We

iQUE VIVA LA MUSICA!

are

in the San Francisco-Bay Area fortunate in that there are a number of talented Black women artists residing here. One such artist is Avotcja (pronounced Avacha).

year

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Avotcja, who was raised in Spanish Harlem, is a forty-three poet/musician/ vocalist. She has performed professionally since the age of fourteen. Along with the guitar, Avotcja uses a number of percussion instruments including the hollowed-out gourd that has been varnished and strung with beads). Her musical background includes Boleros/Jazz/Calypso/ Gospel/African/Blues/Salsa, as well as mixture of Brazilian music. Avotcja has performed with Rasaan Roland Kirk, Sonida Afro-Latina, Casselberry-Dupree and Terry Garthwaite, among others.

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Avotcja's poetry/music, which she does not see as separate art forms, speaks of her life experiences. The detrimental affects of dope and alcohol, callous social workers, ghetto street scenes as well as the joys of love and happiness, are all part of her personal message.

Besides holding down an almost fulltime job, making and selling cherekes, D. J. (ing) on a local radio station*, and performing around town, she has also found the time to write three books: L'a Voz Boricua, Oh Yeah and her newest, Pura Candela/Pure Fire, a book of poetry, short stories and photographs.

To be able to devote full time to the poetry-music, is her dream. But like most entertainers, the money made from performing is not enough to support her. She wishes that our society would value the arts more and realize that artists are as important to our survival as doctors and lawyers.

It was not until recently that women of color began attending her concerts. Avotcja feels that the reason for this turn of events is that some women of color are beginning to tire of the one-dimensional scenes offered by disco and white women's music. Her music differs in that it provides the listener a more inclusive musical program.

We invite our readers to attend one of her concerts. (See calendar listings for dates and places where she will be performing.)

*KPOO, 89.5 FM (Noon until 3:00 PM Fridays)

TODAY

Today I've been walking around sideways Bumping into walls, and laughing at myself And laughing at you, and laughing at all those funny people

Who pass me by, and don't realize that today I'm SUPER WOMAN!!

Feelin' good

Feelin' finer than fine

Feelin' high

flyin'

Feelin' just like I'd drunk a gallon of wine and downed an ounce of smoke And all I did was kiss you

A i

.....

nk ss O

d

u

y u k s you ! !

nd S

A

i

u

Avotcja's found a brand new intoxicant And the alcohol & dope industry just lost their best customer

Gay Women

by Avotcja

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