Stories about Music from September, 2006
Bahrain: Michael Jackson quits Bahrain?
Khalid wonders if Michael is quiting Bahrain and his buiness with King's son after reports that he parted company with a record label based in the Gulf state of Bahrain. Jackson has lived in Bahrain since being acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005.
Jamaica: When Yardies rock
Marlon James explains why Jamaicans can't rock.
Kurdistance
Onnik Krikorian from Oneworld Multimedia has written a series of wonderful articles about the Yezidis, ethnic Kurds, who live in Georgia and Armenia. Traditionally, information gathered about the Yezidis focus on those that live in Southern Kurdistan/Northern Iraq, which makes Onnik's article an incredibly valuable cultural resource. Rasti writes this...
Tanzania: bongo beat
Steve Ntwiga's musical link takes us to Tanzania's “Doctor” Remmy Ongala.
Sudan: Africa's rap star
Escaping Sudan is Ben Loxo's post about Emmanuel Jal, “Emmanuel Jal has risen from obscurity to become one of Africa’s most well-known rappers.”
South Africa: afro-fusion group nominated for MTV award
Freshlyground, a South African afro-fusion group, deserves the MTV Europe nomination in the Best African Act category, writes Coda.
Yezidis in Georgia
Onnik Krikorian has an extensive post on the Yezidi minority in Georgia, which he recently visited together with an ethno-musicologist. Onnik provides exclusive photography, interviews, and compares the minority's situation in Georgia with that in Armenia.
Iran:Deep Dish Score Music for Anousheh Ansari
In Community Weblog of Persian Students in the UK we read that Grammy Award-winning production and Iranian-American DJ duo Deep Dish today announced the recording of ‘Be the Change’, an eclectic musical work dedicated to Anousheh Ansari's historic Space flight as she became the world's first female private space traveler.
Togolese Hip Hop's Significance
France-based Togolese blogger Kangni Alem ponders (Fr) the significance of Togolese hip hop: “Hip hop really is the pot in which different Togolese traditions melt and interpenetrate.” l
Moldova: The Matrix and Cleopatra Stratan
Peter Myers of Adventures in Moldova writes about Cleopatra Stratan, a 3-year-old pop star, and about the dubbing of The Matrix into Moldovan: “No, not Romanian. No, not Russian. Dubbed in Moldovan, a mix of Romanian and Russian words and phrases with the most vulgar words from both languages mixed...
Iran:Music shops in trouble
According to Agha Bahman, several music institutes and shops were closed in Iran. The blogger says it seems they used to sell tickets for underground rock concerts [Fa].
Laos: Laotian Pop Music in Japan
The Samakomlao blog posts pictures of a Laotian pop duo in concert in Japan. Laos is one of the least visited countries in Asia and only recently rest of Asia is getting interested in Lao's pop-culture and travel destinations.
The president of Tanzania drumming
So the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, can play the African drum! He was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the 25th Bagamoyo Arts Festival, which took place on September 11th – 16th, 2006 in the coastal town of Bagamoyo at the Bagamoyo College of Arts.
Panama: Music: “Culture in Panama (My Appreciation for Señor Loop)”
Writer Rob Rivera articulates why he believes “Panama is coming into its own in terms of culture, after laying dormant for many years.”
Serbia: Hip-Hop and Decentralization
Estavisti reports on the Serbian hip-hop, the Anti-Belgrade Front and the ideas of Serbia's decentralization.
Jamaica: Recording artists — wise up!
A recent dispute between a songwriter/performer and a record label prompts Yardflex.com to say — in good Jamaican patois — that Jamaican recording artists need to get smart about the business side of entertainment.
African album covers
Benn Loxo asked its readers to submit their favorite African album covers: “After yesterday’s post Benn loxo listener, Michael, was the first to send in his favourite African LP covers.” “Several more Benn loxo listeners contributed their favourite African album covers this week.“ “Below are the last in a series...
Serbia: Guca and Exit Music Festivals
Traditional Guca Trumpet Festival is held anually in Guca, a town hours south of Belgrade, near the city of Cacak, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. The event remains the main topic of the country’s bloggers these days. Their talk ranges from pure drivel about how it feels to have...
Nigeria, Arts and Culture, Music
These are places where Naija to the Core would really like to be this autumn.
Czech Republic: Zlin
NvB: Bored in Brno? posts pictures and video from the town of Zlin: “The town is worth seeing, particularly if you're a fan of twentieth-century functionalist and utilitarian architecture. It turned out that my visit was on the weekend of the 13th annual Festival of Wind Orchestras and Folklore Ensembles.”
Russia: Madonna Visits Orphanage
English Russia re-posts pictures of Madonna visiting an orphanage in Moscow.
