Stories about Arts & Culture from December, 2009
Bangladesh: Celebrating New Year Twice
Saad Hammadi at Of Diaries And Experiences reminds that Bangladesh is reversing the clock by an hour to go back to Bangladesh’s geographic timing: “Thus, the 31st will last for 25 hours. For the party goers, how better could it be than celebrating the new year twice!”
Bhutan: Snowfall And Holiday
“Nobody seems to know when it started or how it started, but tradition dictates that Thimphu residents – especially public servants – avoid going to office on the day the city receives its first snowfall of the season,” informs Tshering Tobgay from Bhutan.
South Asia: Looking Back At 2009
The year 2009 is ending and its time to retrospect how the year has been for the South Asian region. In a two-part review we will look back at some of the major events which took place this year in the South Asian countries seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists.
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
Armenia: Culture vulture
Ianyan interviews Anush Babajanyan, an Armenian photographer who particularly focuses on issues such as gender in Armenia and the homeless in the country's second largest city, Gyumri.
Caucasus: The color of pomegranates
Ianyan waxes lyrically about its love of pomegranates, a fruit synonymous with many countries in and around the South Caucasus such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.
Japan: 2009 Tokyo Art Scene
William Andrews at the Tokyo Art Beat blog reviews the Tokyo art scene for the past year: “It was a nervous year, with the world-wide economic crisis always lurking.”
Russia, U.S.: Billy Joel in 1987
Siberian Light writes about Billy Joel, “who stumped up $2.5 million of his own cash, and became the first American rock star to tour the Soviet Union with a fully staged show” in 1987.
Hungary: Faluház/”Village House” in Budapest
BudapestZin writes about the renovation of Faluház/”Village House,” Budapest's largest apartment building: “In 844 apartments, more than 3000 people live in this building. That is approximately the population of an average Hungarian village.”
Russia: Stroganina in Yakutia
AskYakutia.com writes about stroganina, “the first traditional dish that will be offered you to try in Yakutia in winter.”
India: Ten Lessons From Three Idiots
Amreekan Desi was not only impressed with Aaamir Khan's latest Bollywood blockbuster ‘3 idiots’ but also learnt a lot from the movie. The blogger takes a satirical look at ten lessons from the movie.
Jamaica: Over Hills and Valleys
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Afrobella blogs about reggae superstar Buju Banton at his best and worst, prompting Jamaican Annie Paul to respond: “Just as you…have pointed out the good and bad sides of Buju…it's necessary also to nuance what homosexuality represents in cultures such as Jamaica, that homosexuality too has its...
Brazil: New Year's Eve fashion in São Paulo
Polyana De Oliveira blogs about the many Brazilian traditions for New Year's Eve, from outfits to food.
Bahamas, Jamaica: Jonkonnu & Christmas
“We tend to forget — or, more probably, we don’t know — that Junkanoo in the Bahamas is not unique”: Nicolette Bethel provides “a taste of what happens in Jamaica at Christmas…”
Myanmar bans western instruments in local orchestras
According to The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's Ministry of Culture has ordered the country's traditional orchestras not to use western musical instruments.
Japan: And the kanji of 2009 is …
Blogger fenetre39 comments [ja] on the kanji, or chinese character, chosen by the Kanji Kentei Foundation as representative of 2009. The kanji is 新 (ara or shin), meaning “new”. In the blogger`s opinion, the reason of the choice [ja] is mainly due to the “new” government that took power in August.
Bangladesh: Celebrating Winter
“Winter is the best and most enjoyable season of Bangladesh,” comments photoblogger Monirul Alam.
Haiti: Carnival
Wadner Pierre blogs about Carnival celebrations in Haiti.
Japan: Best & Worst of the Japanese Decade
Some pictures by photographer Manny Santiago collected under the title Best & Worst of the Japanese decade.
China and Hong Kong: Bodyguards and Assassins
Bodyguards and Assassins is an action movie released during Christmas in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a patriotic film, it was originally set to release in October for celebrating the 60th year anniversary of PRC but deferred until the end of 2009. In contrast with the Founding of a...
Rwanda: Videos of volunteering
A series of videos uploaded by user kdarpa on youtube, featuring a group of volunteers and the people they met while they travelled to Rwanda and worked with local communities.
