Stories about Music from March, 2011
Ethiopia: Jazz in the garden
Jazz time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: “This last weekend music lovers in Addis converged for the 2nd annual installment of the acacia jazz fest for two days of jazz appreciation. True to its promise, the fest offered the best fusions of jazz elements and contemporary music from established and exciting...
Colombia: Fractal, a Sci-Fi event in Medellín
Juan Diego Gómez posts in his blog about Fractal'11, an event about fiction, art, science and technology that will take place in Medellín, Colombia, on April 8-9, 2011. Juan Diego introduces [es] some of the speakers: awarded Science Fiction writer Kij Johnson (@kijjohnson), cyborg anthropologist Amber Case (@caseorganic), researcher Johanna...
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival is Over
Trinidad Carnival Diary offers tips on how to “fill the void between now and another Carnival…”
Trinidad & Tobago: Soca Stereotype?
Outlish looks at the impact of Chutney Soca music “on people's perception of Indo-Trinidadians.”
Macedonia: Critique of Video for Eurosong 2011 Entry
Karro compares [MKD] the video (but not the song) of the Macedonian entry for this year's Eurovision festival, “The Russian Girl” by Vlatko Ilievski, to the video of “The Only Exception” by Paramore (clips embedded in the blog post).
Côte d'Ivoire: Where Are the African Personalities When They Are Needed?
A few months ago, Marième Jamme asked Bono and Bob Geldof to take less prominent roles as speakers for Africa in the media and leave space for Africans to speak for themselves. Today on the Africa Rising blog, bloggers wonder where have the African personalities gone when they are actually needed to get the world's...
Argentina: The Conflict between Teatro Colón and the City of Buenos Aires
After twelve years since his last performance in Argentina, Plácido Domingo was scheduled to sing on March 23 at the Teatro Colón theater in Buenos Aires. However, the concert inside the theater was canceled as the very musicians of the theater refused to play there because of their conflict with the city's administration. As a compromise, a concert was held outdoors, but the conflict between the theater's musicians and the city is far from over.
Ethiopia: Meet the First Lady of Ethiopian Music
Meet the First Lady of Ethiopian music: “Today, 78-year-old and in frail health, Asnaketch Worku remains a living music legend, undoubtedly one of the most important singers in the history of Ethiopian music.”
Burkina Faso: Burkinabé Drums
Learn about different types of drums from Burkina Faso: “Percussion forms the basis of music making in Burkina. Drums are used in daily life, to signal a journey or a return from the fields, to accompany mask dances and to codify secret languages solely understood by initiates.”
Macedonia: QR Campaign to Aid Japan
It.com.mk noted [MKD] that Kalina Zografska, Kristijan Ivanovski and Iva Dujak started an independent campaign using QR codes containing Japanese proverbs, quotes and links, to promote the humanitarian concert “Heart for Japan” [MKD] (#srcejp) and remind Skopje's citizens of the legacy of Kenzo Tange, a Japanese architect who helped rebuild...
Venezuela: Learning to Play the Cuatro on the Web 2.0
The cuatro - an instrument in the guitar family - is the principal icon of traditional Venezuelan music. A love for the cuatro has also reached citizen media, where songs are shared, and its history, musicians and even how to play the instrument, are widely discussed.
Trinidad & Tobago: Upsetting Issues
From the state of health care to advertising campaigns, Plain Talk posts a list of all the things that are upsetting him.
Colombia: A Medellín Rapper on Colombian Hip Hop
Albeiro Rodas writes about hip hop in Colombia: “In the last decade, Colombian hip hop is developing among young people of the poor barrios as a way of expression. I met Mcleoud, a Medellín rapper who talked to me about this music culture in the country.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Soca Stars on Twitter
Outlish has a list of the Top 20 Soca Stars to follow on Twitter.
Puerto Rico: Tite Curet Alonso at the Plaza
Art blogger Javier Martínez celebrates the installation of a life size sculpture [es] honoring the life and music of composer Tite Curet Alonso in the central square Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan.
Japan: Good Wishes and Prayers Sent Through Video
As a response to the situation in Japan after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, people have turned to videos and music as a way to send their best wishes and support to the people of Japan
Venezuela's Hip-hop Schools (Video)
Caracazo Media shares their short documentary featuring interviews (with English subtitles) and performances of students from an EPATU (Popular School for the Arts and Urban Traditions) hip-hop school in the “overcrowded barrio of La Vega in the hillsides of Caracas, Venezuela.” The film incorporates video filmed by the youth.
China: Rap on Chinese Price
Ministry of Tofu translates a parody rap on the soaring consumer prices in China.
Angola: Celma Ribas new album
Celma Ribas is an Angolan musician who's based in Germany. Celma has been busy promoting her upcoming album which has singles like One love, Commando, Gangsta love, etc.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Meaning of Equality
Coffeewallah thinks that women “the latest trend in female performers, to debase themselves or perform lyrics that are denigrating to women” does nothing for gender equality.
Jamaica: Skin Bleaching Perspective
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel gives a talk at the University of the West Indies; Active Voice comments: “Kartel is on the cutting edge of research and thinking about this phenomenon when he argues for the changing role skin bleaching plays in this society today.”
