It’s been a minute and here is what I’ve been working on. I sing, I write, I act and I tell stories. I am a modern day griot and a cultural ambassador and my name is Tosinger. 🙂
Here’s introducing, the first vlog/webisode/series, whatever you choose to call it, edition of my weekly (on Tuesdays) folk storytelling project- TALES WITH TOSINGER,
Folk tales and fables are an educational and entertaining means of passing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next. An African tradition for several generations, adults would tell tales by the moonlight while teaching morals and lessons. I have chosen to gather adults and children alike around a social app, a youtube video, the millennial way to get the world’s attention 😉
The inspiration….
Enjoy Episode #001 Dawu the Lion King. DO SUBSCRIBE, like, comment and spread the word. Ese! ( pronounced “E-shay ” — which means ‘Thank you’ in Yoruba)
Afrodreamfest has come and gone but the glorious aftermath still linger in the hearts and souls of the attendees . Afrodreamfest, a touring concert to celebrate African Liberation Day ( #AfricaDay May 25) and promote upcoming talented neo~afro fusion artists in the diaspora took place this year (May 22 at Meridian 23 and May 23 at Silvana Harlem) in the vibrant city that never sleeps – New York City. It featured an eclectic line up of artists including myself (Afrosoul), Ayanbinrin – the female talking drummer (Afrofolk), Ogasilachi (AfroRnB), Eli Fola (AfroJazz), Laolu and The Afromysterics (Afrobeat), Aduke (Afrosoul) and bonus features Afro pop artistes – Ayo In Motion and Na!ra. To promote the event, you can also watch my Sahara radio interview with the Humble Prince here
Below is a heartfelt review by International Journalist Adanma Odefa in the selfie below 🙂
Adanma and Tosinger
Afrodreamfest Experience in New York City
When a friend of mine told me about the Afrodreamfest in New York City, my first reaction was, ‘I might as well have an adventure, I’ve got nothing else to do!’. So I packed up and went to New York City from Washington DC not really expecting much. Although I had been in New York previously, the city didn’t fail in keeping me on my toes. Finally, we made it to Chelsea where the concert was holding.
OgasilachiLaolu
My first thought was, ‘wow! What strong vocals! What powerful lyrics! What artistic sincerity!‘. This was the reaction the young lady Aduke evoked when she sang. Reeling from that, I sailed through several other performances including the beautiful ‘Naira’ who struck me as sleek, chic and distinct with her rap style. Naira effortlessly executed a marriage of American rap culture and African uniqueness.
AdukeNa!ra
The icing on cake for me was Ayanbirin. She has such a presence on stage that depicts Africanism in a way that was almost tangible. I gawked in awe as she dominated every single person in the room. Her power was all the more enchanting with her backup drummer and sidekick. Day one ended with dancing and exhaustion. I went back to my lodgings wondering what day two would bring.
Ayanbinrin
By the end of day two, I was glad it was a two-day event. I had missed some of the performances from day one so I got the experience of fresh excitement. It was on this day that I got the opportunity of falling under the musical enchantress’s spell. Tosinger endeared me with her beautiful all African costume and her lively stage presence. Day two icing on the cake for me was AyoInMotion. I am not trustful of my capacity to put into words the powerful emotions this artist invoked in me. He reached deep into my soul and pulled out all things African within me and left me feeling sad for those who are unable to claim African roots.
TosingerAyo in motion
Altogether, Afrodreamfest was precisely a dreamy artistic romance with Africa. I look forward to the next one with a barely contained feverish excitement.
Adanma Odefa International Journalist, Voice of America.
During my stint with Fuxion TV as a Children’s Program Presenter, I enjoyed telling African folk tales on ‘Kiddies Tales Time’, an educative and entertaining children’s program which showcases the art of storytelling, with moral-teaching folktales and songs from the African continent. Having a grandmother who was an Educator, Late Mrs Georgietta Abeke Adesina (Mama Headmistress, Abeokuta) who told me stories as a little girl and coincidentally (or not) a mom who was also a children’s show presenter (Kiddies Forum) and later a newscaster, during her broadcasting days at NTA Abeokuta , the importance of the connection of media and culture, in recording our stories for the next generation to be enlightened/educated, is very real and meaningful to me. That is why I connect to the mission of this project.
My mom, Doyin, on Kiddies Forum NTA Abeokuta circa 80s
And if you are a Generation X Nigerian as I am, you will also remember the popular Children’s show Tales by Moonlight on NTA
Introducing AfricanStory.TV: For centuries, oral storytelling has been the format used by many cultures in passing along important historical facts and information down for other generations. Visioneer/Content Producer Daty Kaba says
“this exciting project, AfricanStory.TV was manifested when Priya (my daughter) asked me to tell her African stories from my childhood. It dawned on me that I had sporadic memories or had completely forgotten those stories. I did research and found that most people have forgotten those folklores from childhood as well.
For centuries, oral storytelling has been the format used by many cultures in passing along important historical facts and information down for other generations. African Story TV (ASTV) will follow that tradition with current technology. ASTV is an online webtv ” portal” broadcasting short African stories told by everyday Africans, African Americans and Caribbeans. Storytellers will be filmed on video and it will be featured on the online webtv. ASTV will serve as a online village where global citizens can enjoy stories from Africa, US and the Caribbean. A cultural heritage site that will help preserve oral story tradition that has existed for centuries in Africa. African Story TV is also an educational hub for students and future generations to experience African Stories and the significance of oral storytelling.
Enjoy some of the videos here And if you have any to submit, you can click here to do so
Considering the element of impatience associated with suspense, I don’t do too well with most TV Series/Soaps and don’t bother starting if I won’t finish it. However I found myself hooked to the MTV Shuga Naija TV series on YouTube after watching the first one and looking forward to episode after episode. The quality and the creative presentation is totally on point. Like a breathe of fresh air, I see a line up of vibrant actors that are well cast for their roles in a Nigerian TV production. They all fit their roles so perfectly like a round peg in a round hole PLUS the acting is on point, and the message is as clear as water. Great cast. The acting is so natural, real and believable with the use of everyday lingo/slangs and even some incorporation of Nigerian languages and dialects (with subtitles). Shuga is beautiful Art in film format (kudos to the team), and surely a powerful educational media tool.
MTV Base and MTV Staying Alive Foundation joined forces with the Nigerian government’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to combat a lack of awareness and misinformation about HIV, sexual responsibility and teen pregnancy among Nigerian youth, using this Shuga TV Drama series. It debuted on TV on World AIDs Day, December 1, 2013.
Shuga, MTV’s award winning TV series and multimedia campaign, is part of a powerful 360-degree mass media campaign designed to raise awareness about sexual health, HIV prevention and teen pregnancy in Nigeria relayed with fun, exciting, educative, vibrant and exciting story lines.
Directed by Biyi Bandele and Written by Kemi Adesoye, Tunde Aladese, Omotunde Akiode, Ayoade Adeyanju, Victor Sanchez and
Biyi Bandele. Shuga features quite a number of stars including Maria Okanrende, Tiwa Savage, Okezie Morro, Chris Attoh, Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanyi, Nick Mutuma, Dorcas Shola Fapson, Leonora Okine et al
Director Biyi BandeleBiyi Bandele and Kemi Adesoye. All photos in this article are from MTV Shuga FB Page and Google
The week is ending, kick off your shoes, relax your feet, take a break and watch the episodes 1-7 below. Counting the seconds to Episode 8.
How is the countdown to the end of 2013 looking like? Remember to always count your blessings and always believe. Never Give Up. Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Realign your mind for even greater things in 2014. I was excited to wake up to a tweet from Pulse Records with the good news that my new music video ‘Ile’ (Home) will be airing on National US media outlets #WorldMusic. How sweet. Pulse Records is dedicated to redefining the modern record label by providing top-tier music opportunities to Independent & Unsigned artists. It’s time to #BeHeard. It is time to be encouraged to make more real and fresh music with a real message #Inspiration
“How can they hear without proclamation”
Make music you LOVE, something that represents your mission and pride. Authenticity prevails for fan support – PulseRecords
If you have not seen the video, here it is: “Home is where the heart is”
Click image below to read the news
Thank you all for your support so far. Be inspired.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach
Hello Peeps,
Hope everyone is doing alright. There’s always music to make you feel a little better. Right? The spotlight is on a very good, personal, musical friend of mine, coincidentally a namesake, TOSIN (Tosin is a Nigerian (Yoruba) unisex name, short form of Oluwatosin which means ‘God is enough to be worshiped or God is worthy to be worshiped). Tosin is a songwriter, vocalist, drummer extraordinaire, composer and arranger. He is one of ‘us’ carrying the torch of African music in the US diaspora. He is a renowned drummer & percussionist (oh I said that already :)) former – Ayetoro band member who has played with who’s who in the industry including Spyro Gyra, Femi Kuti, Andres Levin, Jon Carroll, Antibalas, Julie Dexter among others. More on his site. I absolutely love his sound and vibe, afro feel with a touch of contemporary lacings, and his use of the Yoruba language, just like my music. Keep scrolling. 🙂
Tosinger (Left) Tosin (Right) at AfroDreamfest
I will let this video of his interview with Heather Maxwell do the talking. Enjoy.
Music Time in Africa presents TOSIN with Host Heather Maxwell
Click on Tosin’s image below to learn more about his music, connect with him and get his latest project ‘Life Begins’
Not to sound dreary at the start of a new day or a new month for that matter. The unexpected happens and the inevitable takes us by shock. The entertainment industry was recently shaken by the passing of Paul Walker the ‘Fast & Furious’ Actor. With celebrities, the whole world feels a personal connection . Very tragic and untimely, we pray for the comfort of the family and friends he left behind. Oh, the humanity of all lives and the place of divinity for all in all.
For death is but a passing phase of Life;
A change of dress, a disrobing;
A birth into the unborn again;
A commencing where we ended;
A starting where we stopped to rest;
A crossroad of Eternity;
A giving up of something, to possess all things.
The end of the unreal, the beginning of the real.
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written..1 Cor 15:54.
Death is the dropping of the flower, that the fruit may swell.
Death is the dropping of the flower,that the fruit may swell.
Henry Ward Beecher – Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. Ecc 7:1. Still I believe, dying young is surely not life’s design or the Creator’s will. May the souls of the departed rest in peace..
TOSINGER'S BLOG 