Attitude
"Attitude" is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of spoken word poetry. The speaker seems to be struggling with a sense of powerlessness and lack of control. They feel like they have no rights and that they are at the mercy of others. However, they are also determined to stand up for themselves and to not be taken advantage of. The poem is a reminder that we all have the power to choose our attitude, even in the face of adversity.
I think the poem is also a commentary on the nature of power. The speaker seems to be saying that power is not always about who has the most money or the most resources. It is also about who has the most attitude. The speaker is determined to show that they have the attitude to stand up for themselves and to not be taken advantage of.
Overall, "Attitude" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the importance of attitude. It is a reminder that we all have the power to choose our attitude, even in the face of adversity.
ABOUT OBAFA ONEMA
Obafa Onema is a young Gambian who is seeking to understand and navigate the opportunities, rights, politics, and the life he is faced with. His spoken word pieces are a powerful perspective on life in the Gambia, West Africa.
Obafa grew up in Busumbala, the Gambia, with his mother and eight siblings. When he was 15 years old, his father was killed in the war, leaving Obafa, the eldest male, as the head of the household. To provide for his family, he was forced to quit high school and get a job, ending his dream of becoming a medical doctor. Reading became his passion, and he writes continuously. Today, he works in construction as a day laborer. He is 24 years old.
Obafa is a talented and insightful writer. His spoken word pieces are both personal and political, and they offer a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of life in the Gambia. He is a powerful voice for change, and his work is an important contribution to the conversation about the future of the Gambia.
About Muhammed Dibbasey, Poet
Through his spoken word poetry, Dibbasey depicts a young man's struggles with failure, opportunity, and success in Gambia. His four poems, titled Sleepless Nights, They Say, Attitude, and I Like Words, express hope, frustration, and the impacts of Gambia's history of the slave trade and colonialism.
Dibbasey's story identical to that of Obafa Onema. A story of perseverance and self-made success. Growing up in Busumbala, one of Gambia's poorest neighborhoods, Dibbasey became the family's eldest male after his father died fighting in the war when he was only 15 years old. He abandoned his dream of becoming a doctor to support his mother and eight siblings, most of whom were orphans whose parents were killed in the same war as Dibbasey's father. Despite these challenges, he never lost hope and eventually started a record label and talent management agency, Cellular Vibrations, representing some of the top hip-hop, afrobeat, and afropop performers in the Gambia.
"OBAFA" is a brilliant reflection of Dibbasey's journey and the struggles he has faced. His works have received acclaim from artists and audiences alike, with some describing it as "a mind-blowing reflection of a dream of opportunity," and "an exciting reflection of the past of a young man navigating the present", says Max Barrett, Editor of OBAFA.
CREDITS
Voiceover: Obafa Onema
Produced by Cellular Vibrations in association with MaximillianGroup
Director: Muhammed Dibbasey
Executive Producer: Muhammed Dibbasey
Spoken Word: by Muhammed Dibbasey
Video: CottonBro
Film Editing: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Art Direction: MaximillianGroup
Cover Art: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Distributed by MaximillianGroup
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Muhammed DibbaseyDirectorThey Say, Sleepless Nights
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Muahmmed DibbaseyWriter
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Cellular VibrationsProducer
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MaximillianGroupProducer
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Muhammed DibbaseyKey Cast"Obafa Onema"
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CottonBroVideo
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Max BarrettEditing
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MaximillianGroupArt Direction
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Project Type:Short, Web / New Media, Other
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Genres:Africa, Short Film, Films from Africa, New Film Makers, Spoken Word, Poetry
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Runtime:42 seconds
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Production Budget:1,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Gambia
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Language:English
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Lift-Off Sessions Film FestivalBuckinghamshire
United Kingdom
April 27, 2023
UK Premier -
Lift-Off First-Time FilmmakersPinewood
United Kingdom
May 15, 2023
Distribution Information
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MaximillianGroupSales AgentCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Muhammed Dibbasey is a dynamic and ambitious 24-year-old entrepreneur who is highly regarded within the community of Busumbala. He is passionate about the arts and has made it his mission to unite the youth in his community and beyond, igniting their passion for music and creating a platform for them to showcase their talents.
As the Executive Producer of Grab Di Mic, Muhammed has been instrumental in transforming the music scene in Gambia. Under his leadership, the event has grown from a small concert for 500 people to Gambia's fastest-growing performance event, attracting over 2000 attendees and featuring the country's top hip-hop and pop artists.
Muhammed is currently working to transform Cellular Vibrations from a music promotion company to a digital marketing agency. It will be one of few Agencies in The Gambia, let alone West Africa, that at it's core is a focus on Marketing and will provide Social Media Marketing, Web Development as well as marketing for musicians, artists and poets.