Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2019
As Jamaica seeks the return of Taino artefacts from Britain, relics at home may not be safe
Through the National Commission on Reparations, the Jamaican government says it's working to have world-renowned wooden Taino artefacts returned — but do the museums first need to higher standards?
Rendition of Trinidad & Tobago's national anthem strikes wrong note with the country's president
The performance of the anthem may have been different, but was it inappropriate, or as the president suggested, disrespectful?
Tanzania's first and only classic car club pays homage to Remmy Ongala, old school musical legend
Oldschool Rides Tanzania, a club devoted to restoring and celebrating vintage cars in Tanzania and the region, organized a classic car show to honor Tanzanian music legend Remmy Ongala.
Alphonse Mucha's surprising influence on Japanese manga, anime and “light novels”
In Japan, manga, anime and even 'light novel' creators all claim early an 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau artist and illustrator as an influence.
‘Kingston Creative’ breathes new life into Jamaica’s downtown district
With the involvement of 100+ volunteers and more than 20 community groups, Kingston Creative is reinvigorating Jamaica's capital with its ongoing #PaintTheCity mural project.
Here are some of Moldovan pop music's contributions to global meme culture
Few people remember this, but two popular memes known around the world are actually Moldovan in origin.
Vitriolic response to art exhibit tests the limits of freedom of speech in Japan
A controversial art exhibition at an arts festival in Japan has led to government criticism, threats, at least one arrest, protests by artists and questions about freedom of expression.
Nepal’s only folk musical instrument museum is struggling to save rare instruments
Nepal's only museum on musical instruments is facing eviction amidst lack of support from researchers and general visitors. Global Voices talks to Ram Prasad Kadel, the founder, and curator.
‘The external world doesn't know how rich Nepali literature is': An interview with author Dr. Sangita Swechcha
"Not only is [the number of] Nepali writers who write in English slowly growing but the translation of literary works from Nepali to other languages is gaining momentum too."
Nigerian creatives bid farewell to Toni Morrison, who wrote race into American consciousness
"The function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you explaining over and over again, your reason for being." — Toni Morrison
A Hong Kong artist’s ‘surreal’ depiction of the anti-extradition protests
In addition to the Lennon Wall, the artist's work has likened the protesters to superheroes, compared protest power to Dragon Ball Z, and depicted the protesters fighting against Gozilla.
‘I am a Hongkonger’: Artist Ai Weiwei on why he supports the city’s protest movement
'Freedom of expression is the most important weapon to combat authoritarianism. Authoritarians simply have no imagination, and without that, they have no future.'
