Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2015
Odia Wikipedia Set to Celebrate 13 Years of Volunteer Contributions

A project that was virtually unknown a few years back with monthly page views in the low thousands recorded 8,08,834 page views in March 2015 alone.
Syrian Antiques on Sale on Facebook
Ancient Syrian antiques, looted from ISIS controlled areas, are being peddled on Facebookand sold on the black market for millions.
Sex, Religion and Politics Collide in ‘Dirty Paki Lingerie’
Pakistani-American Aizzah Fatima has brought her one-woman play to all sorts of venues in recent years. Even the play's title offends some. It's called: Dirty Paki Lingerie.
How Kyrgyzstan's Favourite Fermented Drink Became a National Symbol
'I started to save money for a car, but couldn't resist the temptation to buy Shoro.'
‘Go to Sleep, My Child’ With Lullabies from Around the World

Lullabies are universal in that it helps babies connect to language while providing soothing sounds for sleep. Explore lullabies from around the world.
Migrant Tragedies: ‘Behind the Statistics Are Individual Life Stories and Grieving Families’
"If Africa's youth comes to believe that its future lies elsewhere, it will be impossible to solve the issue of migration," says Souleymane Bachir Diagne.
Singapore Bans Music Video for Its Pro-LGBT Content
"How ironic is it that on the same day Singapore bans a song with gay marriage content, Ireland votes in favor of it?"
It's a Small (Social Media) World, After All
Instagram snapshot of kimono-clad Kyoto resident connects two strangers on social media.
On Dubai's Roads, Women Hop on Harleys and Shatter Stereotypes
You might not expect to see women riding motorcycles if you took to the UAE's roads, but a group of women from all over the world are doing just that.
This Mexican Author Says Languages Aren't Straitjackets, but Tools to Start a Bilingual Conversation
Cristina Rivera Garza used to publish only in Spanish, but after 25 years in the US, she says writing in both Spanish and English brings tremendous richness to her experience.
Amateur Cartoonist Lands Radioactive Drone on Japanese Prime Minister's House
Yasuo Yamamoto's drone carried a small amount of radioactive soil from Fukushima. Japanese netizens quickly discovered that he maintained a blog and published original manga of an unsettling nature.
In Japan, a Social Network Dedicated Entirely to Weather News
Like weather? Interested in citizen journalism? A Japan-fan to boot? SoLive24 may be the social network for you.
Award-Winning Photos Capture the Indigenous Tao People on Taiwan’s Orchid Island
An increase in tourists has the Tao people worried about new challenges to their fishing way of life.
Turkey's Selfie-Taking Ottoman Prince Statue Is Down but Not Out
An Ottoman prince took a snap of himself looking rather bronzed on the Black Sea coast. Now he is recuperating having been robbed of his sword and phone.
Israeli Professor Shows the World: ‘This Is What a Feminist Looks Like’
Hebrew University of Jerusalem professor Dr Sydney Engelberg shot to internet stardom after his photograph comforting a fussy baby while continuing to teach went viral, reports Maya Norton
Can Electronic Games Accelerate Ghana's Development?
Join Accra Technology salon that will take place on May 26th, 2015. The theme of the salon is Games for Ghana’s Development: Electronic games are a two trillion dollar global...
Amaal Said’s Portraits of Belonging: An Interview
Zachary Rosen interviews photographer/poet Amaal Said. Amaal was born in Denmark to Somali parents and is currently based in London: AIAC: Your photographs are remarkable in how they challenge and...
Why Arabic Script on the Walls Might Not Stop Public Urination in Dhaka
"There is only one toilet in the capital Dhaka for every 150,000 people, out of which many are not usable."
How a Traditional African Game Spread Throughout the World

An ancient strategy game enjoyed from the villages of the Sahel to the Mozambique Channel's fishing communities shows how intermingled Africa's cultures are.
A Tribute to Espíritu Bautista, Defender of the Yanesha Language and Culture

Anna Luisa Daigneault worked with the late Espíritu Bautista preserving Yanesha language and culture. She writes a tribute to her friend sharing his words from the Yanesha Oral History Archives.
Russia's Indefatigable Absurdists

Every year on May 1, thousands of Russians stage a public celebration of absurdity in a handful of cities across Siberia called "Monstration."