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Happy International womens day 2025!

I will begin this article by asking a question I asked a woman friend of mine a whole week after the 8th of march.

A week spent contemplating how best to get on with this important mission of womens empowerment. Empowerment. I dont like that word. Its so patronising. Anyway here is my question

" Do you believe that women are good for humanity?"

You could have heard a pin drop, the daggers sharpen, and clenched fists tremble as an expression of shock and disgust locked her face.

"Of Course we are !!! Whats wrong with you? What kind of question is that?" she spat.

She is a patient lady who often stands a lot of my crazy outbursts of brainstorming processes. A natural way of life for m, being the musician, philosopher and weed smoker that I am. Nothing phases her and she always remains calm.

This time was no exception.However it was a chilling calm. An expression i had never seen before. I knew I had her where I wanted her. I didnt want to talk about womens empowerment. I wanted to take her straight to the frontline. I needed to. mainly because International Womens day is just another formality like Black History Month. Nothing changes.

"Please hear me out. I asked in that way because I have been frustrated and angry this whole week. Relax…there is a follow up question....of course women are good....so my follow up questions is this....If women are good for humanity … why is women’s empowerment not about saving humanity ? Why is it about b including them in a destructive male paradigm?"

She froze a little. Looking thoughtfully at me, it was clear that she hadnt asked herself that question before

"Its the same with Black people” I continued. “We dont wanna create our own worldview. We want to be accepted by the White world."

Of course this is not entirely true but making it about race was my way of opening up her objectivity. Soon enough,a stream of explanations came forth….none of which were useful to me unless I wanted to sell another course, another fashion line, make up, a song, a diet etc etc.

She spoke of being conditioned to think a certain way and not have self confidence. However I know a lot of independent confident women, feminist and non feminist…just like i know many confident progressive Black people, radical or not. It still is besides the point that frustrates.

I continued.."All those things are valid as truths. However im a socio-economic strategist and the only type of strategy those things you mention can give me is a sales strategy. If I wanna sell gratification then fine. The more the diversity in needs the bigger the market. But if I want to sell solutions, I need the common ground for us all. I want women to be really free. Like I want black people to be really free. Its the same mental trick we need to overcome. And unless we overcome it, we are uselss to humanity”.

By now she had gone into deep pensive mode and was fully engrossed in the topic at hand. She was thinking. No longer mad at me and my kind.No longer expressing victimhood. I continued the flow.

“If a car breaks down, a new driver wont make it drive again. It needs a mechanic. when we change Presidents, Prime Ministers, etc and when we choose them based on colour and gender etc, we are simply choosing a new driver. But what we need is a mechanic. Its not women that are broken. Its humanity. Broken women are just a consequence of broken humanity…and vice versa. 50% of the world population gets 1 day out of the year. Thats a messed up calendar. Just like a messed up car. Calendars and cars cant have mistakes. Humans can.Its ok.We are not perfect. So we can forgive each other. Maybe fix each other. But Cars and calendars and computers and airplanes have to be perfect. They are our inventions. We are their masters.Systems, machines and products can and must be perfect.

Today, when I think back at the weeks of frustration before and the one week of frustration after the 7th March., I can see that the event was perfect. The best ever so far. I remember the previous one from 2024. It was dismal. A series of presentations, advice, tips etc.Consumer and career stuff. This year was different. It was testimonies based on testimonies. From core to core to core to core…

This is probably the best way to introduce Comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR). I like to think of CCSR as a safe space for all the planets stakeholders no matter our differences. But before I continue with that let me share with you on video how my own male chauvinism was turned into the support of women, that is at the core of my activities today.

We have amongst us two African women facing real African challenges. Tiwonge in Malawi and Charmaine in South Africa. According to economic distribution they represent the bottom end of the pyramid. However, in the Cool Mum Records pyramid, they are at the top of our priorities.

I know Tiwonge is a hardworking woman dedicated to farming and fitness. As I write, Im expecting a business plan from her that will explain how best to assist her on her journey towards her objectives.

Charmaine is a woman dedicated to community to a fault. Sometimes family members dont understand why she is so dedicated . I know the feeling and thats our main connection. Charmaines activities are the focus of my entire strategy.

The town that she lives in, Knysna, is a fantastic framework for any project.Any project. Leisure, pleasure. agriculture, wildlife, nature, conservation, culture, music, racial harmony- you name it! Any project. Perfect. We need to visit Charmaine. We are all gonna go. What a wonderful time we shall have!

To everyone, but especially the performers of CRIMES OF OBEDIENCE…If you join me for my walk, we are organising two buses as our mobile base. One for men one for women. Complete with bathroom, toilet, beds and office workspace and kitchen. Can you imagine the LONELY SOLDIER MONOLOGUES touring South Africa? Please hold that thought...and lets act on it.

The lonely soldier's monologues have cemented the format of what truly works if we are to be mechanics of the car and not just new drivers. The relationship of the actors with their task made me realize that I had finally found the leaders I had been looking for.

True to its name, Crossing Borders delivered, and I couldn't have respected Garba Diallo more for his intuitive, insightful leadership. The mention of another man in this paragraph is deliberate because, as the presence of other men at the event implies, there is good reason to begin a movement called REAL BROTHERS SUPPORT STRONG WOMEN-not as drivers, but as mechanics.

That said, women are excellent mechanics , and this platform will give this particular group a chance to be both drivers and mechanics on the global road to redemption, salvation, reparation, healing, coexistence , co-parenting...you name it...the women will deliver. Just like they delivered us into this world.

My daughter Aminata is the embodiment of all my objectives and more. She is a guide. Since the day I learned she was on her way to this realm, I went into "save the world" mode. I literally jumped on my bike and cycled to Århus centrum from Gellerup to have meetings with everyone involved in my projects. The urgency of everything was intensified by one thought alone : what kind of world will my child live in? I trust her, and many can testify that she is an excellent driver and mechanic.

Lyndsay Jensen is someone it would be a crime for me to start a project like this without letting her know about it. I love publishing and building bridges. With her magazine, THE INTERNATIONAL, she has done billions of dollars' worth of global community service if the value of each of the individuals she has portrayed were put together. I recall the days when her publication was physical. When it became digital only, I felt within me the urge to find a way to get it back in print somehow. I'm still working on it. As for Lyndsay, knowing a little of her struggles as a mother, she definitely is a driver and a mechanic.

My daughter Aminata is the embodiment of all my objectives and more. She is a guide. Since the day I learned she was on her way to this realm, I went into save-the-world mode. I literally jumped on my bike and cycled to Århus centrum from Gellerup to have meetings with everyone involved in my projects. The urgency of everything was intensified by one thought alone : what kind of world will my child live in? I trust her, and many can testify that she is an excellent driver and mechanic.

Fru Callesen is a staunch reggae disciple. As a woman of color DJ, she stands in her own light and right among mainly White Danish males. Reggae is spiritual, so I'm not sure that color and gender should be reasons for her inclusion in this group. HOWEVER...the flesh and the actions are a manifestation of the spirit within. I don't know her that well at all, but she exudes cool in a way that makes her very present in the moment while seemingly floating in the throes of a riddim.

My stepfather was a Danish man, an excellent driver, and a bit of a mechanic. I would do anything to sit in a car with him just one more time. It was just the safest and most adventurous place to be. The fact that it was his hands on the wheel, his eyes on the road , and his feet on the pedals made even the worst car the best one. Somehow, that's the feeling I get when I think of Fru Callesen at the decks.

There is a radio station in Knysna, just around the corner from the Lounge-the venue where I first met Charmaine. I write a little about that in my letter to Rolling Stone Magazine SA on my website.

I see the Lonely Soldier Monologues being the subject of an interview. They don't have to physically go there; it can be done online, studio to studio, Copenhagen to Knysna FM. There are many local radios struggling . They could use some extra global attention as a way to attract advertisers and investors. Top that up with Fru Callesen spinning relevant tracks by international reggae icons like Jimmy Cliff, whom we are contacting at the moment, and you have an efficient machine for supporting soup kitchens.

This brings us to the soup: The ingredients, their texture, and the colors . Stina Andersen is on board because she is a stunning artist who delivers visual soups of expression full of essential emotional and spiritual vitamins.

Bob Marley, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon wrote many songs-hit after hit, masterpiece after masterpiece. Why ? Because, like King David the psalmist, their cup was overflowing. The truth and the issues it uncovers are the sources of the best art.

I'm not an art critic, but I know the process of good songwriting. Sometimes you can see that process in visual art. I have a song and video out called "UGLY FACE." I think it comes from the same emotional place as Stina's painting.

Art is relative, and I have just touched on my response to her paintings. I had originally wanted her to present them on Women's Day. I even made a poster to that effect. I had expected to be given 5 to 10 minutes to present my work and introduce Stina.

However, the great mechanic and driver in the sky worked out a better plan. I always suspect that he or she does, so I often step back even from the most planned events if I feel that I have not hit the most balanced flow.

For days before the 7th of March, I thought over and over about how best to present my idea without being misunderstood. Even as the monologue actors did their thing, I was wondering when and how Garba would give me time and space in the program.

During the intermission, he hugged me.How Garba would give me time and space in the program. During the intermission, me and told me that I was free to ask questions and that would be my input. Not exactly what I had in mind, but hey... it's an honor to be at a women's event. It wasn't until the actors gave their testimony to the piece that it dawned on me that the process was perfectly coordinated from above. All I had to do was be available, be honest, and go with the flow... give the women the space... practice what I preach. I trust the process. I trust that when Stina hears the monologues, there will be an explosion of paintings coming our way. Honestly, what a soup by drivers and mechanics.

Charmaine is not the only person doing soup kitchens in Knysna. One of my many homes, the Rastafari community of JUDAH SQUARE, runs soup kitchens as well. I have regularly sent money to support their efforts. Rasta is my faith and the driving force behind all that I do.

Along my Rasta journey, I met Askale Selassie in London. She is not a fan of my name-dropping, but it must be said that she was head hunted by Bob Marley to help establish the publishing part of his music business alongside his lawyer,Dianne Jobson.

When Rastafari began as a movement, it was commonly said that it was impossible for a woman to be Rasta. The idea of a Rastawoman was not possible. Instead, they were known as a Rastaman's woman. Not a Rasta entity unto herself.

Askale Selassie is proof that we have moved on. And we are going to keep on moving. Along the N2... all the way to Cairo and into the world that I want to leave behind for my daughter. I feel blessed that my only child is a woman... because women are good for humanity. As drivers, mechanics, and passengers. Welcome on board