AFROMANTIC (acoustic)

Hear/Purchase the song here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/nakia-henry/id303433612

stop me if you heard this before...

Soooooooooooo, I was robbed. Someone broke into my house the night before Halloween (Devils Night is what we call it in the D). Thats what they did to my door. They came in from my roof and got into my apt, and trashed my place and stole a loaner laptop.... a laptop that a friend was loaning me, because I don't have one. sucks monkey nuts!!!

so WHY MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..... NOT!

More like: what am I being or what am I projecting out for this to come to me. What was th enabler? Well, in the west, the first thing we think about was, "were your doors locked" or "what kind of neighborhood do you live in" or "oooh be careful who you let in your house, it could be your someone you know, like a friend"... which makes you the victim, right? Not necessarily a creator, which is WHO YOU ARE... or at least who I am. There is nothing "wrong" with that mind set, but its kinda one-sided, and I lived on that side for long enough.

I used to work at a spa on 13th str, and during training, they were telling us about a massage, I think it was the Shiatsu Ki massage, anyway... one thing I remember the manager/therapist had said was that in the west, if your lower back in hurting, the thought would be to go to the lower back to massage the area, whereas in the east, if your lower back is hurting, they would look at other areas that are more than likely contributing to the pain, places where you maybe holding your tension or over compensating. They would focus on that area and by the end of the session, your lower back, which was barely touched would feel better.

Fast Forward to one of Malidoma Some's book, maybe OF WATER AND SPIRIT. I remember him recalling a story where he was having some problems in school. I think he wasn't doing so well in his classes, but instead of just studying "harder" he went to see a Shaman; a diviner in his village. went back to school (in the states or maybe France [think colonialism]) studied and excelled.

You get where I'm goin...

So what was I projecting? someone asked: what are you not giving to yourself where you feel you deserve, where you feel you HAVE TO TAKE IT! What does your soul want that you are not giving it to yourSELF? .... That's a long list, and that may be the biggest violation, more bigger then a messy house and a broken door. Not to mention I see God showing up everywhere. I keep hearing, "what will it take for you to be grateful today" or "what will it take for you to take YOU seriously". Why does it have to be a jolting experience, why does someone have to die, why do you have to get fired or laid off before you (me) get your shit together? Then I think of my fear, and THEN IT PROJECTS!!!

You can only ignore God for so long before it manifests in a bigger-attention grabbing way. Now replace "God", with "yourSELF". and of course, its these occasions that bring you back to your center, but it doesn't have to always be this way. I have enough stories and experiences to RE- MEMBER, to put together to determine whether I should choose again, or think again...

well when I decide that I don't want to experience fear anymore, I will choose something else. But until then, I will prepare for my reading by a Yoruba Ifa Priest, and be open to whats prescribed... I'm done for now, but not for long... I see more library visits in my future

4 ways to see Nakia Henry in NYC in October!

October 17th, 2009 Recoup 210 Rivington St NYC 10002 (F, J, M, Z to Delancy. It is on Rivington between Pitt and Ridge, just north of Delancy 9:30pm $10

October 18th, 2009 Creative Light Spiritual Center 199 Lafayette #2 Kenmare Street & Broome Street #6 train to Spring Street N/R trains to Prince StreetF/S trains to Broadway/Lafayette Street 11:00am FREE

October 24th, 2009 Rose Live Music 345 Grand Street(btwn Havemeyer & Marcy)Williamsburg / Brooklyn NY 11211 9pm $5

October 26th, 2009 Shrine Bar and Restaurant 2271 adam clayton powell jr. blvd. (133-134 st) new york, ny 10030 7pm $10

I hope to see you all!!!!!!

A FULL HOUSE!!!

The event was a success, thank you all that came out to support, for REMEMBERING PEACE, REMEMBERING PLEASURE. I hope you went out to remind someone else.

Special thanks goes to the following for your contribution and support: Saddi Khali, Lawrence Ridriguez at Casa Frela, Cornelia McPherson, Dionne Figgins, Scott Patterson, Faria Malianga, Emily Hope Price, KOJO MODIBO SUN, Loyal for Thirst4life, Helene Ruiz, Tondrae Kemp, Carmen Barcelona, Matthew "Sah Ril" Jennifer, Saretta Wesley, Nikki Singleton, Fernando "Royal" Singleton, Abigail Ekue-Smith, Cynthia St. Juste, Turning Heads Salon and Spa (Harlem), Equinox Fitness (world wide), Avon, Charles Anthony Davis, April Silver, The Henry family, All who prayed, All who did email and FB blasts... I thank you all from all sides of my heart.

special shoutout once again to Sah Ril, please peep the review below and peep the blog in general, this brother's mind is sick (in a very spectacular way... make sure you leave him some love or your thoughts in a comment as well.

http://sahboog.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/reviews-and-recommendations-in-remembrence-introducing-nakia-henry/

BUY THE ALBUM, BE APART OF THE MOVEMENT, GO OUT AND TELL SOMEONE THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR STRENGTH.

I LOVE YOU,

I REMEMBER YOU,

Remember Me,

Nakia

REMEMBER PEACE, REMEMBER PLEASURE

It would be the best BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER if you were to come!!!!

Nakia

Just click the link... don't be scarred

http://ilike.com/artist/Nakia+Henry/videos/364973482


peep this vdeo of me singin "Smile" live at the Sugar Bar in NYC, with Kojo Modibo Sun, special shout out to Fernando "Royal" Singleton and Danny Brookings...

Beautiful night... thank you to all that came out, and thank you all who stayed home and thought happy thoughts for me, felt the love anyway

Nakia

I know, I'm slackin

detox ended well, i now know that its in the mind more than anything. Im looking forward to the next one. I am currently living in the stone ages and don't have access to the internet until im in a library so its hard for me to communicate with my internet friends :(... but thats temporary... the only constant is love and im living it. I want to share some lyrics with you all though. If you're just joining me, I have a beautiful album available digitally, titled REMEMBER ME. The lyrics I wanna share comes from a song entitled AFROMANTIC. This was the only co-write lyrically on the album and I am very proud of what came to be. If you dig what you've read, you can check the song on the myspace page, and/or you can buy the album. These days, when I'm feeling something hard enough, you don't have to upsale me. I'll buy it immediately. If I instantly connect to it, I want nothing but the best for you. So take a read, maybe we're similar.

Afromantic
(c) Nakia Henry and Tosin Adeyinka

You arouse me
So astounding
Divine creature you
You’re all around me

What I say to you
I say bout me
Your strength goes on forever
Why not be strong together

This ain’t no love song
Not setting the mood
I’m just calling it like it is
I’m reminding you of who you are

You and me
Me and you
It’s an illusion baby
I know the truth

Oh lets plant this seed to the earth and let this flower grow
Grow to the sun, more than and never less then before
Oh expanding growth, six kids fifty four years
Oh be one, be one, be one

What I say to you, I say to me cuz we are one and its afromantic

Just the thought of you
Just the sight of you
I’m in love with you
I guess I’m inside you too

You lived inside my mind
Bout time to real-ize
No more concepts baby
My soul wants to apply

If the world's a mirror
Let’s look into it
Look at the light
And we’ll remind the world of who we are

Just look closely baby
We’re amazing
We are beautiful
We are royalty

Oh lets plant this seed to the earth and let this flower grow
Grow to the sun, more than and never less then before
Oh expanding growth, six kids fifty four years
Oh be one, be one, be one

Spring Cleaning (Detox)

I am currently doin a detox where I am eating only whats in season (spring) raw, liquid form and/or steamed. My day consists of the master cleanse (the juice of a lemon, a pinch of cayenne, tablespoon of flax or olive oil, and some warm water), fruits that are in season (papaya, mango, strawberries, kiwi, lemon, lime etc) and 16 ounces of water in the am, for the 1st 4hours after you're awake. For lunch/dinner, veggies (asparagus, green beans, broccoli, corn, carrots, beets, dandelion leaves , zucchini, etc.) that are in season and throughout the day I should have consumed at least 80 ounces of water, a quart of "freshed pressed" apple juice, and an herbal tea. Eating all of these veggies raw, liquid form, and/or steamed until 8pm, no later than 8.

Now here is where I have been slackin a lil bit. I have not been making the herbal tea... its seems kinda complicated if yo don't know much about certain herbs. but today, I found an herbal tea that supports fasting, so maybe that will make up for it somehow. And I have not been drinkin a quart of apple juice a day. I do drink fresh pressed apple juice everyday, just not a quart... kinda pricey.

Everything else is in tact though.



Day 1 started fine, full of energy, ready to start, got out of bed excited. I prepared my fruit the night before, I cut up some papaya and strawberries. Now, I found out on Friday that I'm actually not a fan of papaya. I thought I'd tried them way before then but I thought it would taste similar to melon, but when I had it, i was like... uuuuuhm maybe not. And when I cut it up for the first time sunday night, i was kinda disgusted by the inside. However, papaya has more protein out of all fruits (according to the book im reading), and today (day 3) as I type this, its growin on me. When I cut it up last night, I saw how beautiful it was, kinda reminds me of when i cut open a pomegranate.
sooooo I woke up and stomached the master cleanse (with olive oil), made me a fruit juice with apple juice, strawberries and papaya, grabbed my fruit tupperware and off to work. (yeah, i forgot the water in the morning on day one, oops).
now, when I first heard of the master cleanse I thought to my self, "sounds like a real shitter" however, i was wrong. I pee-ed and pee-ed and pee-ed.... and pee-ed some more. I pee alot on this detox. My bowels seem rather normal, but I am pee-ing like crazy.
5pm I got a veggie juice from the juice bar in harlem, apple, broccoli, celery, and carrot. And when I got home it hit me... I cannot season or cook NATHIN. And it was weird cuz everywhere I went, I smelled fried food. It was like I smelled grease and seasoning salt.
By 6:30pm, i am home dreading my steamed veggies that i have to prepare. I prepared, some broccoli, carrots, asparagus, and dandelion leave, (dandelion greens is also something that I should be consuming daily). So I cut up everything, and steamed and ate 'em. Dandelion greens are di SGUS ting. lawdy lawdy. so from there I picked some more dandelion greens, put them in a pot with just enough water to barely cover them, and boiled them. When they were dark, I simply poured the water in a large water bottle and discarded most of the greens. I will NOT eat the leaves but rather drink the nutrients, I don't know if those are the rules, but ah well.... after that, I drank lots and lots of water (cuz I've been pee-n all day), some apple juice, and got ready for bed, I was wore OUT! I wanted a slice of pizza so bad :(

(This can be a long one so I'm gonna try to sum it up, sorry for taking so long with an entry)

Day 2- Master cleanse with flax seed oil. same fruit juice. But now on that morning I actually drank some water. out the door with my bowls of fruits.
pee pee and more pee
pee
still peeing and drinking water too!
had a salad for lunch... bleh... no chz:(
still peeing
home, had my steamed veggies and DRANK my homemade dandelion green tea with honey... it wasn't bad, but i wouldn't after this detox. Then I went to sleep.
I noticed yesterday that I start to feeling antsy from 3-5ish, like my body is like, uuuuuuhm aren't you gonna have something cooked??? There are feelings of sadness. I feel like I'm failing because I'm thinkin of ways to break the detox. Its just a "down" time. I remember during those couple of hours on day one thinking, "just cut you a slice of cheeze and shut up!!!"

And then there is today, day 3
morning was the same but instead of papaya and strawberries, I ate mango, kiwi, strawberries from one bowl and papaya from the other bowl. I think I did pretty good with the water and I actually took a tally of how many times i pee-ed... between 10am and 4pm I pee-ed 12 times. I stopped counting after that. Every other time that I pee-ed I drank 8 ounces of water so not to get dehydrated. From 3-5 i was feeling the blues. but I got a salad and it wasn't so bad today.

I have to be discipline. One of the points of this is to have these foods occupy about 90% of my diet, which is definitely possible... I just want to cook them

But I'm sticking to the script. I can do this I can do this. Send your good vibes, i need your love. The author (Afya Ibomu) of the book says I should say these affirmations often: "I am healthy, I am strong, I am discipline. My symptoms are only disease leaving my body. I am committed to doing what my body wants and needs me to do. I love me"

and I do :)

ok, im out.. i gotta pee

love letters

Dear Nakia's nose,

I love you so much. You have been with me always, and I haven't loved you all ways. But today I do, I have made the decision to love you and to never change you. You're mine and you have never given up on me. Making fun of you in public hurt when others did it, and it doesn't feel too good when I do it along with them. I'm sorry, thank you for being a part of me.

Dear Nakia's eyes,

We have been through it. When I was little, I can remember sitting on my dad's lap bracing myself for when he ripped the adhesive patch off of one of you (righty). It hurt. That whole experience hurt. Trying to strengthen one of you, while the other was pretty weak too. Then wearing a contact in one eye while wearing thick glasses for both eyes- at the same time. It was a lot. I was never happy with you. But you stayed put, never failing completely. Always gave me exactly what I needed to get through the day. I have not lost hope for you, and do intend to heal myself. But for now, I love you. I acknowledge you. and I thank you for being with me. When I first saw my glasses, (the ones I wear today) I cried. But now, I prefer them. They need you right now, and I am happy to oblige. Thank you, and I love you.

Dear Nakia's Knees,

Throughout my dancer career, you have been very very important to me. But for whatever reason, I don't give you the attention you desperately need sometimes. You have given up on me a total of 3 times while dancing. And I have been dancing for more than a decade. But on the other hand you have given up on me while walking or sitting, countless times. And its all because I don't listen to you when I should. You don't have the support you need on top of the fact that I often rush. Well, knees, I love you, I decide to love you and will remember to stretch my I.T. bands so that you don't shift on me again. I will not be pissed when you shift. I will learn to listen to my body and what it needs. You deserve it. I love you.

Dear Nakia's Body,

You have been a beautiful home. Yet, I have not enjoyed you. Not fully. Eating fatty foods, working 7 days a week. Not getting rest. Not exercising. How do I expect you to keep working if I don't love and take care of you. I acknowledge that I am not you, or any of your limbs which I also love but rather I am with you in this present lifetime. And I appreciate being with you. I wish to stay here for a bit longer but I know to do so I must take care of you. I have been back and forth with my diet and I think its time to be discipline... in real life. Cutting meat out does not equate to eating healthy. Its gonna take more effort that that and I am willing to try try try again, and get it right before I move on to the next body in the next lifetime. You need you rest as well. All this 9-5 work isn't really helping you at all. Not the way you thought it would anyway, so why not take car of you in the process. I love you so much. I really want you to know that.

Dear Nakia's Mind,

We fight A LOT. And I'm tired of fighting. We need balance, Me (spirit), you (mind), and body. I have to learn to, or rather, DECIDE to enjoy this game we play, cuz right now, I am suffering, staying too much inside of you, not knowing what its like to be out of my mind. I have neglected to focus you as well. Not really having enough patience to meditate. We have had serious beef for the longest of time. And I'm ready to squash it. I love you. You are the most complex of them all at the moment. Always questioning and refuting. Creating negative scenes, enabling me to be mad about them... in real life. and you are not the bad guy here, I'm just saying that the time has come for you not to be so dominant. I have decided to be easy with you. It will be an effort, a huge one that I will have to make forever, but I am willing. I love you, and today I choose to be in "constant prayer" monitoring my thoughts, producing positivity. I am waking up every morning to ask my self, "self, what would YOU like to experience today?" and my actions will answer that. Today, I am conscious of what I am creating. and a negative mind, does not serve me. So I release thee, lovingly. I love you and I'm changing my mind.

Love all ways,

The spirit whom answers to Nakia

This is not true.... YET!!!

Just got back to the hotel. Biggest crowd ever. What an experience. Played at the Tamale Sports Stadium in Northern Ghana. I was invited to play for Rocky Dawuni’s Independence Splash 2010. Yeah, who knew I had an audiene here, but I do, and they love me, and I love them. To be quite honest I'm not sure that they knew of me before last month, but it doesn't matter, the show was amazing, and they know me now lol

Last month, I had come here to perform in little cafes with my band and to do some volunteer work in the elementary schools. That was my plan, but after a week or so, my audience got bigger and bigger and everyone wanted to know more about the girl from United States who sang the "grateful song" (its what they call it lol). "Her voice resonates with Healing Power" they keep saying. Meanwhile I would do storytelling at the elementary schools during the day. Spreading the same message as I do in the songs: We are one, all of us make up GOD. So before I knew it, I had an audience of parents, friends, artists, lovers, teachers, nurses... all because of their children.

here's a a blurb about the independence day splash: "Independence Splash [2010] was organized by Dawuni’s Africa Live! NGO and assisted by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, with support from UNICEF and the European Union. The concert drew dignitaries including the Head of the European Union Delegation in Ghana - Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, UNICEF Ghana Country Representative - Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Northern Regional Minister - Honorable Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Tamale Metropolitan Chief - Mohammed Amin Anta and IPA Director Dr. Sulley Gariba, amongst many others." http://www.ghanamusic.com/2008/03/13/rocky-dawunis-independence-splash-2008-draws-crowds-and-impacts-awareness-in-ghanas-northern-region/

Last year, I helped out with their US debut in LA at Afro Funfe', and that was craazzy, peep: http://edition.ghanamusic.com/news/events-news/323-rocky-dawuni-independence-splash-2009-a-smash

So this year, they decided to bring me out here, and at first I was kinda nervous, I knew I would receive love, but I never imagines this kind. There was a moment when I had the crowd shouting "DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET GO NAKIA" and everyone was together chanting me on as I danced all over the stage un-afraid, almost ran into one of my drummers (sorry Farai lol) but he was dancing wild too, we had a blast. And then later on, while I sang "Transition" for a split second I can see that everyone in that stadium was engaged and invested in the moment. You could hear a pin drop if you payed close attention. and as soon as I ended with "I choose to liiiiiiiive" their was silence fo about 5 seconds, (the longest 5 seconds of my life by the way) and before knew it, the crowd stood to their feet and cheered. Like for real... no slow clap intro, they cheered. I saw people crying, but mostly I saw people just nodding their heads and clapping like they just saw their daughter in a dance recital, they were so proud of their daughter Nakia. aaaahhhhh it was so. beautiful. Its gonna be a whie before I can get some sleep from just thinking about it. So I'm just up, wired... chatting with you :)

sooooo....

I don't think that I blogged about my release, prolly because its been a wild rollercoster ride with lots of downs and ups and downs. But its up now, and the album entitled REMEMBER ME is available for digital download on ITUNES, CDBABY, RHAPSODY, AMAZON, and a slew of other sites, so check me out!!!!!

www.cdbaby.com/cd/nakiahenry

write a review... or write me at friendsofnakiahenry at gmail dot com. tell me what you think, cuz I'm pretty darn proud of myself. Sales are goin strong and I am very very grateful for all parties involved, especially Fernando "Royal" Singleton. SHOUT OUT!!!!

Ok, back to the business of changing Nakia's life. I started this year with the release of my album, and since then, I am focused on goin even harder. The goal is to become the best performance artist I can be. Would love to travel this year as well... So I'm setting a lot in motion. Lately I have been overwhelmed with my day to day grind, and have decided that i need to make a few drastic changes. I can only hope for the smoothest transition. But once I make the transition, no matter how dramatic the outcome or process, it will be extremely be necessary and will only add positivity and awakening in my life. I am on my way to being the person that I am suppose to be, and doing the things i am suppose to do, and having the things that i am suppose to have, for it is my birth-right. My life has shifted and my soul has been speaking to me, whispering sweet messages in my ear for a while now, and recently it started screaming. and I can no longer ignore it. I am not a person who works to pay bills on time, and I have been "trying" to be that person for a while. I am much more than that. "That person" does not make me happy, especially with my soul screaming at me, constantly reminding me of the joy that I'm suppose to have, the light that I'm suppose to be. I can go on and on, and I know that I am not being specific, but who ever is reading this should know that the struggle that i am goin through is about to get interesting...
I will close this entry with a message that I wrote on my mysace page... love and light to you all...

****

I have been getting messages from people who are going through a rough time in regards to the economy, and people asking if I could help out in any way. Families across the board are always in my prayers, and people who are going through a rough time are always in my prayers, ALWAYS. But my prayers mean nothing if you don't believe you'll over come this yourself. Now is the time to exercise your faith. Now is the time to believe like you have never believed before. Sometimes it takes rough times like this for you to demonstrate just how strong you are. I don't write these songs for nothin... If you knew me, you would know that I am the one who should be singing these songs... well, at least who should be singing them first. And now that I do, (more frequently then you know) I am stronger. I remember what cloth I'm cut from. I remember how strong i really am, and how strong I have always been.


SO I SAY TO YOU: BELIEVE. Believe you can make it through, it maybe be rough now, but thats ok, cuz its temporary, whats goin on now, is not your life. YOUR LIFE IS A LIFE FILLED WITH LOVE, PROSPERITY, JOY, ABUNDANCE, STRENGTH, POWER, AND LAUGHTER. and more accurately: your life is filled with WHAT YOU WANT TO FILL IT WITH...

so do yourself and favor and remember who you really are... and of course
REMEMBER ME
~Nakia

I have to be better with this

This here blog thingy.

I had a show Feb 23rd at Shrine in Harlem, and if I might say so myself, it was magical. Yes, apparently I'm a magician. And luckily my mother was there to see it. We kinda pushed the whole night back just so she could be there... i know right, I'M BLESSED. She has never heard me sing live before so it became a big deal for me. She has been there for all of the dance recitals. She was there for opening night on Broadway. And is my biggest cheerleader/fan/supporter. I am very happy that she's happy, and I'm glad that I make her proud, so shout out to mothers.

I have lots of pictures and I have lots of things to say, but for whatever reason, i don't share as often as I probably need to, and thats about to STOP. This Blog will be an interesting one. I plan to include daily thoughts and daily imaginings. I'll be sure to tell you the difference. But the idea is to write about what I want, talk about what I want, and be about what I want until i get it. So i will act like i got it already, and i plan on being convincing enough to obtain it in real life. I need to write, I need to share. I need to testify and rejoice for the blessings of the past, present, and future. I love you all for listening...

I love you all... just because

manifest

Nakia Henry on iLike

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Nakia+Henry

PREVIEW THE ALBUM ON iLike
Let me know what you think :)