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Kokumo - Writing's On The Wall

Kokumo - Writing's On The Wall

Kokumo - Writing's On The Wall

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Released in 2007

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Artist/Band: Kokumo
Album name: Writing's On The Wall
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Writing’s On The Wall is my debut album released in 2007. It is a self-titled album and it is what I called a reflective album. I say this because most of the songs were written at some point or the other, when I was going through a reflective period of my life.
It is also an album that speaks out against global issues that affects black people and humanity in general.

For the last five hundred years black people have being facing nothing but an upward struggle for survival. Unless the concept of looking towards heaven is correct because that’s where our people have being looking and climbing that upward, rugged mountain in search of paradise. But I and I overstanding is that paradise is right here on earth, and only a handful of elites are fulljoying its prosperity.

The opening track, Wounded Soldiers in a way represent those fallen soldiers past and present. It is also asking questions in the sense that; do you really know what you are fighting for? Whose war you’re fighting, and for whose freedom?
We must be willing to defend our sovereign liberty but only when a pretext for war is just and not based on fallacies. The history of black people fighting another mans’ war has brought us nothing but demise and continued suffering.

Writing’s On The Wall is the title track on the album. Again this is another warning that the time draweth nigh for all doers of evil and the benefactors of evil doings shall perish.
People are going to rise up because they have grown tired of suffering under the hands of down-pressive systems.

We Don’t Need Them Now, this is about being more self-sufficient, we must depend more on self. We have to control our own thoughts and actions. It’s a cold, cold world we’re living in, the opening lines of this track. This speaks of people who are becoming more and more individualistic, everyman for himself. This is not the way it should be but this has place a responsibility on individuals to go out there and claim what is rightfully theirs. It’s not going to be handed to you on a silver platter.

Blood Fi Oil pt. 2. this is nothing but pure “fyah” I was vexed when I wrote this, as Garnet Silk says, “I am vex and I can’t pretend, I am vex and I don’t intend to deny it”. Vex against the genocide in Sudan and wider Afrikan continent. The hypocrisy of the U.N. and other world leaders, who sit down and allow these atrocities to continue. No one wants to challenge the Arob-Islamic, Racist regime in Sudan to stop the genocide and ethnic cleasening against our people.

Deliver Me a very good friend of mines said this song reminds him of a Salomonic quote. I guess he is right, this song was written at a time in my life when I was going through a lot. I think I was in America at the time and I faced a lot of decision-makings and to the direction I wanted to take. I must say, I really wanted deliverance.

That’s Not Right (Sudan) this is another song dedicated to the suffering people of Darfur in Southern Sudan. These people have being enduring years of displacement, murder, victimization and down-pressions from the Janjaweeds, the government of Sudan and outside collaborators like China, yes China! Remember that I said this and if you don’t believe me, go and do your own research.

Cry Freedom this is a continuous cry coming from the lips and guts of people who continue to suffer and yearn for freedom. This does not only appeal to blacks but I’m however more concern about my own people, as the great Marcus Garvey said, “Race First”.
Our survival is dependent on our freewill to think independently, make our own decisions in order to build a better and safer environment, which is free from outside influences and interferences for our children and for generations to come.

In The Ghetto (Save The Children) this song again speaks for itself. In the so-called ghettos of the world, the most vulnerable are children, who are given no hope.
In my opinion ghetto is a psychological prison, it exist only in the mind. Let me explain, there’s a saying that, “so a man thinketh, so is he”, therefore if you live in a state of mind of hopelessness, that’s the state you will remain in for your entire life but if you rise above the limitations put on you can achieve greatness.
Who can tell whether or not I’m a product of the ghetto? Do I behave in a manner that reflect hopelessness? I think not!

Uncertainty is a reminder that in the twinkle of an eye, you can loose everything, even your precious life if you’re not careful. When you step out and forward in you must give thanks to Jah for guiding your steps.
We are living in perilous times, where people’s carefree attitudes are driving them to their demise. Therefore one must analyse their life style and make correct judgement and choices. Do not allow government systems and other pressures to inform your decisions. You are accountable for your own actions.

A Declaration Of Self this is about self-identity. Who am I, where did I come from, what do I represent, do I fit in this social order that society designed for us?
InI have come to realize that everything that Babylon teaches us was designed to serve them, not us! To glorify his preconceived greatness, his superiority complex. He gave us his name, his language and the concept of his god, which he forced us to believe in.
Therefore InI have to embark on my own self-discovery to combat these negative stereotypes, the racist ideologies and the fallacies fed to us through their systems of religions, slavery and colonialism.

The entire album sums up an important part of my journey as an artist and social and cultural activist. I use the ancient principles of the spoken word, “in the beginning was the word and the word was with Jah” it is the word that took on flesh and become a living soul.
I represent those who have gone before InI a living witness and testimony that their struggles were not in vain. My work is to honour the greats like Peter Tosh lending an unflinching voice to tear down the walls of Babylon, Wipe away transgressions and rule equality, itinually to free every single enslaved minds no matter what race, colour, class or creed.

Jah Live!

By Kokumo.

Tracklist

N. Artist(s) Title
1KokumoWounded Soldiers
2KokumoWriting's On the Wall
3KokumoWe Don't Need Them Now
4KokumoBlood Fi Oil Pt. 2
5KokumoDeliver Me
6KokumoThat's Not Right (sudan)
7KokumoCry Freedom
8KokumoIn the Ghetto (save the Children)
9KokumoUncertainty
10KokumoA Declaration of Self
11KokumoDub Fi Oil
12KokumoDub Fe Oil Pt. 2 (bonus track)

Label

Abeng Productions CD  2007

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