· January, 2007

Stories about Arts & Culture from January, 2007

Haiti: Pre-Carnival Festivities A Blast for All

  31 January 2007

Due to regained security in the capital, pre-carnival festivities in Port-au-Prince have been about as well attended as carnival itself, says (Fr) HaitiXchange. Adds the site: “Marching bands and the better known DJs were all part of the festivities. People came from everywhere: Petion Ville, Delmas, Cite Soleil, Martissant…in order...

Haiti, France: Creole Language Catholic Mass in Marseilles

  31 January 2007

Collectif Haiti de Provence reports (Kr) on a Creole language mass that took place last Sunday in Marseilles, France for the Haitian community there: “More than 120 people showed up in their Sunday best. Restless young men weren't very excited about the music and hymns but they still showed up…...

Bolivian Bloggers Give Their Verdict

  31 January 2007

This time last year, Bolivia and the rest of the world was buzzing about the inauguration of President Evo Morales and the novelty of it all. With approval ratings at sky-high levels, many wondered and were hopeful about the upcoming year. Would he follow through with all of his campaign...

Czech Rebublic: Dechovka Music

  30 January 2007

NvB: Bored in Brno writes about dechovka music and posts a YouTube video of Eva and Vasek, “the most successful musical group in the [Czech] Republic from the standpoint of record sales”: “Happy listening! And remember, every Czech is not just a musician but also a dancer.”

Japan: marriage stats

  30 January 2007

Adamu highlights some figures in the recent marriage statistics in Japan: In 1995, most internationally marrying Japanese men (35%) took Filipina brides, while a quarter of them married Chinese women. In 2005, the tables were turned, with only 30% marrying Filipinas and 35% marrying Chinese.

Peru: Personal Vs. Erotic

  30 January 2007

Noting the recent rise in popularity of erotic and sex blogs at the Blogs Perú directory (the three most popular blogs are Peru Macho, Naked Peruvians, and A Little Wet), Juan Arellano wonders [ES] if they should be separated into a category of their own.

French Caribbean DOMs: Welcoming Vaval, King of Carnival

  29 January 2007

Mas a kle, a Guadeloupe mas bandUploaded by Akynou No sooner were the 2006 holidays over that Martiniquans, Guadeloupeans and Guianese were kicking off the prelude to “Vaval”, their affectionate nickname for carnival which will take place in February, in a three-day celebration peaking on “Mardi Gras”, the “fat tuesday”...

Guadeloupe: Invited to Brooklyn's Labor Day Parade 2007

  29 January 2007

Atout-Guadeloupe explains that Guadeloupe has been invited to Brooklyn's West Indian Day parade in 2007 and notes (Fr): “It is an important event for Guadeloupean culture to be parading in Brooklyn, NY in 2007! Since October 2006, 5 carnival bands have converged into a single association , “K'Ribeens” to prepare...

Pakistan: Lahore and across the border

  29 January 2007

Prosenoma goes to Pakistan, and discovers much warmth and beauty. “When we segregate people for long, the lines between fact and fiction blur. Our curiosity leads us to lap up any information thrown at us and in order to know the other, we start relying on anything offered – second-hand...

Nigeria/Sierra Leone: Nollywood goes to Sierra Leone

  29 January 2007

Naija Vixen writes about Nollywood stars visiting Sierra Leone to shoot a Sierra Leonean film, Bai Bure Goes to War, “The script which was written by Abu Noah portrays the traditional and cultural values of the northern Temne ethnic group and the conflicts between local rulers and the British colonial...

Senegal: contemporary Senegalese musician

  29 January 2007

Benn Loxo writes about the Senegalese musician, Chérif Mbaw, “Chérif Mbaw has the voice of a young Youssou, the guitar of Pape & Cheikh and the feel of Cheikh Lô. In other words, he sounds like everything I like about contemporary Senegalese music.”

South Africa: 27dinner in Johannesburg

  29 January 2007

Chilibean blogs about the first 27Dinner in Johannesburg, “27 is a get together, held on the 27th day of each month for geeks, marketers, entrepreneurs, writers, media practitioners, speakers – well, just about anybody who is keen – to share ideas and news and opinions over food and drink. Alternating...

China: year of the pig

  29 January 2007

The lunar new year of pig is approaching, Hayford at China History group blog writes about the meaning of pig in different cultures.