The Witch’s Flight

On this episode, we explore Black creative practice across sound and screen—tracing how music, film, and storytelling operate as sites of memory, resistance, and imagination. From creative process to political commitment, this conversation reflects on what it means to make work in dialogue with Black histories while shaping bold, liberated futures.Kwabbie (Kelvin “Kwabbie” Oppong) is a Los Angeles–based actor, musical artist, and screenwriter. A first-generation Ghanaian American raised in the Bronx, his creative perspective is shaped by diaspora, performance, and selfhood.Social media became an outlet for Kwabbie to express his humor, personality, and point of view. What started as a space for self-expression quickly grew into a platform where his voice resonated widely, sparking cultural moments and creator-led trends rooted in authenticity rather than performance for the algorithm. His online presence has served not as the destination, but as a foundation for deeper creative work across mediums.As a screenwriter, Kwabbie’s writing often speaks to spirituality, morality, generational trauma, and the questions that surface in our twenties and thirties as we navigate adulthood. He writes primarily in psychological horror and dramedy, using genre to explore fear, faith, intimacy, and the internal conflicts that shape our choices. His stories are character-driven, culturally grounded, and emotionally precise.Musically, Kwabbie is a direct reflection of his upbringing between worlds. Raised on R&B and highlife, he creates music that lives in that duality where R&B leans introspective and emotionally raw, while Afrobeats brings warmth, rhythm, and a more upbeat, vibey energy. Together, these sounds form a full portrait of his artistry: reflective, joyful, and deeply human.Jonathan Aubrie Lewis is an award-winning filmmaker who has been a professional director and writer for the past ten years.His most recent film, “Sojourn,” (Vimeo Staff Pick) is an intimate exploration of Black male identity. It has screened at the Atlanta Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Raindance, Holly Shorts and most notably, The National Museum of African American History & Culture, a part of the Smithsonian African American Film Festival. “Sojourn,” also participated in Amazon Prime’s “All Voices Film Festival and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.In 2020, Jonathan was selected to pitch new projects to a wide range of industry producers at Tribeca Film Festival’s “Tribeca N.O.W. Creators Market.” Jonathan has also had success in the commercial world as well, directing four short documentaries for Target and Black Love Inc., called HBCU Love.His work has been featured in Rolling Stones, DIY Magazine, THE LINE of BEST FIT and several other online publications. He has crafted visuals for Grammy nominee, Serpentwithfeet, 5x Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway and several other recording artists.In Jonathan’s spare time, he also does a great deal of volunteer work in Altadena, California where he was raised, where he serves as a youth counselor at his father’s church. Most recently he traveled to Eswatini in South Africa where he helped build playgrounds at a preschool, served hot meals and distributed medicine to those in need.At Jonathan’s core, he is rooted in the stripped-down raw fundamentals of storytelling; always stimulating the mind of the viewer- challenging them to step beyond their boundaries into his visual escapade. Because of this personal mandate, he has developed a reputation of creating bold visuals, interlaced with thought provoking story. Jonathan is currently in pre-production on his next film: A sci-fi, dance, experimental film entitled, “We Are THE BEAT: An Odyssey Home.”

South African-born musician, producer & multi-instrumentalist Warren Duncan is rapidly paving his way towards greatness. Warrens musical background includes schools of Jazz, Classical and African Gospel. Duncan’s heart is set on taking his brand of Soulful Amapiano to the world. This mix features exclusive music from his forthcoming amapiano EP; “All Class: Vol. 2”. Blending live jazz instrumentations and amapiano, this mix is a master class in South African soulful amapiano.

This month’s broadcast features Asari Aibangbee.Asari Aibangbee is an interdisciplinary artist, specializing in filmmaking, fiber/textile art, and art curation. Originally from Los Angeles, their artistic journey began in San Francisco, where they founded the collective To Be Black and Queer and established themselves as an independent filmmaker. As a queer Nigerian femme, their work centers on the experiences of Black Queer individuals across the African diaspora, exploring themes of identity, community, and intersectionality. In 2021, they began experimenting with tufting, a medium that became central to their practice in 2023 during their first artist residency, alongside their work with cyanotypes. Their fiber art blends traditional techniques, such as hand tufting with a tufting gun and punch needle, with sustainable yarn and other materials to create intricate compositions. These pieces explore symbols, cultural artifacts, and motifs significant to the Black Queer community, serving as metaphors for broader conversations on identity, belonging, and the diasporic experience.

This month’s episode features a special guest and friend of the show, MoRuf.MoRuf Adewunmi is a Nigerian-American rapper, writer, and cultural curator based in Los Angeles. Known for his introspective lyricism and jazz-infused sound, MoRuf blends hip-hop, soul, and personal storytelling to create music that resonates deeply with listeners. He is the founder of Some Jazz Playing, a creative platform and community space that celebrates Black culture, jazz aesthetics, and artistic expression. Through both his music and multimedia work, MoRuf continues to build a legacy rooted in authenticity, emotional depth, and cultural reverence.MOOLODIC, MoRuf’s latest offering, was recorded between 2021 and 2023 in his Long Island home, with Jesse Boykins III as executive producer & Joshua Kissi as Art Director. Inspired by Q-Tip’s Amplified and J Dilla’s Welcome to Detroit, the album channels what MoRuf calls “hotep luxury” — staying conscious, elevated, and finally allowing himself to embrace nice things.The project is built around community. SZA, a friend since 2011 from their neighboring Jersey towns, appears naturally after years of real connection. Fousheé, a college friend from Kean University, joins alongside Jersey producer Jay Versace. Contributions from Mez and Mick Jenkins came through the creative family surrounding Jesse Boykins III and Joshua Kissi.

Zeinabu Irene Davis is a celebrated director, screenwriter, and professor of Critical Gender Studies and African American Studies at UC San Diego. She is perhaps best known for her films Compensation (1999), A Period Piece (1991), and Cycles(1989), works that center the lives, voices, and imaginations of Black women with a rare tenderness and vision. As part of the legendary L.A. Rebellion—a movement of Black filmmakers who came together at UCLA in the late 1960s through the 1980s—Davis helped define a cinematic practice rooted in community, memory, and resistance to Hollywood’s narrow depictions of Black life. Her work carries forward the rebellion’s ethos while also carving out a distinctive space for Black feminist storytelling that is at once experimental, deeply intimate, and politically urgent. Across film, teaching, and mentorship, she has remained committed to expanding the possibilities of Black visual culture, showing us that cinema can be both a site of healing and a form of resistance.

On this month’s edition of The Witch’s Flight, Zama Dube is joined by Simphiwe Ndzube. The conversation spans personal biography, grief, sobriety and sourcing from ancestral memory to create a radical visual grammar.Simphiwe Ndzube is a South African visual artist whose work moves between painting, sculpture, and performance with an unmistakable sense of imagination and political depth. Originally from the Eastern Cape and now based between Cape Town and Los Angeles, Simphiwe draws on magical realism, folklore, and the post-apartheid condition to build entire worlds—what he calls the “Mine Moon” or “Pink Universe.”His art spills off the canvas, often incorporating second-hand clothes and found objects to explore themes like power, migration, and survival. From solo shows at the Denver Art Museum to major exhibitions in Mexico City, Shanghai, and Joburg, Simphiwe is carving his own lane—unapologetically surreal, grounded in spirit, and rich with Black South African memory.

On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by special guest MoRuf Adewunmi.MoRuf Adewunmi is a Nigerian-American rapper, writer, and cultural curator based in Los Angeles. Known for his introspective lyricism and jazz-infused sound, MoRuf blends hip-hop, soul, and personal storytelling to create music that resonates deeply with listeners. He is the founder of Some Jazz Playing, a creative platform and community space that celebrates Black culture, jazz aesthetics, and artistic expression. Through both his music and multimedia work, MoRuf continues to build a legacy rooted in authenticity, emotional depth, and cultural reverence. His latest EP, Tiny Mic Raps series offers a glimpse into his diverse range, blending battle rap roots with captivating visuals. Each track features freestyles over his favorite beats into a tiny microphone, elevated by visualizers.

On this month’s episode, host Zama Dube is joined by special guest Monique Ruffin for an in-studio interview.MONIQUE RUFFIN is a renowned astrologer, spiritual advisor, and writer with a deep commitment to guiding others on their personal and spiritual journeys. With years of experience in astrology, Monique has cultivated a unique approach that blends intuitive wisdom with practical insight, helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with clarity and confidence. Known for her warm, compassionate style, Monique offers personalized readings that empower her clients to align with their true purpose and harness the energies of the stars to create meaningful transformations. In addition to her astrological practice, Monique is a passionate advocate for self-care, personal growth, and the importance of understanding the cosmic influences that shape our lives.

The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by special guest Fiyin Koko Tunde-Onadele for an interview.Fiyin Koko Tunde-Onadele (b.1994) is a multidisciplinary Nigerian artist who developed a passion for art from a young age, inspired by watching her mother paint. This early influence spurred her natural talent, leading her to become a self-taught artist. Her work over the years reflects a deep engagement with womanism, her personal dreams, and her ongoing interactions with women.Fiyin’s art is grounded in six central pillars: womanism, conversation, body positivity, movement, love, and femininity. These themes serve as a lens through which she examines the resilience of women, often with a delicate yet humor-infused approach. In addition to exploring these concepts, her work critically addresses women’s social issues, drawing attention to the complexities of their lived experiences.By blending elements of fantasy, the color blue, activism, and storytelling, Fiyin uses diverse mediums — including mixed media paintings, sculpture, photography, and digital illustrations, in her artistic practice to foster connection and raise awareness, ensuring her audience is both moved by her storytelling and attuned to the social issues embedded within her work.

The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by multidisciplinary artist Uréchi Oguguo for an artist conversation about their creative practice and how they queer the visual field by engaging African diasporic sensibilities of art.Uréchi Oguguo is a New York City-based, Lagos-born illustrator, space maker, storyteller, and designer. Their creative practice encompasses a wide range of mediums, including handcrafts, illustration, and spatial design, all with a focus on celebrating and amplifying narratives of rest, care, and tenderness that are often overlooked in discussions of Blackness. Inspired by their artistic pursuits, Uréchi is the visionary behind “Make Space”, a transformative initiative that provides a free and accessible gathering place for makers to reignite their creative passions. By organizing inclusive events where friends, artists, and crafters come together, Uréchi fosters a sense of community and collective creativity. Uréchi also serves as a Board of Director at Ubuntu Education, Inc., an organization dedicated to decolonizing and recalibrating the field of architecture through more equitable and socially conscious design education.

The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Olwethu “Olwee” Mlotshwa, better known by his stage name, Ms Party, is a South African DJ. Born in Diepkloof, Soweto, the DJ has garnered popularity for his zeal on the decks, playing catchy tunes and every now and then leaving the dance floor to show off his dance moves and party with the crowd.Ms Party burst into the industry in 2011, as one half of the DJ duo, The Tanktop DJs, founded with Roger Sivuyile. After going their separate ways, Ms Party went on to DJ as “DJ Olwee”, later changing the name to the more edgy “Ms Party.”He has played in various clubs across South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Venues vary from House Parties to Festivals; he has done it all.His popularity is also propelled by his other job as a TV Director. He has worked on the top reality TV shows in the country including Life With Kelly Khumalo, Living The Dream With Somizi, Being Bonang, Kwa Mam’Mkhize and Lasizwe: Fake It Til You Make It, walking away with SAFTA awards for the shows in 2020 and 2021.10 years since he started, Ms Party added a new hat to his name. With the release of Kings X Queens with features from Lady Du and Josiah de Disciple, he added the title of artist. The song is an anthem for the LGBTIQ.“It’s not necessarily a protest song. We wanted something my community that we could jam to and see ourselves in the lyrics and know it’s for us. Beyoncé had Independent Woman for the girlies, I wanted something where my people can can take a reel as boys in heels and have a song that speaks to that.”

The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.On this month’s episode, Zama will be joined in conversation by DJ Cleo, mapping DJ Cleo’s impact on South African dance music culture and its influence on the contemporary landscape of amapiano.DJ Cleo is a South African multi-award-winning musician, producer and DJ. Though he started DJing at age 17, his professional DJ career started at the age of 19 when he doubled as both a mix dj and a technical producer for Ashifa Shabba and Dj Fresh at Yfm. He now hosts and DJ’s a Friday night radio show on Radio 2000 ––“the Eskhaleni party.”

In this episode, we are in conversation with Mpho Sebina who is a Botswana-born and bred melodist, songwriter. She is also a Recording Academy Voting Member who has spread her wings across the music scene over the past couple of years. Her sound is Neo Soul and AfroIndie, performing for small acoustic audiences to large festival stages including Forbes Under 30 Pan African Welcome Celebration hosted in Gaborone , Botswana in May 2024. She debuted her first project in 2017, a six track EP titled “Neo'' featuring the hit song ‘No Evil’ which encompasses all of the musical elements that make and influence her from Setswana Folk to RnB to Hip Hop. In 2020 she released her sophomore project and debut album entitled “Lora” to a well-received audience with standout songs ‘Dikeledi’ and ‘Dumelang’. She released her “love letter to Africa” titled “Alkebulan on the 10th of October 2024 , a 5 track EP that features females artist from Across the continent.

This month in celebration of Black History Month, Zama has a special episode lined up honoring personal narratives spanning from Nigeria, South-Africa, Black Los Angeles and beyond.Our astrologer, Monique Ruffin will be joining us for part two of our astrological forecast for 2025. Since we are also celebrating Valentine’s Day month, our astrologer will speak to us about the function of “Venus” which is the planet that governs love, pleasure and creativity.In the second hour, joining us in-studio is Akin Omotoso, a Nigeria-South African filmmaker and director known for his thought-provoking storytelling and visual artistry. Whilst Omotoso has captured the interest of Hollywood directing Rise, a Disney+ biopic about NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and contributing to Beyonce’s 2020 visual musical Black is King, he seems to maintain the edge of a griot, story-teller, and ultimately a filmmaker of decolonial makings. Omotoso continues to be a leading voice in African and global cinema, balancing commercial and independent projects while championing African narratives on the world stage.

In this intimate conversation with director/writer/producer, Akin Omotoso, I demonstrate a Black feminist consideration of the ways in which African filmmakers such as Omotoso contend with gendered and racialized visual histories in order to produce subversive images of Blackness. Omotoso was born to a Barbadian mother and a Nigerian father and had lived in both places before being uprooted go to South Africa. Thus, I contend that he embodies the practice of diaspora and collapses rigid understandings of “home”, “place” and “identity”­––these themes can be traced throughout his extensive filmography. Whilst Omotoso has captured the interest of Hollywood by directing Disney’s 2022 film: Rise  and contributing to Beyonce’s visual musical Black is King, he seems to maintain the edge of a griot, story-teller, and ultimately a filmmaker of decolonial makings.