Stories about Arts & Culture from December, 2022
Russia weaponizes cultural awards: It’s not all the same who is awarding a prize
"To accept a prize awarded by an institution that supports the military aggression of Russia on Ukraine means extending personal support to this aggression."
Welcome the new year with these joyful traditions from Latin America
We share some cheerful, curious, superstitious, and adventurous customs from Latin America to say goodbye to the old year and open a new chapter in our lives.
A Buryat voice calling on Russia to decolonize : Interview with Instagrammer Seseg Jigjitova
According to statistics, Russia is home to over 190 ethnic groups in which ethnic Russians account for around 80 percent of the total 146 million population. Yet Moscow maintains a Russian-centric discourse largely inherited from a Soviet colonial tradition. But its invasion of Ukraine has triggered new anti-colonial and anti-war...
The year in review: What the Caribbean looked like in 2022
The stories the Global Voices Caribbean team covered this year saw a stronger leaning towards pressing concerns like the environment and crime.
Trinidad & Tobago's calypsonian Black Stalin, the quintessential ‘Caribbean Man,’ dies at 81
A fiercely independent thinker and lyricist, throughout his long and vibrant career Stalin always managed to put a highly original, intelligent spin on the issues of the day.
Inside my bounty: Raghda's journey
Raghda shares with us her fascinating journey to recovery from depression brought on by social isolation as a result of her childhood fluency disorder.
For school New Year's Eve parties in Moscow, some music is apparently deemed inappropriate
The list includes 29 artists. Some of them, such as Little Big and Manizha, represented Russia at Eurovideo contest. All of them have explicitely condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Self-taught Trinidadian photographer Jason C. Audain pushes boundaries with the use of AI
While some photographers may rue the day AI had such an impact, autodidact Jason C. Audain, known for his images of traditional Trinidad and Tobago Carnival characters, thinks otherwise.
‘The Balkans are Europe's Latin America in many beautiful ways,’ says Albanian writer
Cultural mediators between the Balkans and the Hispanic worlds are scarce. Elvi Sidheri is one of them. As an Albanian author and translator, he has traveled across countries and literary fields.
Classical dance pushes the bounds of traditional gender identities in Cambodia
"The act of performing is constantly crossing lines of gender, time, space and even species."
Documentary about the 1920s Volga famine is prohibited in Russia but broadcasted on YouTube
A Russian documentary covering the 1921–1923 famine in the Volga region is banned by the Russian government for unclear reasons, but made available online on YouTube.
Art curator Mark Pereira's murder during a home invasion leaves Trinbagonian netizens nervous about crime
Trinbagonian art dealer Mark Pereira was shot and killed on December 19, apparently during an attempted robbery. The loss has plunged the art community into mourning and reignited concerns about crime.
Cartoonist Kianoush Ramazani: Hope in Iran during turbulent times
Award-winning political cartoonist and activist Kianoush Ramazani offers his thoughts on the Iranian people's resilience during the current demonstrations and the place of political cartoons among other forms of expression.
In the midst of Trinidad & Tobago's parang season, calypsonian Singing Francine passes on
Her music had a melodious quality, with strong hooks that encouraged listeners to sing along, no matter how serious the topic — a mellifluence that helped her seamlessly transition to parang.
The journey of Trinidad's parang music, in one informative podcast
"Parang is not just a music of joy at the birth of Christ, but also tells part of the story of conquest and conversion."
‘How the fuck is it possible?': Russian rapper releases anti-war album
Vladi, a lead singer of popular rap music group, now prohibited in Russia, released a new album, “February Lasts and Lasts.” It describes how incomprehensible and horrifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine is.
The last of the Tharu traditional healers of Nepal
The traditional healers from the Tharu indigenous community in Nepal with ethnobotanical knowledge are bound to disappear soon because of no interest from the young generation to continue the practice.
These culturally conscious African fashion designers are leading another sportswear revolution
“I decided to create something that was tailored for African bodies with a print that represented my tribe,” said Jabulile Gwala, founder of Siko Republik
Twitter account “No Context Russia” is sad yet hilarious
A Twitter account shows images from Russia without context, portraying the country in sad and ironic tones.
