Stories about Music
Overcoming existentialist crises with music: Poland's Karolina Cicha
Polish folk artist Karolina Cicha, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and one-woman-orchestra is trying to use the language of music to overcome historical prejudice toward minority groups in Europe.
Liked Shakira's new hit? Listen to these other empowering songs from the same DJ
Bizarrap and these artists are helping shape pop culture for a safer and empowering space for all women and LGBTQ+ people.
How the Black Star Line Festival and hip-hop could further accelerate more dynamic Pan-Africanism
The festival was not just paying homage to Garvey by christening itself to his shipping company, it was embodying his teachings and fulfilling his legacy of unifying African people by beckoning U.S. artists to Africa and sowing the seeds of cultural exchange.
The Tanabra have made a comeback after 100 years. A decline in Sudanese taste in music?
Rural Tanabra music, fostered by the military after the military coup, has returned to Khartoum at a time when Sudanese desire for the revival of culture in their daily lives.
Is Trinidad & Tobago Carnival's ‘Fantastic Friday’ big enough for two major soca events?
Performer Machel Montano has announced the staging of a concert on Carnival Friday 2023, clashing with the International Soca Monarch event traditionally held on the same day. Soca fans weigh in.
Popular Russian singer answers ‘Glory to Ukraine’. Now they want to revoke his citizenship
Singer Valerii Meladze has been openly against the war since February 2022. Now he may face harsh consequences for the words he said off-the-record in Dubai in support of Ukraine.
The year in review: What the Caribbean looked like in 2022
The stories the Global Voices Caribbean team covered this year saw a stronger leaning towards pressing concerns like the environment and crime.
Trinidad & Tobago's calypsonian Black Stalin, the quintessential ‘Caribbean Man,’ dies at 81
A fiercely independent thinker and lyricist, throughout his long and vibrant career Stalin always managed to put a highly original, intelligent spin on the issues of the day.
For school New Year's Eve parties in Moscow, some music is apparently deemed inappropriate
The list includes 29 artists. Some of them, such as Little Big and Manizha, represented Russia at Eurovideo contest. All of them have explicitely condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In the midst of Trinidad & Tobago's parang season, calypsonian Singing Francine passes on
Her music had a melodious quality, with strong hooks that encouraged listeners to sing along, no matter how serious the topic — a mellifluence that helped her seamlessly transition to parang.
The journey of Trinidad's parang music, in one informative podcast
"Parang is not just a music of joy at the birth of Christ, but also tells part of the story of conquest and conversion."
‘How the fuck is it possible?': Russian rapper releases anti-war album
Vladi, a lead singer of popular rap music group, now prohibited in Russia, released a new album, “February Lasts and Lasts.” It describes how incomprehensible and horrifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine is.
Uyghur performers of electronic music spread awareness about Uyghur identity in Europe
A duo of Uyghur electronic music performers, known as NONE SOUNDS, now live in exile in Europe and are gaining visibility as global artists, revisiting the rich Uyghur music tradition.
Anti-war Russians find a new home in Turkey
It is not entirely clear how many Russians have arrived thus far to Turkey since Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Dolma Diaries attempts to break down stereotypes and enmity, one episode at a time
Dolma Diaries is a short web series produced by a team from Germany, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.
The sudden passing of Haitian singer ‘Mikaben’ leaves a big void in the music world
He sang love songs for Haiti – songs about its landscape, culture, women and music; songs to uplift the poor; songs of courage, resilience and hope.
Will banning music glorifying violence from the airwaves reduce Jamaica's crime rate?
"The music is a reflection of the environment. Change the environment and the music will be changed."
Can music and feminism help heal border conflicts in Central Asia?
Tajik-Russian pop singer Manizha just released a new song about a young rural Kyrgyz woman learning to play ice hockey professionally, a move that empowers her in her community.
‘Explainer,’ Trinidad & Tobago's ‘calypso messenger,’ passes on
The prolific calypsonian, who passed away on October 7, was “affectionately dubbed 'the messenger', because he composed songs which expressed the ills of society and the oppression of the poor man.”
Cultural diplomacy and political goals: “Cheb Macron's” ode to Algerian gas
Macron's condescending attitude towards Algeria changed to a strong desire to improve relations between the two countries, in the face of a long and harsh winter awaiting Europe.
In Turkey, the arrest of a popular singer prompts debate on the justice system and more
Gülşen's arrest prompted her fans and rights activists to accuse the state of a disproportionate justice system, as well as steering the country in a more conservative direction.
