Established 1961 21 Lifestyle Music & Movies Thursday, June 27, 2019

Sudanese music producer and guitarist Amjad Badr plays the guitar as singer MaMan per- Ahmad Hikmat, content and program manager at Sudanese English-language Capital Radio, is A Sudanese visual artist works at Sudanese English-lan- forms at Sudanese English-language Capital Radio in Khartoum. — AFP photos pictured in Khartoum. guage Capital Radio.

uring the day, Gadoora checks his patients at a clin- chanting a peaceful slogan looking for freedom but they ‘Peace and justice’ Dic near Khartoum, but at night he locks himself in were greeted by barbaric militias,” Gadoora sings the For singer MaMan, the sit-in was a replica of a utopian his room rapping songs which echo the sentiments lyrics in a sober voice. “Their foreheads are smeared with society where “democracy” flourished. “What happened in of Sudan’s “revolution”. “The revolution broke the long- blood for eternity”. the sit-in is exactly what we want for our life in the future,” standing wall of fear,” said Gadoora. “Songs have become said the musician, who did not want to give his real name. much more daring now,” added the doctor, who chose to ‘Creative hub’ “It was like a small Khartoum ... We did music in the mid- use his stage name. A surge of freedom has taken over Protesters accuse the feared paramilitary Rapid dle of the sit-in and then people just gathered around.” Sudan’s underground music scene since the army ousted Support Forces, which are part of Sudan’s armed forces, With that he sings his song, “Angora”, in a deep voice longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April after months of for the June 3 bloodshed. Medics linked to the protesters marked by guttural intonations of the Sudanese Arabic nationwide protests against his rule. From rap to afrobeat, say at least 128 people have been killed in the crackdown dialect. “I stand shouting for an hour, looking for peace musicians living in Sudan and overseas have composed on demonstrators, the majority of them on June 3. Officials and justice. Give my bloodied t-shirt to my mama, tell my tunes punctuated by some of the protest movement’s most have given a lower death toll of 61 nationwide for that day. daughter about her papa,” sings MaMan, who sports short popular slogans. Sudan’s ruling generals insist they did not order the crack- dreadlocks. During Bashir’s ironfisted rule of three decades, down on the sit-in, where thousands had initially rallied MaMan, 28, is still shocked by the death of his friend Sudanese rappers had been unable to express themselves against Bashir before pressing on with calls for civilian Mohamed Mattar in the June 3 raid. “Most of the time all I openly. Gadoora, who has been composing music since rule after the military took over. am thinking about is him,” he said. Mattar’s death had trig- 2006, had often resorted to metaphors to make political Musicians still remember the festive, carnival like gered a social media campaign under the hashtag insinuations. “It’s hard to dissociate politics from your dai- atmosphere at the protest camp before the bloodshed. A collection of vinyl records is pictured at the Sudanese #BlueForSudan, prompting many users to change their ly life,” he told AFP at a busy Khartoum cafe. “No matter “The sit-in was a creative hub,” said Ahmad Hikmat, con- English-language Capital Radio in Khartoum. profile photos to plain blue. “It was hard to look at pic- how much you try to escape it, it always finds you.” tent and program manager at English-language Capital tures of the martyrs and then you see your friend,” Gadoora is particularly influenced by the June 3 crack- Radio. “Music and revolution are just one thing,” said singers like Bob Marley and Michael Jackson are neatly MaMan said, describing his shock when he found out that down on a protest camp outside Khartoum’s army head- Hikmat, dressed in a traditional Sudanese robe and cap. lined on shelves. The voice of Sudan’s uprising was prima- Mattar was killed. “I kept checking over and over, and it quarters that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded. Sudanese musicians started producing revolutionary rily spread on the internet, which has been largely cut turned out to be him.” — AFP Days after the carnage he composed “Blood”-a song that songs around six months ago, he said, following the start since the crackdown. “We were fighting the previous is now online and brings out his feelings of the violent dis- of anti-Bashir protests in December. At a villa housing the regime through the internet,” said Hikmat, acknowledging persal of the protest. “The people took to the streets popular radio station, a vast collection of vinyl records of that the blackout is a major setback for protesters.

omedian Bill Cosby, who is serving a three and a half year jail sentence, on Tuesday appealed a he premiere of Chinese war epic “The writers. “It makes use of fragments of histo- CPennsylvania court’s verdict that found him guilty TEight Hundred” has been cancelled, an ry to cover up the essence of history. It of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years apparent result of censorship after an seriously violates the historical facts of the ago. “This filing is an important step in ensuring that Mr association of retired party cadres deemed Kuomintang’s resistance,” the report added. Cosby receives a hearing from a fair and impartial court,” it “inappropriate” ahead of Communist “That should not be encouraged.” The orig- the actor’s spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, said. “The China’s 70th anniversary. Hailed as the inal report has been taken down from the Constitution guarantees that right to Mr Cosby-and to all Chinese “Dunkirk”, the film details a story of association’s website for unknown reasons. Americans-and he looks forward to securing justice in a Chinese army unit fighting against “The Eight Hundred” is produced by the the court of appeal,” he said in a statement. Japanese invaders in the 1937 Battle of and directed by , The 81-year-old, who shattered racial barriers with during the Second Sino-Japanese who spent 10 years filming it. his pioneering role as a dad and doctor on the hit tele- War. After consultation between the pro- vision series “The Cosby Show,” (1984-1992), was found duction team and other parties, the July 5 guilty in April 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting premiere was cancelled and will not be Andrea Constand, now 46, at his Philadelphia mansion. released this summer, according to a state- It was the first trial and first guilty verdict for sexual ment posted on Tuesday on the film’s Weibo account, a Twitter like platform. Cardi B departs from court after being arraigned on misdemeanor assault charges at the assault since the advent of the #MeToo movement. An “The new release date will be announced Queens Criminal Court in New York City. — AFP earlier trial in June 2017 ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. In at a later time,” the statement said, without September 2018, a Pennsylvania judge sentenced the explaining the reasons behind the decision. actor to three and a half years in prison on three counts The movie had already been abruptly of aggravated indecent assault. He was immediately yanked from the Shanghai International Film incarcerated. Festival earlier this month due to “technical Although more than 60 women charged that they had issues”-a term often used as a euphemism been victims of sexual assault by Cosby, the famous for censorship. The abrupt cancellation of The film details a story of a Chinese army comedian was tried criminally only for Constand’s assault, the premiere fuelled speculation about the unit fighting against Japanese invaders dur- motives on social media. “The film industry ap superstar Cardi B on Tuesday ‘Ain’t going to jail’ since the statute of limitations had expired in the other ing the Second Sino-Japanese War. — AFP cases. Cosby insists he was unjustly convicted. “America cannot go on like this,” Chinese film director Rpleaded not guilty to attempted But over the weekend she took on Jia Zhangke wrote on Weibo. assault charges including two bolder airs, suddenly dropping an exple- will be great when it fulfills the last four words of the revered Pledge of Allegiance .... ‘and justice for all,’” Five days before the film was removed The first Chinese film shot entirely on felonies filed in connection with her tive and exclaiming: “I ain’t going to jail, I from the festival, the Chinese Red Culture digital IMAX cameras reportedly spent alleged involvement in a New York strip got a daughter!” while performing in Los Cosby’s wife Camille said in the statement. A dozen women who say they were victims of Cosby have filed Research Association held an academic more than $80 million in production costs. club brawl. “Not guilty sir; honor,” the 26- Angeles, a frank reaction not out of char- seminar on filmmaking in which the story- Censorship has increased in China since year-old artist said before a packed acter for the off-the-cuff star. “We don’t civil suits against the actor seeking compensation for damages. — AFP line of “The Eight Hundred” was criticized President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. The courtroom in Queens, looking swank in a believe that the indictment changes any- because it glorifies the heroic role of most powerful Chinese leader since Mao fitted, low-cut navy blue and baby pink thing,” her lawyer Jeff Kern told journal- Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang). Zedong has sought to whip up patriotic double-breasted pant suit and razor- ists outside the courthouse. “We under- The Kuomintang eventually lost the civil sentiment in the country. Other films have sharp straight blue-hued bob. The brash stood that it was a possibility.” The rap- war that led to the Communist Party’s tri- recently faced setbacks. Zhang Yimou’s film rapper appeared calm throughout the per has also invited Drew Findling-the so- Bill Cosby umph and creation of the People’s Republic “One Second”-set during China’s politically proceedings, her hands clasped behind called #BillionDollarLawyer who has of China on October 1, 1949. The film is very sensitive Cultural Revolution-was pulled her back, showing her talon-esque hot made a name for himself representing hip- “inappropriate” to be regarded as a tribute from the Berlin Film Festival in February. pink nail extensions to the room. hop stars in Atlanta, Georgia, the de-facto to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the The Chinese youth drama “Better Days”, The arraignment came days after a capital of rap-to join her legal team. PRC, according to a report on the website which contains a scene of violent bullying, grand jury indicted Cardi B in connection “I know Cardi; I know Cardi on a per- of the association cited by Chinese media. said on Monday it would cancel its release to the incident, with court documents sonal level,” he said. “I know Cardi as a The Chinese Red Culture Research in China just three days before the film was showing 14 counts including two felonies wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a sis- Association, which is managed by the to hit theatres. It had already been removed against the rap superstar. On August 29, ter. I know Cardi to be a decent and kind Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, bills at the last minute from the Berlin Film 2018, Cardi B was in the Angels Strip Club human being.” “We have no doubt that itself as a volunteer organization that pro- Festival in February as well. — AFP in Queens when her group reportedly when all is said and done, there will be a motes the Communist Party’s history. Most lobbed bottles, chairs and a hookah pipe, positive outcome in favor of Cardi.” of its members are retired party cadres and which police said bruised a female There are two co-defendants in the employee’s legs. Cardi B allegedly case alongside the rapper, both of whom ordered an attack on two sisters working also pleaded not guilty. Born Belcalis at the club because one of them slept with Almanzar to a Dominican father and her husband, the rapper Offset. Trinidadian mother, Cardi B’s meteoric Initially facing only misdemeanor rise began during her days as a stripper, charges, the Bronx rapper in April reject- when she carved out a social media per- ed a plea deal from the Queens district sonality on platforms including Instagram. arvel announced plans Tuesday to re- also receive limited-edition Avengers artwork-a release. “This just keeps that Marvel magic attorney’s office. That offer would have After becoming the first female solo artist Mrelease “Avengers: Endgame” with statement on the company’s website announcing going in so many ways,” said Dergarabedian. given the Grammy winner a conditional to win the Grammy award for Rap Album bonus material in theaters, as the sum- the move featured a poster with Tony Stark’s Despite the buzz among Marvel fans about discharge if she pleaded guilty to one of the Year, over the weekend Cardi B mer’s biggest blockbuster drew agonizingly catchphrase “We Love You 3000.” “If they can the re-release of its biggest hit, “Endgame” has misdemeanor. The revamped charges topped this year’s Black Entertainment close to breaking the global box office record. get this re-release going and get enough interest in fact never been out of theaters-it was still include two felony counts of attempted Television Awards, taking home prizes for “Endgame” has pulled in $2.749 billion around and have it out there long enough, who knows- playing in 985 locations across North America at assault with intent to cause serious physi- Album of the Year and Best Female Hip- the world, according to industry watcher maybe it can get there,” said Comscore’s Paul the weekend, earning another $2 million. It cal injury, according to the case docket. Hop Artist. Just after the arraignment the Exhibitor Relations-the second-highest haul of Dergarabedian, referring to the “Avatar” record. already holds the record for the highest opening The order of protection preventing Cardi intensely scrutinized rap star announced all time, trailing James Cameron’s “Avatar” by But the publicity from the re-release would weekend, both in North America and globally. B from returning to the scene of the inci- on Twitter the Wednesday release of her around $40 million. But from Friday, Marvel also help to promote next month’s release of But the chances of “Endgame” breaking the dent or communicating with the alleged music video for her latest hit “Press,” in hopes to entice die-hard fans back into theaters “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” he added. The North American all-time box office record victims was extended for one year, a con- which she voices exasperation with the for one last viewing of “Endgame” with an latest Spider-Man film is a collaboration appear slimmer-it still trails “Star Wars: The dition of her parole. Upon leaving the media. — AFP “unfinished deleted scene” and a new video between rival studios Sony and Disney-owned Force Awakens” by more than $100 million courtroom the rap star smiled and waved, introduction by director Anthony Russo. Marvel, and picks up the story after the events domestically. — AFP blowing a kiss to a throng of journalists Fans attending what Marvel is calling the of “Endgame.” A “special sneak peek” of the and onlookers. “Bring Back event” at specific US cinemas will film will also be included in the “Endgame” re-