Out of Africa was a big Box Office movie hit, in 1985. It won Best Picture at the Oscars and grossed almost 230 million dollars.

Today I bring you OUT OF AFRICA with a different twist. About a man whose ancestors were part of the MAROONS of GHANA They were human cargo of the Dutch slave trade that brought slaves to South America to work on the plantations of Dutch Guiana, now called Suriname. There are 3 Guianas: French, Dutch and British.

ADIANTE FRANSZOOM is now living in Baltimore Maryland, the United States, and even though an educated man, he makes his living as a carver; the skills he mastered as a child. He recently held an exhibition of his work at the Creative Alliance in East Baltimore.

I later took a tour of his studio/workshop:

WWW, THECULTUREPAGE.COM, is solely produced, edited, and financed by

Oswald S. Copeland, since 2013.

Designed for the promotion of cultural events in and around Baltimore Md. and is seen and read over seven countries including the USA and Europe.

If you are interested in helping financially, please send contributions to:

THE CULTUREPAGE

c/o Oswald S. Copeland

5458 Endicott Lane

Columbia, MD. 21044 (USA)

It’s that time of the year: ghosts, goblins, tombs and talking to your ancestors. HALLOWEEN!!!

Mankind is so preoccupied with his longevity; THE PANDEMIC (Covid-19) has the same or perhaps a more dire impact than it did in 1918. (Spanish Influenza).

Millions have died because of COVID-19, the world is running scared. Insurance companies are being solicited, rather than the other way round.

Going back to the town you grew up in, could be a startling revelation: Miss Betty’s Coffee shop is no longer there. Gone also is Malcolm’s garage, and the sub shop.

You’re back home after 20 plus years. Your high school sweetheart, whom you married, died in childbirth, and many of your close friends came back home, to “OUR TOWN”, but they are in the Cemetery. You are wishing you could talk to them.

STEVEN WALKER-WEBB directs this new play at Center Stage Baltimore Maryland. You could be moved to tears.

WWW, THECULTUREPAGE.COM, is solely produced, edited, and financed by

Oswald S. Copeland, since 2013.

Designed for the promotion of cultural events in and around Baltimore Md. and is seen and read over seven countries including the USA and Europe.

If you are interested in helping financially, please send contributions to:

THE CULTUREPAGE

c/o Oswald S. Copeland

5458 Endicott Lane

Columbia, MD. 21044 (USA)

Victor Frankenstein, the mad scientist is redesigned by a woman Danielle Mohlman. Not only does she make him evil, but he is bisexual.

This interpretation throws one’s head in circles, almost destroying prior knowledge about the original Frankenstein.

One line said, “destroy a man who wants to destroy me”. Women revolution?

This Frankenstein at the STRAND theatre in Baltimore Maryland, is a black man, played by SHAQUAN PEARSON.

WWW, THECULTUREPAGE.COM, is solely produced, edited, and financed by

Oswald S. Copeland, since 2013.

Designed for the promotion of cultural events in and around Baltimore Md. and is seen and read over seven countries including the USA and Europe.mailto:oscopeland@yahoo.com?subject=Contributions for theculturepagehttps://youtu.be/r24kwF3yCNM

If you are interested in helping financially, please send contributions to:

THE CULTUREPAGE

c/o Oswald S. Copeland

5458 Endicott Lane

Columbia, MD. 21044 (USA)

It is in one of the busiest parts of Howard Park in Northwest Baltimore Maryland.

Boxed in by a funeral home and a gas station, this building once hosted many talented black performers; it was later converted to a movie theatre, then a Christian church, and now it’s a relic.

This neighborhood once stationed a black owned supermarket, that thrived for a short while before demise set in. (, (Super Pride, closed in 1987) The four corners had several black owned businesses that have all demised, replaced by churches, a Muslim Mosque, and a thriving black funeral home.

Could the Ambassador make a comeback?

In 2018 the winds of change began blowing to spend millions in refurbishment, however, the silver lining needs binoculars to see the “coming” in the distance.

Towards the end of this summer, MY GIRL CHERYL (Cheryl Goodman of Facebook, former DJ, WEAA -FM Baltimore), kept “hope alive” by holding a one-day festival. www.theculturepage.com was present.

WWW, THECULTUREPAGE.COM, is solely produced, edited, and financed by

Oswald S. Copeland, since 2013.

Designed for the promotion of cultural events in and around Baltimore Md. and is seen and read over seven countries including the USA and in Europe.

If you are interested in helping financially, please send contributions to:

THE CULTUREPAGE

c/o Oswald S. Copeland

5458 Endicott Lane

Columbia, MD. 21044 (USA)

“A review of hundreds of pages of state reports and recommendations show Department of Juvenile Services staff, a state watchdog and other experts have long contended that Maryland unnecessarily locks up Black youths in remote detention facilities with little evidence the practice is more effective at reducing recidivism than keeping them in probation programs closer to home.” (Baltimore Sun.com 2018)

According to the Baltimore City 2020 Decennial Census, Baltimore City, had neighborhoods with significant increases in Barclay, Canton Downtown, Fells Point Hampden, Mid-town Belvedere, and South Baltimore. There has been an increase in the Asian and Hispanic population in certain zip codes, with Baltimore City remaining 60 % black.

This major black city is averaging 300 deaths per year by wave of gun violence. Background checks and reams of legislative laws are only good for lawyers looking for fame and fortune.

I attended a rally led by black activists with a different approach, George Hodge is with the Community Kinship Coalition.

WWW, THECULTUREPAGE.COM, is solely produced, edited, and financed by

Oswald S. Copeland, since 2013.

Designed for the promotion of cultural events in and around Baltimore Md. and is seen and read over seven countries including the USA and Europe.

If you are interested in helping financially, please send contributions to:

THE CULTUREPAGE

c/o Oswald S. Copeland

5458 Endicott Lane

Columbia, MD. 21044 (USA)

The time was around the 16^th century, when the continent of South America was being fought over by European gold seekers, with the help of their monarchs. Eventually the continent’s dominance was split among the British, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.

To ship the newly discovered gold, diamonds, and sugar to the markets in Europe, the Transatlantic Slave Trade was enacted. Almost 13 million slaves shipped from Africa to the “new world”, starting with the incorrectly named West Indies.

It was around the 1850’s a British Guiana one penny stamp was minted; today that stamp is being sold at a Sotheby auction for 10 to 15 million dollars.

British Guiana gained independence in the 1960’s, (now Guyana) and is exporting under its own terms: gold, bauxite, and sugar, and other valuable commodities.

The reverse transatlantic action has come with the former slaves offspring conquering the UK, and the USA with their talents in many fields including music.

Here in Baltimore MD., there is the talented duo, RUFF ENDZ, of which DAVID CHANCE is a partner. David is from Guyana (as I am) and comes from a large family of highly talented musicians, with a strong religious background. I’ve watched most of them grow to adulthood.

David and I are both expatriates. So, on hearing RUFF ENDZ, a Billboard Charted group, performing locally, I was delighted to be present.

By my estimate, we were about 500 to 600 in this large ballroom. Probably 1,000 or more if we were outside; but the inclement weather discouraged many, it seemed.

Refreshments were aplenty, as were the laughter and smiling faces. Some came on crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and other attachments to show they were alive and wanted to be there.

I am in Crownsville Maryland at a Voiceraiser Concert, to honor military veterans. So, besides the non-alcoholic beverages, food, a raffle, and roses for several women, melodious voices are to be heard.

“WE are reminded that the cost of freedom is great, and we are forever grateful for the sacrifices your loved ones have made for our country”

That’s a quote from the program. This 3^rd Annual event is to benefit military veterans, and their loved ones.

There was tension in the room when all veterans were asked to stand, and the countdown began to determine who was the oldest veteran present. He was 89 years old.

Here’s a video summary of what took place.

It is a country with a population of just over 6 million people, A little Arizona or Tennessee even Maryland. But it has been through so much! From tribal leaders to the Germans, the British, French, and back to self-rule, since 1960.

Visitors are attracted to the white sandy beaches and cherished sculptures carved by natives. This West African coastal spot does not get the attention as does its neighbors Ghana or Guinea. So, imagine getting a glimpse of Togo’s musical culture without having to go there.

I went to Greenbelt Maryland to the NEW DEAL CAFÉ, to see and hear DOGO, leader of DOGO DU TOGO.

It was great!

“MAN, SETS FIRE TO BUILDING AFTER HAVING TOO MUCH TO DRINK”

“PASTOR PRAYS OVER SPIRIT FILLED CONVERT”

“BLACK WALLSTREET BURNED TO THE GROUND”

This being overtaken by “the spirit” has consequences, such as romance, murder, divorce, arson, and DUI.

We can easily see what was the “spirit” of POTUS, when he urged his followers to arrive at the Capitol on Jan, 6^th, 2021, and “be wild!”

What was the spirit that filled Garner Ted Armstrong to tell his followers they can be healed of their illnesses by placing their hands on the radio while he was supposedly talking to God?

I was in Frederick Maryland a few weeks ago. I stopped at this place named TENTH WARD, a distilling company. I wanted to find out what was the pervading spirit here. The brochure said, “unusual and unconventional spirits.” You walk in with one spirit and leave with several. The company is owned by a woman, and the servers are women.

There was another spirit filling the air that evening, the spirit of WILD WHISPERS.

Let’s find out what happens when there is no alcohol, but a heap of bodies, and attached to them are musical instruments, when played, punch you in the stomach, attack your knees, make you want to jump out your chair, and scream uncontrollably!

THE PROVERBS REGGAE BAND, was at Joe’s Emporium in Mount Rainier MD. (Prince Georges County)

But before that, it’s party like “it’s 1999”! There is one word to summarize the headline, and the first sentence of this article, is CARNIVAL!!!

The European settlers brought this concept to the Columbus “New World” in the 1400’s, and the slaves took to it with gusto. Brazil, Guyana, the islands between Florida and Guianas in South America, (British, French and Dutch) have Carnivals in some form.

The slaves in particular saw themselves, as taught by padres and the like, as preparing themselves to walk the path of Christ for 40 days, a cleansing period before his ascension to heaven.

That period in Western Religious circles is called LENT, from March to April. Just before that starts, eat drink, procreate, “get on bad” (Trinidad and Tobago); for thereafter begins the 40 days of giving up “the nasty”.

In the Caribbean islands and South America, the freed slaves children became politicians and legislators, and thus turned Carnival into an explosion of music, dance, color, fashion, and wanton conjugations, without crossing the lines of sexual nudity.