Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2017
From Afro-Spanish Identity to De-colonial Studies in Anthropology
"Today I want to believe that we are in a different phase, with greater empowerment, visibility, and recognition of African descended populations, although there is still a lot of ignorance."
Macedonian ‘Moby-Dick’ Translator Ognen Čemerski, 42, Was a Meticulous Linguist and Engaged Educator
Čemerski passed away on August 25 of cancer. Beyond literature, he was remembered as someone who made thoughtful commentary about the tense state of affairs in Macedonia.
New Zealand Artists Launch ‘We Are Beneficiaries’ Social Media Campaign to Highlight Welfare Concerns
My wish for Work and Income New Zealand is that they treat our older citizens with deep respect, especially if they are caring for grandchildren."
Could Trinidad and Tobago’s Media Shake Up Usher in a Return to ‘Total Local’ Programming?
While the commitment to local content excites filmmakers and media producers, state media employees share concerns over job security, especially in a slow economy.
A Look at Some of Syria's Destroyed Heritage
"This is like blowing up the Taj Mahal or destroying the Acropolis in Athens. This is a disaster."
A New Documentary Shows the Human Side of Male Sex Work in Japan
"The clients are powerful," says one interviewee in "Boys For Sale." "I end up giving in... So no matter what the customer forces me to do. I cannot really refuse."
Dear Tanzanian Cinephiles, Your Local Film Industry Needs Your Support
Tanzania is blessed with countless stories and young people who are craving to tell them. But they need their compatriots' support in order to succeed.
A Kenyan artist designs revolutionary ‘kanga’ celebrating queer love around the world
"We need to open up a space to talk more about sex, and then artists like me want to open that up even more, to talk about queerness."
Malaysian Political Cartoonist Zunar Sues Police for Unlawful Arrest, Seizure of Books
"You can ban my books, you can ban my cartoons, but you cannot ban my mind. I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink."
Three Generations of Jamaican Textile Artists Reflect Strong Women's Voices
“Unresolved injustices are not acceptable […] With this exhibition, I chose to focus on creating a space for healing, of sanctuaries for those to whom justice has been unrequited.”
A Viral Rap Battle Has Everyone in Russia—Including Business Journalists and Politicians—Talking
Even opposition leader Alexey Navalny weighed in, saying despite the profanity, the raps are "100 times more cultural than any comedy show or song contest you see on state television."
2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Winner Trinidadian Ingrid Persaud Talks Writing
"When you are not writing, you should be reading. Writers are never off duty."
Music Group Bokanté Serves Up Songs in the Key of Creole
The fusion of West African music, Mississippi Delta blues and Caribbean rhythms are what the band Bokanté is all about.
Record-Breaking Action Movie ‘Wolf Warriors 2′ Takes Chinese Nationalism to a New Level
"This movie is horrible and unreasonable, a dream of idiotic patriotism."
Jordanian Rapper Emsallam Hdaib Talks About LGBTQ+ Rights, Freedom of Expression, and Resistance
“Sometimes it feels like Jordan is an open air prison especially when you think of visiting the nearest countries to it.”
Maitree Express: The Friendship Train Between India and Bangladesh
"The Kolkata-Khulna (Maitree Express) train has been relaunched 52 years after the Indo Pakistan War 1965. Cheers!"
In Venezuela, Theater is also Part of the Resistance
"Theater is the way you can take everything that is happening, filter it, see it from another point of view. It connects you with something emotionally, asks you questions."
Think You've Mastered Tongue Twisters? Try Them in Lezgi!
While widely spoken in the Caucasus, Lezgi is an endangered language. But YouTube users are doing their best to save it.
The New Wave of Independent Musicians Performing in Moroccan Arabic
“The alternative scene embodies freedom in genre; freedom to explore and create new genres”.
Five Days After His Essay Went Viral, Chinese Author Apologizes for ‘Imprecise’ Writing on Beijing's Economic Boom
Zhang's viral essay commented on Beijing's rapid economic and architectural development and rising economic inequality.
Bulgarian Wikipedia Announces National Entries for ‘Wiki Loves Earth’ Photo Contest
Wikipedia Bulgaria announced the top 10 photos that will represent Bulgaria in the "Wiki Loves Earth" international photo contest.