Featured stories about Arts & Culture
Stories about Arts & Culture
19 February 2020
Nigeria’s Victor Olaiya: Trumpeter and ‘evil genius’ of highlife music (1931-2020)
"They thought I moved highlife music out of the ordinary. My highlife was a little bit out of this world, beyond explanation..." — Victor Olaiya
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival's steel pan competition in photos
There's only one place you can hear the best steelbands in the world compete against one another: the annual Panorama competition during Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival.
14 February 2020
Is the coronavirus epidemic China's ‘Chernobyl moment'?
"It is a system that turns every natural disaster into an even greater man-made catastrophe."
An interview with Roger Robinson, winner of the 2019 T.S. Eliot Prize in poetry
Roger Robinson's poetry collection explores the theme of paradise, with topics ranging from London's tragic Grenfell Tower fire to the Windrush controversy, presented in bold, raw, and honest ways.
13 February 2020
Broadcasters from Nigeria join global celebration of World Radio Day 2020
Nigerian broadcasters joined radio practitioners around the world to honor the powerful role that radio plays in global development on World Radio Day, February 13, 2020.
8 February 2020
‘L Japan’: Kobe couple vlogs about lesbian life
Get an introduction to Japanese lesbian slang and more on this YouTube channel by Kobe residents Miho and Clare.
6 February 2020
Barbadian poet Kamau Brathwaite leaves behind a legacy of language
"His use of nation language and the breadth of work he produced leaves an indelible mark on us all."
Bengali, Pakistani, and Amazon indigenous women perform ‘The rapist is you’ song
The flashmob by Chilean collective Las Tesis is still making waves around the world.
5 February 2020
A novel about a Mexican family who migrates to the US comes under fire
"That Lydia is so shocked by her own country’s day-to-day realities gives the impression that Lydia might not be… a credible Mexican. In fact, she perceives her own country through...
4 February 2020
A Mexican engraver revives a mostly-forgotten Russian printmaking tradition
Interview with Alejandro Barreto, the engraver who makes unique Mexican lubki.
Nationalist, socialist, and now feminist: The many facets of Czech author Božena Němcová
February 4 marks the 200th anniversary of her birth. Over the past two centuries, Němcová has been remembered for different aspects of her life and work, usually picked to fit...
1 February 2020
‘Mario Kart’ cosplay company crashes and burns after appealing Nintendo ruling
Patrons were encouraged to dress up in costumes provided by Maricart as characters from Nintendo's popular 'Mario Kart' series and 'race' around the city, but those days are over.
30 January 2020
Nigeria's Operation Àmò̩té̩kùn: Was it named after a leopard, cheetah or tiger?
Linguists who study Yorùbá have long taken issue with ascribing meaning of the word àmò̩té̩kùn interchangeably with the leopard, cheetah and tiger.
29 January 2020
Africa's creative industries get a half-billion-dollar boost by big banks
“Because of underinvestment in the creative and cultural industries, Africa is largely absent in the global market of ideas, values and aesthetics," said Benedict Oramah, president of Afreximbank.
27 January 2020
Red palm fruit flourishes in Côte d'Ivoire, despite national shortage
In the sprawling markets of Côte d'Ivoire, red palm oil is sold in open-air stands in recycled plastic bottles by women. The original red palm tree originates in West Africa.
25 January 2020
A sea of red: Celebrating the Chinese New Year
The 2020 Lunar New Year, which began at midnight on January 24, will last for several days.
22 January 2020
Pakistani director halts release of award-winning film after receiving threats
"They are holding a film hostage for all the wrong reasons and there is nothing we can do about it."
21 January 2020
Yorùbá loanwords: How languages evolve
Using Yorùbá words in their original forms helps ensure that culture — kept alive through language — continues to thrive.
20 January 2020
Restoration of Trinidad and Tobago's heritage buildings stirs debate
The restoration of heritage buildings in Trinidad and Tobago has sparked a national conversation on whether this is the best use of public funds.
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar arrested in Bangladesh for ‘insulting’ Islam
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar is accused of making comments which hurt the “religious sentiment” of Muslims. He says that there is no evidence forbidding music in Islam.
