The Smithian

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A tremendous amount has been written about Madonna over the last 30 years. But until now, there has never been an anthology devoted exclusively to women writing about her.

more.

MADONNA‘s life story is to be documented in a comic book.

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art: by Ricardo WN

then-President of Millenium Records Jimmy Ienner politely turns down an aspiring singer by the name of Madonna

An award-winning American musical based on his life—lavishly praised by Madonna, Spike Lee, Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey and co-producer Jay-Z—has been hit with a 5 million-dollar lawsuit. Carlos Moore, the musician’s only official biographer, claims the producers of “Fela!” breached his copyright by failing to credit his book, “Fela: This Bitch Of A Life,” as a source for the production.

and

I felt hurt and humiliated. It was a slap in the face,” Moore, a highly respected African-Cuban scholar with a track record of advocating international black causes [says] …In his federal court filing, Moore says he was approached in 2007 and offered a “grossly insufficient” offer of $4,000 for the rights to his authorised biography, which was published in 1982 during Kuti’s lifetime and reissued last year. Rejecting the offer, Moore demanded “an advance and participation in the royalty pool.” But, he says, no further offer was ever made.

more, here.

[look of the hour]