Stories about Arts & Culture from April, 2020
‘Language revolt': This activist tweets against erasure of first languages in South Africa
A language reclamation activist confronts linguistic imperialism and the dehumanisation of two South African first languages through digital inclusion advocacy.
Women conquer space in Bolivia's Carnival of Oruro
Long excluded from the festival, woman and non-binary people have now claimed their place.
Trinidadian Tony Hall, visionary of ‘play and performance’, leaves behind a precious legacy
In a career that spanned five decades — in his words, “play and performance in space, street, stage and screen” — nothing Hall ever worked on was short of original ideas.
A selection of Latin American and Caribbean ‘coronavirus songs’
The songs' mood range from solemn to humorous.
Pre-Hispanic inspiration, struggle, and satire: The art of Mexico's Manuel Ruelas
"In Mexico, the ultimate misfortune is death. That is why this is a recurring concept in my work."
Russians under lockdown (re)create famous artworks online
The Izoizolyatsiya photo challenge has become a national obsession. To the RuNet's delight, thousands of Russians are recreating famous artworks using ordinary household items — in hilarious and often bizarre ways.
Top Japanese pop stars upload music to YouTube to boost spirits during lockdown
With their spring and summer stadium tours canceled, a variety of Japanese pop superstars decided to help lift the spirits of fans who were now largely confined to home.
Nepali cartoonists illustrate the country’s COVID-19 crisis
Nepali cartoonists use satire and comedy to depict the country under lockdown.
Liberia's President George Weah sings his fight against COVID-19
Despite a message and movement solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 in Liberia, President George Weah still faces critique over a tanking economy and restricted media.
Caribbean netizens take to ‘extempo’ music to spread COVID-19 safety messages
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people from all over the region and throughout the diaspora are trying their lyrical prowess in a COVID-19 extempo challenge.
In Russia's far east, a feminist theatre director comes under attack
Yulia Tsvetkova was building a community in her hometown in Russia's far east — until she was targeted by violent homophobes and a hostile police.
Caribbean cooking in the time of COVID-19
"Make whatever your comfort food is and know that if we all sacrifice for a few weeks for the greater good, we will help stop the spread of this virus."
Bangladeshis turn to video sites during COVID-19 lockdown
Affordable access to 4G services in Bangladesh over the last two years caused YouTube viewership to skyrocket; now, the COVID-19 lockdown will spur further growth.
A king’s belief in herbal remedies to cure COVID-19 butts up against science in Nigeria
This Nigerian king believes that natural herbs can cure COVID-19. But making unverified claims via Twitter to thousands of followers can be misleading — and dangerous — to the public.
Fans and colleagues pay respects to late Italian comics author Giovanni Romanini
Romanini was acclaimed as a life-long collaborator of the late comics legend Magnus.
