Stories about Arts & Culture from October, 2010
Jamaica: Farewell to the “Cool Ruler”
Jamaican reggae icon Gregory Isaacs, popularly known as the “Cool Ruler”, died this morning at this home in London, after a long battle with cancer. Possessing one of the most soulful voices in the reggae genre, Isaacs was probably best known for his song “Night Nurse” (from the 1982 album of the same name). The Jamaican blogosphere has been active upon hearing news of his death, to the point where the late singer has become a trending topic on Twitter.
Trinidad & Tobago: Odd Choice of Decor
“JUST ABOUT when you thought there was little more that could be said about the million-dollar Port-of-Spain National Academy for the Performing Arts, the building’s unusual decor this week raised eyebrows”: Tattoo explains.
South Korea: A Repairman Won the Nation's Biggest Singing Contest.
Hur Gak, is a stout, homey-looking repairman who took home the trophy of the nation's biggest singing contest, “Superstar K,” Korean version of American Idol. Hur won around 177 thousand USD, a car and the opportunity to release his own album. He is now referred to as Korea's Paul Potts. Video...
Bangladesh: Images Of Durga Puja
Sri Lankan photoblogger Chulie De Silva visits a Durga puja festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh and posts a photo essay.
Philippines: Popular dancing videos
Dancing prisoners. Dancing maids. Dancing flight attendants. And now Dancing Tax Collectors. Watch again these popular dancing videos from the Philippines.
Ukraine: Dog does Parkour
This video is once again making its rounds internationally, adding a twist to the usual parkour video. In it, a Staffordshire Terrier can be seen running up walls, trees and jumping from obstacle to obstacle.
Sri Lanka: Political Satire Is No Laughing Matter
Nalaka Gunawardene reviews a collection of political satires by Wimalanath Weeraratne and discusses its implication in Sri Lanka.
Uruguayans Mourn Death of Musician José Carbajal, ‘El Sabalero’
Singer and composer José Carbajal, nicknamed "el Sabalero," died of a heart attack on October 21 at age 66. Carbajal is considered an icon of Uruguayan culture. This year he was working with other artists and the One Laptop per Child project in Uruguay, Plan Ceibal, to perform in concerts for public school children around the country.
India: What's your culture ?
“Culture is how we were brought up. And how we plan to bring up our children,” opines Ugich Konitari.
Ghana: Ghana's Unique Coffins
Do you know Ghanaian unique coffins?: “On the dusty, honk-echoing, chicken-crossing, exhaust-fumed streets right outside of Accra, the capital of the English-speaking West African country, one tribe called the Ga is renowned for their casket masterpieces.”
Miss Earth Pageant and Vietnam's environment problems
Referring to the Miss Earth Pageant which is scheduled for next month in Vietnam, blogger The Fish Egg Tree relates it to the environmental problems of the country.
The Balkans: Angelina Jolie's Bosnian War Movie
Greater Surbiton writes about “Angelina Jolie's Bosnian imbroglio”; Belgraded reviews “anti-Serb” movies.
Russia: “Scary Fairy Tales”
War and Peace comments on Ludmilla Petrushevskaya's Scary Fairy Tales story collection.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Future Post-History”
CAFÉ TURCO writes about Braco Dimitrijević's exhibition (‘Future post-History’), currently on display in the building of Sarajevo's National Library, which “was severely damaged in August 1992, when the Serb forces shelled it with incendiary bombs […]”: “More than 2 million books and documents were lost forever but the building now...
Cambodia: Bon Pchum Ben
The Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia blogs about the Bon Pchum Ben, the annual commemoration of the spirits. It is one of the most important religious holidays in Cambodia.
Russia: “Siberian Nationalism”
Window on Eurasia writes about “Siberian nationalism” – here and here.
Uruguay: Images of Montevideo and Uruguay
Since 2005, Julio F. has been sharing photographs of Montevideo and other parts of Uruguay in the blog Images of Montevideo and Uruguay.
Jamaica: A Year of Blogging
“Using social media has provided us with [a] very rewarding and effective way to communicate with existing and new audiences…”: National Gallery of Jamaica Blog celebrates its first birthday.
Angola: The Origin of Angolan Kuduro
What is the origin of Angoln Kuduro?: “It all started here: an Angolan amputee, a car, and a dream. Okay, Kuduro, a genre of Angolan dance music, started long before that, but for me, it started here.”
Sierra Leone: Meet Bajah and The Dry Eye Crew
Africa is a Country music monday features “the super crew from Sierra Leone, Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew, remix Vampire Weekend and Paul Simon, who are well known, of course, for remixing (appropriating?) sounds from across the African continent.”
Mongolia: Fashion designer wins prize in France
Mongolian fashion designer Tsolmandakh Munkhuu picked up the “Public Prize” at the annual Hyeres Festival of Photography and Fashion, heesco informs.
