Stories about Arts & Culture from November, 2023
The death and rebirth of the distinctive sounds of Zambia
Zambia’s contemporary music has not only evolved to become diverse in genre but in gender too; many female artists are pushing back against the historically patriarchal music space.
‘Well, well, well': What the fuss about Trinidad & Tobago's national anthem is all about
Trinidad and Tobago soca singer Iwer George's use of the country's national anthem in his Carnival 2024 track “Happy People” made many people decidedly unhappy.
Democratic Republic of Congo: What to read and who to follow to understand the social and political situation
The pre-election period is often fuelled by socio-political debates and the media serves as an ideal format for the candidates to make themselves heard by the masses.
What is a Jab Molassie, and does it have a place in promoting Tobago's tourism offering?
The masquerade is rooted in rebellion, and various iterations of this devil character exist throughout the Caribbean.
Undertones: What pop culture tells us about Myanmar’s politics
Democracy activists say that military junta is investing in the entertainment industry to distract people from the violent regime.
Russian artist Alexandra Skochilenko addresses the court in Saint Petersburg at her trial over anti-war messages
"My trial, widely followed in Russia and globally, will make history, regardless of the verdict. You're not judging a terrorist, extremist, or even a political activist. You're judging a pacifist."
Neville Garrick, the Jamaican artist who captured Bob Marley’s legacy in his designs, passes away at age 73
Garrick was famous for designing the vibrant covers for the reggae icon’s most acclaimed albums, but he was also a devout Rastafarian, political activist and creative.
Members of Belarusian band behind 2020 protest songs receive draconian sentences
"We are not cattle, cattle and cowards, we are a living people, we are Belarusians!" sang the Tor Band. Now their member are in prison with sentences up to nine years.
Malagasy political crisis viewed through the lens of photographer Rijasolo
In the lead up to Madagascar’s highly contested presidential election, Global Voices interviewed Malagasy photographer, Rijasolo, who has been covering the latest political events using striking images.
Jazzing up the ‘Mandu’ for 20 years
“Initially, we were met with some reluctance and confusion regarding jazz, but now there is no need to explain, Jazzmandu has put both jazz and Kathmandu on the map.”
Myanmar anti-junta activist pens a rap song seeking justice for his murdered parents
"I want to create a piece of art that will last and that demands justice for my parents, in case I die before the revolution succeeds."
In Gabon, music is a tool for visibility both inside and outside the country
In Gabon, music has the power to fuse tradition and modernity, and use globalization to its advantage.
In Georgia, backsliding has taken over culture and art, says a new report
Those who spoke to PEN American said the repression reminded them of the Soviet occupation, "during which all art and culture was systematically repressed or exploited for government propaganda purposes."
Translation as a voyage of discovery in the literal sense: Story of an adventure in Tibetan lands
How to translate into French a Tibetan author who writes in Chinese about profoundly Tibetan realities? A Global Voices interview with the project participants.
