), and how Caribbean migrants have preserved their culture in the US and UK. If you are enjoying the show, please take time to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Be sure to check out the History Hotline podcast as well to learn more about Caribbean history, and follow Deanna on social media to stay up to date on her stuff. History Hotline: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-history-hotline/id1528852665 Deanna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryhotline/?hl=en Radiance Lost Novel: https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Lost-Raafeke/dp/152558524X

In this episode of Parrotbeetie, Raafeke kicks off the Arada Collection, but not before discussing NYC pride, the recent Supreme Court Ruling around LGBT rights, and his thoughts around the book "All About Love" by bell hooks. As he transitions to the meat of the episode, Raafeke shares historical context on who the Arada nation of Carriacou is, and how they exist not only on the small island, but in Haiti as well. Raafeke then shares a recording of the Big Drum Dance Song, "Arada Dore Mi De" and breaks it down before narrating his short story "Arada Anaconda". Please be sure to subscribe and share this podcast, and follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter. Important Links: Fon People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fon_people Haitian Vodou: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Vodou Damballa Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damballa Recent Supreme Court Ruling: https://www.voanews.com/a/recent-us-supreme-court-rulings-what-you-need-to-know-/7162909.html Arada Dore Mi De Dance: https://youtu.be/_hz21kzaFIc

Raafeke returns with another episode on Parrotbeetie to discuss the importance of black art and representation in the media, highlighted by his recent experiences with "The Lion King" on Broadway and the film, "Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse". The episode then segways to a discussion around the last songs of the Igbo nation in Carriacou's Big Drum Dance, titled "E-o Igbo Lele Lele” and “Igbo Mauvais Nation". Raafeke brings the Igbo collection of short stories to a close with the conclusionary narration of the his short story, "Bad Mind Makes Stink Mout'!". Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Twitter and Instagram for more updates. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, Raafeke is joined by guest speaker and writer, Jami France, allowing her to share her background and experience as a romance novelist. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and follow Parrotbeetie, Raafeke, and Jami on Twitter and Instagram for more.

As Parrotbeetie draws closer and closer to the end of the Igbo Collection, Raafeke returns with another episode to highlight the celebration of Pride Month and a brief history on lesbian relationships in Carriacou, as well as the death of famed Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo. Raafeke also shares a recording of the Big Drum Dance song, "Igbo and Dem", breaking down its meaning before narrating his short story, "Igbo and Who? Please be sure to subscribe to the show and share with others if you are enjoying it! Follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram, Twitter, and Medium. Sources: “Queer Crossings: Kinship, Marriage, and Sexuality in Igboland”: https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/msup/jwah/article-abstract/3/2/39/176675/Queer-Crossings-Kinship-Marriage-and-Sexuality-in?redirectedFrom=fulltext Ama Ata Aidoo Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ama_Ata_Aidoo

In this episode, Raafeke returns solo to bring his Parrotbeetie's audience back into the thick of the Igbo Collection. To start, he takes listeners back across the waters to Guyana to discuss the importance of mental health and the ongoing suicide epidemic within Guyana before touching on parallels beginning this crisis and the similar results that occurred among Igbo and other enslaved people within the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Raafeke then segways into the Igbo Collection with a shared recording and interview of the Big Drum Dance Song "Dayama Dayama/Ianman Ianman Igbo Lele" before breaking down its lyrics and meaning. This is concluded with the narration of his short story, "Kayak and Zoe", which was inspired by this piece of cultural music. If you are enjoying the show, please be sure to subscribe and share across social media. Follow Parrotbeetie on Instagram @parrotbeetie, and follow Raafeke on IG and Twitter @raafeke. Important Sources: Igbo Lele Recording: https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/iama-diama-igbo-le-le and https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=2nS924FZ-40&embeds_euri=https://www.notion.so/&feature=emb_logo&themeRefresh=1 Raafeke's Website: www.raafeke.com Guyana's Mental Health Crisis: https://borgenproject.org/guyanas-mental-health-crisis/#:~:text=Guyana%20consistently%20ranks%20among%20the,an%20anomaly%20in%20the%20trend

In this episode, Raafeke returns from his unintended hiatus with a guest and foreign cousin, Isaac Barnswell, to represent the UK. Together they discuss black identity in the context of the United Kingdom, United States, West Indies and Brazil, adding to the complex conversation around the various diasporas that exist within the African diaspora. If you like this episode, please leave a review and subscribe. Follow Raafeke on Twitter, Medium, and Instagram @raafeke. Follow Parrotbeetie on Instagram @parrotbeetie. Raafeke's Website: https://www.raafeke.com/ Radiance Lost Novel: https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Lost-Raafeke-ebook/dp/B08XG595BQ

In this episode, Raafeke gives a brief recap of his life and about his restates his mission for Parrotbeetie before sharing a recording an interview of the Carriacou Big Drum Dance song, "Igbo Gwinad-o". This episode is concluded by the breakdown of this song, and the subsequent narration of Raafeke's short story, "Carriacou Igbo". Please follow this show, leave a review, and check out Parrotbeetie on IG and Twitter! Sources: "Igbo Gwinad-o" Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLzqUuihqA9R4wuXfFjTNxAMaprwSd-mWR&v=czgQ-yCYSjY&feature=youtu.be "Igbo Gwinad-o" Interview: https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/interview-may-fortune-about-igbo-ginade-o-and-scotch-ibo

In this episode, Raafeke continues on with the Igbo collection and continues conversations from last week, specifically highlighting Obeah in the West Indies and the religion/spirituality's ties to the Igbo and Africa. Raafeke then shares a recording of the Big Drum Dance song, "Ovid Oh Ba Gade" and breaks it down before narrating his short story, "Obeah in the Land". Sources and Links: Radiance Lost: https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Lost-Raafeke/dp/152558524X Obeah Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obeah#:~:text=Obeah%2C%20or%20Obayi%2C%20is%20a,that%20have%20undergone%20cultural%20creolization Carriacou Animal Stories: https://www.anthropology-news.org/articles/carriacou-animal-stories/

In this episode Raafeke returns solo and kicks off the latest collection inspired by the Igbo nation of Carriacou. He goes into detail about the Igbo people in Nigeria and abroad, taking us to Haiti and tying the famous lwa, Legba into the conversation with historical facts and his own supernatural experience. This is followed by the introduction of the Big Drum Dance Song "Ibole Ibole Woy Yo/Dondon Banane" which is recorded in 1962 and again in later years, including 2014. Raafeke concludes the episode by narrating his short story, "Legba and Six Roads", which is inspired by this religious song. Please be sure to follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on posts! Check out the sources below: Raafeke's Website: www.raafeke.com Radiance Lost: https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Lost-Raafeke/dp/152558524X Alan Lomax Recordings: - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/interview-mannie-james-about-dondon-banane - https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-862/dondon-banane-lomax-commentary Youtube Preformance: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCTPMTy5M5A&list=PLzqUuihqA9R4wuXfFjTNxAMaprwSd-mWR&index=11 Igbo Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_people Legba Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Legba

In this episode of Parrotbeetie, Raafeke invites Bajan influencer and digital specialist, Luke to shed light on history, changes, and queer life on the tiny island Barbados. The two of them discuss Barbados creation as a slave-holding colony, its subsequent growth, independence, and most recently, elevation to a republic. This conversation is mixed with discussion around the island's Crop Over festival and the experience of queer individuals within the West Indies and among its diaspora. Sources:  Luke's Socials: @lukeyism on Twitter and Instagram   Bazodee Magazine: https://www.bazodeemag.com/ Bazodee Magazine Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bazodeemag The History Hotline "Episode 91: Richard Draz and the Legacy of Enslavement in Barbados": https://open.spotify.com/episode/12W7Nwrq6QwIUmf9KIKDso?si=af59a17d666d4ab4 Raafeke's website: www.raafeke.com

In this episode of Parrotbeetie, Raafeke takes us out of the West Indies and across the Atlanta to Sierra Leone with facts about the country's history and culture. He then goes into detail about the Temne people, an ethnic group in Africa that has continued to thrive in Carriacou as part of the Big Drum Dance, making Carriacou's Temne nation the only clear remnant of Temne culture in the Caribbean to this day. The episode is then concluded with a recording and breakdown of the BDD song, Temne Woman, and the short story, Carriacou Leone, written and narrated by the host.  Please be sure to leave a review, share the podcast, and follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram and Twitter. Check out Raafeke online at his website as well. Website: www.raafeke.com Sources:  Sierre Leone Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone Temne Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temne_people The Temne Nation of Carriacou: https://www.amazon.com/Temne-Nation-Carriacou-Sierra-Caribbean/dp/1537236318 Temne-Kayak Connections:  https://nowgrenada.com/2016/10/250-year-reunion-temnes-carriacou/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2tVfSrIOw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH_jcBvPPVs 

In this week's episode, Raafeke shares some touching experiences he has had, from the healing benefits of working with clay to the power and importance of reading black authors, specifically Toni Morrison. He then touches on the world's biggest AI sensation, ChatGPT, and what it means for writers before sharing a recording of the song, "Mbadi-o Dem Dei-o", a traditional wake and Nancy song performed in Carriacou in the 1950's/1960s. Raafeke touches on how folksongs adapt to their environments as well as holotropic breathing before sharing his short story, "Jack Spanners and Fire". This episode brings an end to the "Cromanti Collection", a group of short stories Raafeke has written inspired by the Cromanti (Akan) nation of Carriacou's Big Drum Dance.  If you are enjoying the show, please share, subscribe and leave a review. Don't forget to follow Raafeke and Parrotbeetie on Instagram, Twitter and Medium to stay updated.   Sources and Important Links:  Holotropic Breathwork: https://www.healthline.com/health/holotropic-breathwork#usage Mbadi-o Dem Dei-o Recording: https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/lesterre-762/mbadi-o-dem-dei-o Radiance Lost: https://www.amazon.com/Radiance-Lost-Raafeke-ebook/dp/B08XG595BQ Raafeke's Website: https://www.raafeke.com/ Parrotbeetie on Medium: https://medium.com/parrotbeetie