Songs Unsung

“A japa mala of an ordinary life, 108 beads woven around a thread of thoughtful awareness of the creator and all creatures great and small” This is the third, enlarged, edition of a collection of poems celebrating epiphanic moments that illumined the author’s life. Readers have greatly liked the previous editions for their simple, straightforward, giving impulse to share the ordinary day to day things that made up the kaleidoscope of an obviously much cherished life journey, for its sensitive sublimation of an individual experience to a more universally shared humanity. The collection stands out for its portrayal of nature and human relations and the close bonds between nature and man, resting on a perceptible substratum of sensitive thoughtfulness and spirituality.

Despite his importance and influence, jazz musician, educator, and community leader Horace Tapscott remains relatively unknown to most Americans. In Songs of the Unsung Tapscott shares his life story, recalling his childhood in Houston, moving with his family to Los Angeles in 1943, learning music, and his early professional career. He describes forming the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra in 1961 and later the Union of God's Musicians and Artists Ascension to preserve African American music and serve the community. Tapscott also recounts his interactions with the Black Panthers and law enforcement, the Watts riots, his work in Hollywood movie studios, and stories about his famous musician-activist friends. Songs of the Unsung is the captivating story of one of America’s most unassuming heroes as well as the story of L.A.'s cultural and political evolution over the last half of the twentieth century.

An introduction to contemporary literature in Malawi, comprising short stories, poetry, and some opening essays on literary genres. The anthology contains pieces from some fifty writers, amongst whom are Immanuel Bofomo; Steve Chimombo; Andrew Tilimbike Kulemeka; Ken Lipenga; Levi Zeleza Manda - author of the title story; Jack Mapanje; Francis Moto; Lupenga Mphande; Edson Mpina - President of Malawi Pen and Malawi Writers Union; Felix Mnthali; Anthony Nazombe; Norah Ngoma; and David Rubadiri. The editors have been or are all engaged in various literary and research activities at the University of Malawi.