Day 7 - CD Update

Good Evening Brothers & Sisters,

Just a quick update to the charity CD

Aar Maanta is a British/Somali singer, composer, writer and music producer. Aar moved from his native Somalia to the UK in the late 1980s due to the civil war. Aar has very kindly offered a contribution to the CD.  His Website is http://www.aarmaanta.com/

Peace.

Day 5 Poetry by Z…. Costello ''Somalia''

Another Poem for you good people by Z.... Costello taken from her poetry site  whorattledyourcage.wordpress.com

Below this line, these are her words to you......

This poem is dedicated to the drought victims in Africa and especially to the 29,000 children under the age of five, who have starved to death in the past few months. They are not a mere statistic in my eyes – they will never become so.

This post is a plea to everyone with the means to spend even a few pounds – I urge you to put your hand in your pocket and do so. Save a life today whilst you still can.

Somalia

The cracked lips, of the cracked earth, that swallowed a thousand cracked souls..
The tear drop from the mother, not, the rain drop that wet the dry floor..
The dry sun, with it’s radiation and its harsh burn, heating the Earth’s core..

The child’s cry, and the mother’s sigh, as they watch one more sibling go..
The empty bowl, and the empty hole, and the stomach that never gets more..
The long walk, no energy to talk, when deaths the only thing that’s sure..

A raised hand, and a closed fist, and Him with the intentions impure..
A give and a take, or give and we’ll give, but giving for the sake no more..
And hands over ears, and hands over eyes, but a hand in the pocket is a no..

And the playground, that’s a graveyard, where the lifeless now all go..
Where the child played, and the child danced, in a time long long before..
It’s still a playground, there’s children to be found but these children, they dance no more…

Z…. Costello

Day 5 - CD update

Good Afternoon Brothers & Sisters :)

So the Charity CD that will be available to all donators is coming along nicely :)

''Entertaining for Africa'' will feature Big Cakes, Nate, Shot Stoppa, Fdot1, ReggiiMental plus a very special secret artist & many more :) 

In the meantime, for all the hiphop heads reading, please check Big Cakes track ''Brothers in Africa''  video below which will be featured on the CD. I love this track & Video J

Peace & Love

Ryan 

Day 5 - Poetry by Nasima ''Still No Tears for Somalia''

My name is Nasima, I’m a 19 year old performing poet and I’m currently about to study Politics and English Literature at University. I believe that we were all put on this Earth for a purpose. I have recently discovered my purpose and I believe this to be part of revolutionizing this Dunya in order to attain solid peace. I want to share this task I have at hand through my writing. My poetry. This particular piece was written to highlight the exact attrocities the stunning country Somalia is facing. It saddens me quite deeply to learn that the world had forgotten that She was in great trouble before the devastating droughts had hit Her. This piece is based on hardlined facts to make YOU remember every single awful detail of Her ordeal. Please remember Her in your prayers and most importantly please kindly donate to Her in abundance.

For more of my work please visit http://www.princessnatch.tumblr.com/ (comment and kindly share also)

Thank you.

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Scorching sun silently slaying,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Drastic droughts defying dreams,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Children chillingly churning away,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Women whispering wails; “WHY”,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Babies bellowing badly but,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Malnutrition mindlessly mauling millions,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Decades of dry days destroying,

Still No Tears for Somalia.

Please pay Pounds,

Deliver your Dollars,

Elongate your Euros,

To a nation needing no more horrors.

Tackle the turmoil,

Help Her heal,

Learn to be loyal to fellow humans,

I beg you to please feel.

Spread the Tears of Somalia,

Let there be some tears for Somalia.

Day 3 - Charity

Hello Again Brothers & Sisters,

After helpful advice from others & some detailed research the charity I have chosen to donate my sponsorship money to DEC: East Africa Crisis Appeal.

  ‘At times of overseas emergency, the DEC brings together a unique alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally the nation's compassion, and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need’

Please click my just giving link below if you would like to sponsor. Any amount is welcomed J

Just Giving: Fasting For Africa 

Peace & Love

Ryan

Day 3 - EP concept

I'm flooding this page with information tonight. :)

So to go along with the idea of me fasting for two weeks, I have also decided to put together a EP to give out to anybody who donates to the charity in the next few weeks. So far we have confirmed:

Big Cakes ft Blemish - Brothers in Africa
Nate ft Cyclonious, Dark Matter & Jalex - Africa
Shot Stoppa - Master Mysteries (Freestyle)

Plus more artists to be confirmed 

We have a very kind gentleman from france creating the cover for the album & we may also have some spoken word pieces on there aswell.

Anybody want to get involved then leave a message here/ twitter or otherwise I will add contact details later on

Fingers Crossed we build a strong CD :)

Peace & Love

Ryan

Day 3 - Hijaab

Back again Brothers & Sisters,

As you know, one of the reasons for my fast is with soldarity with muslims fasting for ramadan. recently I wrote a poem for a sisters blog meandmyhijaab which is my views on the muslim head dress hijaab. I thought you might like to read it. Please see below :)

Hmmmm, hoodies, hijaabs and hats- what’s the difference?

Ok so im gonna give you my Uneducated views at first then I’ll do a little research, climb down off my ignorant perch and give you a more balanced view-point through my words.

So from a Western outsider looking in, hijab is rather strange clothing. We’re used to girls showing off their Loreal hair because they’re worth it. Our religion; materialism, permits it.

Girls here wear the latest Gucci or Vivian Westwood, wouldn’t be seen dead in a drab brown or black hood. It’s not cool and it would be thoroughly misunderstood.

I personally have no qualms with anybody wearing any clothing item, it’s their decision, especially when it’s part of their belief system or their religion as long as it hurts no one.

My opinions on this subject therefore are pretty short but sweet. I simply have no issues or any extreme beliefs. Although I do know in the same way I wear an Akala t-shirt or a quirky poets hat. These people’s garments are personal, for pride, for honour and I respect that.

Why do Westerners obsess and emit unneeded stress over somebody elses head-dress? Surely they should treat them with respect and not discontent. It makes me upset.

I said earlier I would do further research, I will but I won’t burden you with more words. Just one last verse.

What gives you the right to question somebody’s humanity because to you they look a little funny or wear different clothing out in public. Personally I love it. Different Cultures mingling in our United Kingdom of puppets. Clones after clones of Gucci wearing muppets. Do you know what? Enough of it….Give me a hijab with soul and humanity over that supermodel rubbish.

Keep doing what you believe in- I respect it with all my heart and soul. Hijab for the win forget the Gucci fools.

~Ryan

Day 3 - Diary so far (short but sweet)

Good Evening Brothers & Sisters,

I write to you in some pain, unfortunately last night I didn't take on enough water (foolish boy!) & now my kidneys are screaming like a little girl and my mouth is as dry as if id chewed on some sawdust.
Please be aware whilst reading this that dehydrated minds make spelling mistakes & write lots of unreadable rubbish, so don't watch that.

*big brother Geordie man voice*

''Its day 3 in the house & Ryan is talking to himself in a silly accent mimicking a crap TV show''

What? I did warn you above ^_^

Other than the pains & the crap impressions, my experience thus far has been a rewarding one. I have learnt so much from these first 3 days, I cannot fathom what the following 11 will teach me; exciting

Things I have learnt include:

Never to complain about the food contents of my plate EVER again.

Be thankful for the food & the fact it is sitting pretty on my plate.

It is very hard to explain simple concepts like charity & fasting to work/family

I was putting FAR too much junk food into my body & I’m 100% better for cutting it out

I can run my life on far less caffeine, sugar, meat & breakfast rolls than I ever imagined. 

It’s made me realise how much I can accomplish with determination/will power/a worthy cause.

It’s possible to go 24 hours without food or water even after being conditioned to believe its only 2 hours.

List goes on until I bore you to death so ill shut up nnnnnnnoooW!

More updates to follow later tonight.

Peace & Love 

Ryan 

Introduction

Good Evening Brothers & Sisters :)

So here I sit surrounded by cream cakes (Naughty I know!) a banana, cartons of apple juice, water, tea, popcorn etc etc. The reason I am sat here filling my face is because as of tomorrow morning I will be fasting for 2 weeks. This fasting has three stand out purposes which I will share with you now by the form of a twitter hash tag and a brief description.

1) #Nonmuslimfasting - I am carrying out my fast during the period of Ramadan; the Islamic month of fasting in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual intimacy* with their partners for a whole month. Therefore my fasting is a show of solidarity to them and their beliefs.

*Don’t worry about the refraining from sexual intimacy; this unfortunately is something I have become well practiced in recently! 
2) #fastingforAfrica - My main reason for carrying out this fasting is for Africa. If you were not aware, Africa is starving. Especially places like Somalia which is currently enduring a cruel famine. This is why I am fasting, so I can help to raise not only sponsorship money for charity that is much needed in this region but also maybe some added awareness of the terrible events that happen so far away.

3) I am also fasting as part of my own spiritual journey through life. I feel it’s vital that I put myself through something like this to be grateful for everything I have and be aware of the suffering that my fellow human beings go through on a day to day basis.

So, thank you for reading. I will be updating this blog with a diary, poems, thoughts, etc
So please come back, and if you would like to donate, ask a question or anything else then I will be adding a email address tomorrow to contact and a just giving page to donate :)

Peace & Love

Ryan