Advertisement WATUSI
John Watusi Branch is Executive Director of the Center for
Culture, The Afrikan Poetry Theatre, Inc., a 28 year old cultural and
educational center. Watusi is founder of Watusi Enterprise, Unlimited, a cultural consultant, import/export, travel, publishing and investment company. John Watusi Branch is also a poet and author, and a resource person on the African American celebration of Kwanzaa.
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BOOKS |
Ibn Nur Anthology These suits are for the well dressed, yet cultural man. Designed and tailored in Accra, Ghana, light weight cotton blends. Sizes 36-56 round collars or lapels, short and long sleeve, 7 colors. Retail price: $100. Finely tailored for the particular man. We also have well woven 3 piece traditional suits from northern Ghana called the Batakari these suits are heavy and you can wear them in the Winter. Each 3 piece sells for $110. Medium and large sizes |
| Black soap and Shea butter Black soap (comes in semi hard black balls) $10.00 & $6.00 (beautifully packaged) Shea Butter (comes in white, yellowish, tannish). comes in designer jars, some scented $10.00 & $6.00 Shea Butter: 4oz. 2oz. 1/2 oz. bottlesBlack Soap: 5 oz. 3oz. ballsAll for only $24.00 Save $10.00! (does not include shipping charges)
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Leather Products: Ladies handbags, brief cases for men and women, wallets, belt, shoes. Made of calf, lizard, alligator, crocodile, etc. From $10.00 to $300.00 |
| Kente Cloth: fine quality, double and triple knit, wide strips and shawls in a variety of colors, traditional mixes, dominants blue or lavender green, pink and other colors . $25.00 per strip |
"Journey To The Motherland" is a contemporary look at Africa. Join John Watusi Branch in this analytical travelogue. History! Stories! Poetry! over 200 photographs !, including a 32 page color photo gallery! 320 pages (paper) Retail price $24.95 Wholesale price for booksellers 40% discount! - Special discounts for distributors! |
Watusi Enterprises offer a speaker bureau that cover a wide range of topics and areas. Historians, activists, cultural topics, holistic speakers, dynamic youth speakers, etc. We import into the United States various artifacts from Africa, such as masks and sculpture, Shona stone art, leather products(bags, belts, shoes, wallets, etc.), African print materials (Tie-Dye, Mud Cloth, Batiks, Wax prints etc.), top quality, extra wide, silk woven Kente from the royal Kente weavers of Ghana, West Africa, dresses and up and down ensembles for men and women, famous sand painting from Senegal, African Nationalist business suits from Ghana, jewelry, beads, etc. We can also arrange for export to Africa, computers and a variety of household items. Retail and wholesale orders...We can connect wholesalers to the supply sources in Africa, arrange for proper and safe delivery and transfer of funds for purchased items, insure that shipments arrive safely and on time. Let us be your connection to the commodities in Africa. Doing business with Africa gives you the finest in hand crafts and natural materials and an exciting profit margin Come enter the 21st century world of international business.
Kwanzaa Explanation and Performances We offer highly professional and in-depth Kwanzaa presentations, celebrations, candle lighting ceremonies and workshops. John Watusi Branch and his staff of Kwanzaa presenters are long time participants in this Afrikan American celebration that begins on December 26 through January 1 of each year. A 7 day celebration which began in 1966 and was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. The core principals of Kwanzaa are the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles in Kiswahili) which were introduced to the Black community in Los Angeles, California in 1965. John Watusi Branch who has celebrated Kwanzaa for 25 years and has lectured and made Kwanzaa presentations since 1977. He authored a book in 1976 titled " A Story of Kwanzaa", a story of a family and their celebration of Kwanzaa. Watusi Enterprises has several people who can deliver accurate and entertaining presentations. We offer programs that feature a single presenter, or a presenter with a poet(s), drummers, an African dance troupe or other musical presentations. We can also provide you with Kwanzaa items (straw mat, candle holder and candles, cup corn and other necessary items to properly celebrate Kwanzaa. We also offer books and videos on Kwanzaa. Call us for expert advice and consultation on Kwanzaa. Organizing Cultural Institutions and Performances
We can give you the tools to get started! Call us. We offer workshops and consultation on publishing. We have desktop publishers who utilize professional software which can layout your work and printers who have good low prices and quality work. Watusi & The Calabash Drummers Featuring: Poet, John Watusi Branch and the Calabash drummers, Watusi uses poetry, song and percussion backed up by three drummers who are also part of the Calabash Dance Theatre, to deliver up tempo poetry that talks about various African experiences with rhythms, words and visions of West Africa. Watusi also through his poetry reflect on the urban lifestyles and situations through the Blues and rhythms of funk and related poetry. The Calabash drummers stretch out in extensive drum songs and celebration John Watusi Branch has authored 3 books of poetry and fiction, has recorded 2 albums with the Afrikan Poetry Theatre Ensemble, an aggregation of musicians poets and singers, has traveled extensively through West Africa, has read his poetry in Africa and several cities in the United States, was enstooled as a chief in Ghana, West Africa, and is Executive Director of The Afrikan Poetry Theatre. The Calabash Drummers has a 25 year history of the drum and dance of West Africa, and has traveled and performed throughout the United States. Presentation is approximately 45 minutes. Fee: $500 - $700 A Story of Kwanzaa A Kwanzaa presentation by the author of " A Story of Kwanzaa ", published in 1977, John Watusi Branch is one of the foremost presenter of the history, meaning and celebration of Kwanzaa. He delivers a lively and interesting presentation in a creative manner and adds rhythmic Kwanzaa poetry in his presentation. Explanation of all of the symbols of Kwanzaa are explained, candles are lit and the audience learns about Kwanzaa and the gathering of the people. Presentation is approximately 40 minutes. Fee: $ 350 - $ 600 The following are groups that perform throughout the tri-state area, at community centers, theatres, schools colleges, outdoor affairs, hospitals, prisons, etc. The A.P.T. Ensemble - a group of poets musicians, and singers that was the forerunner to the permanent center that now exist. This group of 9 performers delivers conscious raising songs, songs about Africa and the joy and struggles of people of color. With pulsating and rhythmic music with accents of Jazz, Afro-Pop, Highlife, Blues, Funk, etc. they have made 2 recordings (an album in 1985, an audio cassette in 1988) Performance time: 45mins - 1 ½ hours. Cost of performance: $1,000 - $1,500 Joy of Performing Ensemble - A group of adolescent and adult actors, combining drama, comedy and song into productions that examine Black Life. A special production is "Black Love" a multifaceted production that focuses on male and female relationships. Performance time: 1 - 2 hours. Cost of performance: $800 - $1,400 Calabash Dance Theatre - An exciting educational group of drummers and dancers, performing dances and folklore from the SeneGambia region, Guneia and the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Children's participation. Performance time: 40 mins. - 1 ½ hours. Cost of performance: $700 - $1,000 Akeyne Baako African Folk Music Ensemble - A group of musicians and singers, using drums and traditional instruments to provide energetic West African music and songs that tell a story of the African people. Performance time: 45 mins. - 1 ½ hours. Cost of performance: $850 - $1,200 Hank Doughty - Ray Abrams 18 pc. Orchestra Featuring vocalist Donna Cumberbatch - Playing the sounds of Basie, Goodman, Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Miller, etc. One of the few Big Bands to draw large crowds to dance floor doing the LINDY, CALYPSO, REGGAE, THE WALTZ and THE CHA CHA. Specializing in dances, weddings, concerts, corporate affairs, jazz concerts, and fund raisers. Cost of performance: $1,000 - $2,000 MFOA (Message From Our Ancestors) - is a performing group dedicated to the preservation of African and African American culture. The company, performing traditional West African dances from Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, and Guinea, has toured extensively, including an engagement at Disney World in Orlando and a European tour. Seven African dancers and drummers in colorful traditional costumes, sing dance and play instruments Performance time: 1 hour Cost of performance: $1,000 - $1,500. WASSIN Roots Reggae Music Band - Wassin performs in English and Creole, band members come from different parts of the Caribbean: Trinidad, St. Lucia, Jamaica and Dominica. They have been together for 10 years and have performed throughout the U.S. They have recorded an album "Chanting Crack To The Ground" Open for booking in nightclubs, concerts, conventions, festivals, college, etc. Performance time: 1 - 2 hours Cost of performance $800 - $1,500 Poets & Drummers - Single poets, groups of poets, poet(s) and drummer(s) are available Cost of performance $75 & up. IMANI (Carole Parker) "In The Spirit Of Ms Truth" - Is a dynamic one woman presentation depicting the life of Sojourner Truth. The character, Ms Truth relives her life through the body of Imani. She talks about her life as a slave and her travels around the country as an abolitionist and a fighter for woman and human rights. The presentations is approximately thirty (30) minutes long, leaving time for a dialogue about the views of Ms Truth, including historical and contemporary issues on race and sexism. Cost of performance: $600 - $700 Speakers Bureau - A pool of speakers that cover many subjects and individuals that reflect the African and African American history, culture and experience. We also feature speakers on Manhood Development and Rites of Passage. Kwanzaa lectures and ceremonies are also available (our Kwanzaa speakers are some of the most knowledge in the country with more than 20 years of experience). The speakers are available to speak at various places throughout the metropolitan area. Reasonable fees are arranged, also free speaking engagements are possible at youth gatherings, (transportation costs only). We can supply your event with the finest of African American, African Caribbean and African entertainment. Bands, dance companies, comedians, poets etc.. Make your affair a success, trust your entertainment to us. Kwanzaa video and audio tapes and items are available for sale, and also Black history audio song and teaching tapes for children are available and Black history video and audio tapes for adults. We also offer consultant services on how to organize a cultural affair, and how to start a not for profit cultural organization. If performance are outside the metropolitan area expenses that may incurred such as travel, lodging and equipment rental are the responsibility of the presenter. 176-03 Jamaica Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432 718-523-3312 voice 718-523-1054 fax |