The Happily Natural Day Festival


Happily Natural Day (HND) is an african centered business expo, cultural arts and craft trade show, and two day holistic health, cultural awareness and social change conference plus hip hop, soul and spoken word showcase featuring fashion and natural hair exhibitions. The mission of Happily Natural Day is to promote holistic health, cultural awareness and social change in the African American community. Founded in 2003; 2012 marks the 10th Annual Celebration of HND


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Crew Love: Black August Commemoration 2012


Guaranteed to be one of the most powerful events of the summer, more than just a concert, this commemoration is where some of the most necessary and accomplished freedom fighters and community activists unite with some of the most relevant artists of our time to bring about a unique form of edutainment. This is where theory meets practice!


It is imperative to note we commemorate Black August, not celebrate it. We don’t want people to think that it is a party or just an event. Black August is about resistance. The concept of Black August developed inside the California prisons, under the leadership of men like George Jackson, W.L. Nolan, and Khatari Gaulden, who were all murdered in California prisons. As taught to us by the OG’s (Original Guerrillas), Black August was a response to the need of Afrikan prisoners to form a principled and effective political unity to combat the racism and genocide against Afrikan people behind the walls. Black August began in 1979, one year after the murder of Khatari Gaulden. As part of Black August brothers fasted the days of the assassinations of the comrades (24-hour fast). On the other days, they fasted until sundown. Physical training and education was increased. As part of our observation and commemoration of Black August we continue that tradition til this very day. We encourage others who want to observe Black August to work out an exercise routine for each day either individually or in groups and to not use any drugs or alcoholic beverages during the entire month.


The "Royal Affair" Kick Off


On August 17, 2012, Lens of Life and FTP presents,“The Royal Affair.” The photographs of this exhibit portray people of african ancestry who were kings and queens. As descendents, it is important that we remember our regal bloodline and own our natural birthright. Indeed, it is important that we are reflections of our rich history so that future generations walk in that same light. The Royal Affair will inspire people to reach inside themselves and make use of our royal history in their everyday lives.


Sheree R. Swann, has produced art shows, photographed events, portraits, album covers and her work can be found in regional as well as online publications. In 2008, she journeyed down to Atlanta, Georgia and enrolled at The Art Institute of Atlanta. She has since completed her studies as a Commercial Photography student and is currently freelancing as a photographer and videographer.


The Royal Affair kicks off Black August Weekend and is the first of an entire weekend of events including Happily Natural Day, The Black August Concert and The RBG Family Reunion and Block Party.


Black August 5k Run for Freedom


Join Us on Sunday, August 19, 2012 to kick off the inaugural 5K Run for Freedom, sponsored by RGB Fit Club, FTP Movement and Habesha, to promote health and fitness with a cause. It’s not a race, all ages are welcome and you could run, jog or walk.


Meet-up for run and onsite registration will be 8 am at Habesha Gardens (Dunbar Center) 477 Windsor Street Southwest, Atlanta, GA 30312.


All participants must pre-register to guarantee t-shirt size and availability.


Registration* is $25 in which you will receive a t-shirt and other gifts. Please provide your t-shirt size with payment. Payments can be made via Paypal at blackaugustweekend@gmail.com.


FMI visit RBG Fit Club



They are not the same as us, but the difference is indiscernible. Their origin unknown, they’ve been discovered amongst human-kind, living in plain sight- yet operating in anonymity. The collective, comprised of 3 known entities, the self-proclaimed “soul-revivers”, are known only by their earthly monikers; Massive the Victor, Divine Wisdome, and Xaku Ra. They have successfully combined poetry and rhythms into a sonic experience designed to raise the planetary vibrations of other light-beings (i.e. Earthlings) beyond the 3rd dimension. Their message is disguised in a hip hop vernacular and has been secretly transferred to human beings via the enigmatic STARCHILE. Our best scientists, astronomers, and cryptographers have exhausted countless resources and man-hours at deciphering the Starchile code with little to no success. The STARCHILE is an otherworldly entity that if not checked will subversively compromise the established mind-control mechanisms which monitor human thought, creativity and expression.

Balogun Ojetade

Balogun Ojetade is the author of the bestselling Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within and screenwriter / producer / director of the films, A Single Link and Rite of Passage: Initiation.

Balogun is one of the leading authorities on Steamfunk – narrowly defined as “a person, style of dress or subgenre of fiction that seeks to bring together elements of blaxploitation films and merge it with that of Steampunk fiction”. A broader definition is “a philosophy or style of writing that combines the African and / or African American culture and approach to life with that of the steampunk philosophy and / or steampunk fiction” – and writes about it, the craft of writing and Steampunk in general, at http://chroniclesofharriet.com/.

He is author of three novels – MOSES: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman (Books 1 & 2) (Steampunk); Redeemer (Science Fiction); and Once Upon A Time In Afrika (Sword & Soul). He is also co-creator of the soon-to-be-released role-playing game, Ki-Khanga™: The Sword & Soul RPG.

Balogun is Master Instructor of the Afrikan Martial Arts Institute and Technical Director of Martial Ministries of America, a non-profit organization that serves at-risk youth. He is also a traditional African priest, actor and conflict resolution specialist, who works and lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, his seven daughters and his son.






PTAH RA TEHUTI

PTAH RA TEHUTI HAS TAKIN THE WORLD BY STORM WITH HIS NEW REFRESHING SOUND OF GOOD HIP HOP. DEBUTING FIRST IN 2010 WITH HIS PARADIGM SHIFT MUSIC MIXTAPE , HE HAS MADE POLITICAL , CLUB, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS MUSIC FOR ALL DEMOGRAPHICS MAKING HIM ONE OF THE FEW EMCESS THAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR ANYWHERE GIVING THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO BOX TO PLACE HIM IN. A NORTH CAROLINA BORN NATIVE, PTAH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO ALL MULTIFACETED SIDES OF HIP HOP WHICH CAN EXPLAIN HIS EASILY ADAPTABLE STYLE. PTAH RA TEHUTI DROPPED HIS NEWEST MIXTAPE TITLED "JACKIN FOR BEATZ VOL . 1 JULY 13TH , MAKING IT HIS THIRD PROJECT TO DATE. HE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITH DEAD PREZ AND WORKED WITH A HANDFUL OF ATLANTA ARTIST TO CREATE DIVERSITY IN HIS MUSIC. PARADIGM SHIFT MUSIC IS THE MOVEMENT , GODKING IS THE TEAM.



Professor Griff

Professor Griff is an internationally renowned educator, writer, producer, musician, platinum recording/spoken word artist, lecturer and founding member of the pioneering and revolutionary hip hop group Public Enemy. An activist within both the conscious and hip hop communities, Griff currently stands as a permanent fixture on the international lecture circuit with his riveting and powerful discourse/book, the Psychological Covert War on Hip Hop. An energetic and passionate educator, Griff skillfully customizes this extensively documented lecture to suit the needs of all audiences.

Binkis Recs

Binkis Recs was created due to a lack of creative and honest Hip-Hop music. The mission is to express original, honest and fun music while reaching individuals in the mass market. We aim to identify with the people who purchase our music instead of concentrating on selling large units with out substance. In 1997 in the mist of over heated battles of "NBA Live 97" and BINKIS was born. Jax and Flux decided they wanted to participate in the Hip-Hop game, and decided "BINKIS" would be the name.BINKIS music unexpectedly catches the listener off guard and stays in your head. Thus, the logo shows a kid with a speed knot holding his head in agony,with "Stars" floating around. This image represents the "sleeping public" and their method of waking them up. As an acronym, B.I.N.K.I.S stands for "Before Ignorant N!**@s Killed Intelligent Songs". This is in reference to music with substance we represent as oppose to music without.

Honeysuckle Moon

Licensed Natural Skin Therapist, Aesthetician, Organic Spa & Product Developer, L’Angela “honeysuckle Moon” Lee, has accepted her life-long commitment to Mother Nature and the daily study of sacred flowering herbs, leaves, roots, fruit and minerals cultivated for skin, hair, alternative therapies and homeopathy. A born naturalist raised along the rich bayous of Louisiana, the womban called Moon has remained connected to her homefront, valiantly expressing a way of life that celebrates the heights of Nubian antiquity, and too, the humble Divinity of herbal wisdom that lies deeply within the Native Roots and Diaspora cultures.

Dhoruba Bin Wahad

Dhoruba Bin Wahad is a former Black Panther Party leader from New York. Once a Black Political Prisoner in the USA for nineteen years Bin Wahad is a long time Pan-African activist, writer, and lecturer. His case can be viewed in the critically acclaimed award winning film “Passin it on”.

The Liuns Den is a family of artists who have been brought together through the energies that be, so that they may lace the track with their quest to take over the world. Their steady blend of reggae with a strong hip-hop influence has the tendency to take the listener to many places. One minute youre on the beach in the Caribbean, the next youre on the block workin the daily hustle.

Originating out of Uniondale High School in Long Island during the early 1990s, founding members Ekundayo da Mounten Liun, Thunda Kat, Luz Wed, Sabertooth, Kwezorro da Latin Liun, Brane, and Jus Black, began performing at various clubs and events throughout New York such as Hofstra University, Old Westbury College, NYU, Baby Jupiter, Planet 28, Lyricist Lounge, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Club Tropics, opened for Reggae artist Culture at Reggae Fest, and many others.



Mwalimu K. Bomani

Mwalimu K. Bomani Baruti is the co-founder and co-director of Akoben Institute, an independent Afrikan centered full-time and after-school homeschooling and tutorial program for middle and high schoolers. Over the last two years, Bro. Baruti has also taught various Afrikan centered evening classes for adults at the Institute and online. Included in these were courses based on his books Eureason, Mentacide, negroes and other essay, one focusing on Afrikan Centered Education, another on Ourstory and three dealing with various topics in Afrikan Centered Sociology, There have also been a variety of individual lectures online and a writers’’ workshop for those interested in writing and self-publishing. Baruti he is an experienced chess teacher who taught chess at independent Black schools for over two decades.

Richelle L. Brown

The most empowering and invigorating musical movements of the 70s, 80s and 90s has a new, much needed champion. QUEEN OF THE SOUTH captain, Richelle L. Brown represents the southern regional division of sonic heroine power, fortified by the influences of Chaka Khan, The Funkadelics and Parliament, kelis, ceelo, OUTKAST, R. Kelly and Keith Sweat, Janet Jackson and N'Dea Davenport. Her leadership is qualified by a solid voice and strong lyricism and aesthetic essentials for appeal, for sure. But her passion and appreciation for the contributions of her fore mothers and fathers in the dance, hiphop, funk, soul, r&b canons are also crucial offerings that many of today's would-be contemporaries seem to miss. Get an earful of Brown’s introduction song, “Swagga Black Country Queen”from 2009 for some background and then advance to the debut ep, “Tha Example Project.” As, well as 2011 long awaited Mixtape, which she calls "Cornbread, Richelle and Me: Groovetape" because of the musics steady gradual acceleration and the fact that her fans want to call her Richelle and Cornbread.This long-awaited voice from the urban southern arts creative collective , in music, in women's liberation, humanitarianism, and the culture of cool is here. Finally. Let's go!

Kalonji Changa

A community activist, lecturer, journalist and filmmaker, voted one of Departure Magazine’s Leaders of the New School and one of The Street Legends 2006 Hip Hop Activists of the Year.

Under Kalonji’s direction as Founder/National Chief Coordinator of the FTP Movement, programs such as Feed The People, Siafu Youth Corps, MOBB(Mothers of Black and Brown Babies) and the FTP Artists Collective, have matured and developed.

The high demand for this powerful force in the Black Movement has earned him the honor of hosting both Black August Commemoration Concerts and Festivals in Oakland, California and Atlanta, Georgia, annually. In 2007, Kalonji was instrumental in the launching of the Cease Fire: Stop Police Terrorism Campaign, a national crusade that amalgamated community organizers and the hip hop community to tackle issues of police brutality. Endorsers of the Cease Fire Campaign include The National Political Hip Hop Convention, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and former political prisoner Dhoruba Bin Wahad.

In 2012, Kalonji has been nominated three times by different entities for "Community Activist of the Year".

Finally, Kalonji Changa along with film producers Vaughn Saber, Sheree Swann and Craig "Flux" Singleton will be releasing an explosive documentary dealing with community issues entitled, "Organizing is the New Cool". The film will be internationally distributed and includes freedom fighters, rappers and politicians.

stic.man of deadprez

stic.man, a noted music producer, book publisher, community activist, entrepreneur, actor, film director, practicing vegan and Afrikan martial artist, father and husband, and one-half of the politically conscious, internationally-acclaimed rap duo dead prez, has remained a staple in the entertainment business for nearly a decade. Breaking barriers and receiving countless accolades from the music industry’s most respected after releasing the debut dead prez album, Let’s Get Free (Loud RCA), stic and his partner M-1 were honored for “Lyrics of the Year” and nominated “Best New Rap Duo” of 2000 by The Source Magazine and shortly afterwards became the first rap group from the US to ever play South Africa selling out shows that featured the performance of their incredibly infectious hard-pulsating rap anthem “Hip Hop”. The songs’ popularity spawned a documentary and a movement entitled “Bigger Than Hip Hop” (Starz Cable Network) produced in association with legendary director Melvin Van Peebles, and was featured as the long-time opening theme song for the politically relevant, yet hysterical Comedy Central program “The Dave Chappelle Show” starring comedian Dave Chappelle.

Tommy Ford

Best known for his role as “Tommy” on the hit FOX television comedy, “MARTIN”, Tommy Ford is one of the most familiar personalities to emerge in African-American popular television culture. Whether as an actor, author, producer, director or motivational speaker, Tommy has found success in every endeavor he has chosen to take on.

A Los Angeles native, Tommy graduated from the prestigious Fine Arts Acting Program of USC, and soon after landed his first television role on NBC’s, A Different World. Shortly thereafter, he made his feature film debut in Eddie Murphy’s Harlem Knights. His feature film debut quickly led to numerous film appearances with such notable actors as Richard Gere, Demi Moore and Brad Pitt. In addition to film, Tommy has had recurring and guest star roles on many television shows appearing in fan favorites such as Law and Order, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, Judging Amy and House. Whether playing the fun-loving father of UPN’s comedy, The Parkers or the calm yet cunning Lieutenant on FOX’s New York Undercover, his versatility and mastery of his craft is undeniable.

Minister Server

The Hiphop Life Coach, a true Hiphoppa that has spent over 25 years dedicated to the development, growth and preservation of Hip Hop culture. He has worked with Nation Time Syndicate, Inc.; a faith-based Hip Hop collective in Atlanta, GA, where he has utilized his skills as a writer, activist, organizer, promoter, speaker, consultant and Executive Director. He is the former producer and co-host of two radio shows on WRFG 89.3FM in Atlanta, GA. In 2003, KRS-One - "the Teacha", named Minister Server as one of his spiritual advisors and appointed him as Minister and National Organizer with the Temple of Hiphop.