· April, 2010

Stories about Arts & Culture from April, 2010

Benin: Iyanda's diary in Benin

  30 April 2010

Funmi's diary about her visit and filming experience in Benin: “After all the mystery and hushed tones l had experienced during the research about the holy Aruosa church, l had expected a much more impressive building but the church was pretty nondescript.”

China: Swiss army knife, meet the PLA super shovel

  30 April 2010

It chops, saws, snips, rips through clay rock, helps you up cliffs and slices your potatoes: it's the People's Liberation Army multifunction shovel. Seen here in this limited speed viral video, order yours today by calling this number — FREE SHIPPING WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Japan: Plastic duck race

  29 April 2010

Photoreporter Damoncoulter uploaded original pictures of the duck race held at the second Ashigara River festival in Matsuda city (south of Tokyo). Some hundred yellow, plastic ducks are emptied into the river and “the monies raised are plowed back into environmental organizations that clean up the river and Ashigara area.”

Japan: Kabuki Theatre to be Rebuilt

  29 April 2010

One of the most recognizable buildings in Japan, the grand, old Kabuki-za in Ginza is closing this month. It will be torn down and become a theater and office complex with direct connections to the subway station. Be sure to click this link to see a sketch of the planned...

Video: Three Latin American Viral Sensations Unite for Israel

  28 April 2010

Through the Latin American social networks there is a new video spreading like wildfire: it unites three of the most recent viral video sensations in one. Peruvian La Tigresa del Oriente, Wendy Sulca and Ecuadorian Delfin Quishpe virtually united to sing "I'll dance in your lands", a song about Israel. None of them have visited Israel, but that didn't stop them from singing about the beauty of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Guyana: More than bravado

  27 April 2010

Signifyin’ Guyana thinks the actions of the country's President have something endearing about them, adding: “I hope it turns out to be a lasting positive part of his legacy…”

Martinique, Guadeloupe: Celebrating two great women

  27 April 2010

Imaniyé pays homage [Fr] to Martinican-born actress, Jenny Alpha, who, at nearly 100 years of age, is the oldest French artist alive, while CaribCreoleNews announces [Fr] two events in memory of Guadeloupe's first female lawyer, communist and feminist activist, Gerty Archimede, who would have turned 101 this year.

India, Bangladesh: The Distinctiveness Between Two Bengals

  26 April 2010

Before 1956, Bengali cinema meant cinemas from West Bengal (India) but the trend become distinctive afterwards in both the Bengals. Fahmidul Haq at Communication and Culture of Bangladesh comments that “the distinctiveness between two Bengals is getting clearer as time passes.”

Japan: The art of making Sake

  25 April 2010

A few pictures by Buddhika illustrate the art of making sake, the alcholic beverage made from rice. The photographer portrays some workers at a sake distillery in Fukui Prefecture.

Video: Discovering the Origins of a World Cup Song

  23 April 2010

You've probably heard the song, and Chief Boima of WFMU's Beware of the Blog in New Jersey decided to track down the origins of the “Waka Waka” song,  which is the 2010  FIFA World Cup Anthem to be sung by Shakira in South Africa.  Check out his post to see...

India: The Rickshaw Challenge Race

  23 April 2010

Rohit Bhargava at Influential Marketing Blog writes about The Rickshaw Challenge, which is “a series of road races where participants can choose their own rickshaws and race across parts of India”. You can read live updates from the teams on the race blog.

Russia, Poland: The Truth About Katyn

RuNet Echo  23 April 2010

Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about Andrzej Wajda’s 2007 film Katyń, which has been shown twice in Russia in the past few weeks (reactions from the Russian blogosphere are here) – and comments that the truth about the massacre is “only coming out now in the former Soviet Union...

Jamaica: 10 Years of Calabash

  22 April 2010

Litblogger Geoffrey Philp blogs about the 10th annual Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, saying: “This year’s event will bring together an extraordinary mix of new and established writers from around the world for the most anticipated annual literary event in the Caribbean region.”