Stories about Arts & Culture from September, 2024
Some Caribbean podcasts to tune into on International Podcast Day
After a somewhat slow start, Caribbean influencers began to embrace the format over the past decade, as Internet usage in the region increased — and many have established regular audiences.
Russia’s hybrid book censorship and propagandistic agenda
The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, among other books, are suspected of spreading “LGBT propaganda.”
Iran’s new president must address repression of artists, dissidents at UN Assembly
"Forced confessions, work bans, and restrictions on mobility as lesser-known tactics of the Iranian regime, which nonetheless have powerful effects on victims."
Trinidad & Tobago renames its premier performance auditorium after trailblazing pianist Winifred Atwell
In reassessing the ways in which colonial narratives continue to be upheld through statuary and other symbols, renaming the beloved performance space for a native daughter has been well received.
A controversial dancehall star appears on a political stage: Why are some Jamaicans concerned?
"[I]t is a fact that individuals popular with the public — [including] former notorious criminals, sportsmen [and] entertainers — can help mobilize votes for a political party [...] especially in close elections."
Women’s plight in the Sahel: A central issue in Djaïli Amadou Amal’s works
Women in Sahel countries face a daily onslaught of abuse that society refuses to address. Only through literature can we break taboos and open a discussion on this matter.
Iranian artist Homa Ebrahimpour discusses censorship, sculpture, and defying boundaries
The 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement "profoundly impacted Ebrahimpour’s approach, encouraging her to create and share works that she had previously hidden, including sculptures and paintings that explore the female form."
‘Truth deserves to be seen’: Artists decry film censorship in the Philippines
Two Philippine films were given X-ratings, and therefore banned from airing in theaters, angering cinephiles and free-speech activists alike.
‘The Goat Life’: The film that angered the Saudis
The film's portrayal of inhumane treatment under the kafala system ignites conversations about workers' rights and systemic exploitation in the Gulf.
Australian Ghost Nets Art: Indigenous people turning trash into treasure
'It’s estimated that ghost gear makes up at least 10% of marine litter. This roughly translates to between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear abandoned in the ocean each year.'
Regional Award honoring Milan Mladenović highlights creativity of young rock bands from former Yugoslavia
The five finalists of Milan Mladenović Award contest include young performers and bands, representing the avant garde of contemporary music in the region of former Yugoslavia, chosen by an international jury.
Why aren't Caribbean artists better funded?
A series of recent, sizeable grants from a US-based arts and humanities foundation has regional artists hoping that this endorsement will inspire regional financial investors to follow suit.
Does ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ conquer the game world with its free spirit or China’s soft power?
Some believe that China's desire to promote its soft power has contributed to the game's popularity, others see the creating team's will to confront the destiny of the gaming sector.
Bridging biology and art: An interview with Nigerian artist Samuel Ubong
“My artwork captures the paradox of life's brevity and nature's infinite rhythms.” The artist tells this story from the first to the last painting in his "Metanoia" series.
Shaping Nepal's reading culture: An interview with Saguna Shah, founder of bOOkahOlics
Global Voices interviewed Saguna Shah, founder of bOOkahOlics, Nepal’s largest online book club, to explore her impact on transforming Nepal’s reading culture and connecting Nepali readers.
Making documentaries for select audiences: Interview with Nepali filmmaker Rajan Kathet
To understand the challenges and joys of documentary filmmaking — a rare profession in Nepal — Global Voices spoke to Rajan Kathet, a Kathmandu-based filmmaker.
Roy Cape, whose music provided the beat of Trinidad & Tobago Carnival, dies leaving a precious legacy
While some described Cape as “the Duke Ellington of calypso,” he had his own signature style and was always completely himself, leaving a unique stamp on the region's musical identity.
Jamaican Safiya Sinclair, author of ‘How to Say Babylon,’ reflects on her journey
“It was always about saying no to Babylon [...] a huge part of our childhood, figuring out the binary of us versus them, inside the house versus outside the gate.”
Cairns fair showcases northern Queensland Indigenous art with style
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair featured paintings, works on paper such as etchings and linocuts, fashion, photography, sculpture, ceramics, 3D creations using a wide variety of materials, and more.
