Stories about Arts & Culture from January, 2007
Haiti: Pre-Carnival Festivities A Blast for All
Due to regained security in the capital, pre-carnival festivities in Port-au-Prince have been about as well attended as carnival itself, says (Fr) HaitiXchange. Adds the site: “Marching bands and the better known DJs were all part of the festivities. People came from everywhere: Petion Ville, Delmas, Cite Soleil, Martissant…in order...
Trinidad & Tobago: Festivals and all that jazz
Laura at the Caribbean Beat blog is interested to see what the impact of the three-year old — and inaptly named — Tobago Jazz Festival will be on the region's other music festivals.
Haiti, France: Creole Language Catholic Mass in Marseilles
Collectif Haiti de Provence reports (Kr) on a Creole language mass that took place last Sunday in Marseilles, France for the Haitian community there: “More than 120 people showed up in their Sunday best. Restless young men weren't very excited about the music and hymns but they still showed up…...
Poland: Clothing for the Pope vs G-Strings
A small Polish town is divided: is it a sin to make sexy underwear for a company that used to make ceremonial clothing for Pope John Paul II? The beatroot has more on it.
Bolivian Bloggers Give Their Verdict
This time last year, Bolivia and the rest of the world was buzzing about the inauguration of President Evo Morales and the novelty of it all. With approval ratings at sky-high levels, many wondered and were hopeful about the upcoming year. Would he follow through with all of his campaign...
Japan: winter purification rituals
David Weber in Japundit blogs about the winter purification-through-freezing-water rituals in Japan.
Czech Rebublic: Dechovka Music
NvB: Bored in Brno writes about dechovka music and posts a YouTube video of Eva and Vasek, “the most successful musical group in the [Czech] Republic from the standpoint of record sales”: “Happy listening! And remember, every Czech is not just a musician but also a dancer.”
Czech Rebublic: Straznice Folk Festival
NvB: Bored in Brno writes about the history of the folk festival in Straznice that will be held June 21-24, 2007.
Czech Rebublic: Return of the Drawings
Four Bees reports on the return of the drawings that were looted by the Nazis in 1939 to the family of a Brno lawyer.
Philippines: Blogparteeh07 Images
Drivebyshooter has posted pictures from the recent Blogparteeh07 event in Manila.
Japan: marriage stats
Adamu highlights some figures in the recent marriage statistics in Japan: In 1995, most internationally marrying Japanese men (35%) took Filipina brides, while a quarter of them married Chinese women. In 2005, the tables were turned, with only 30% marrying Filipinas and 35% marrying Chinese.
Peru: Personal Vs. Erotic
Noting the recent rise in popularity of erotic and sex blogs at the Blogs Perú directory (the three most popular blogs are Peru Macho, Naked Peruvians, and A Little Wet), Juan Arellano wonders [ES] if they should be separated into a category of their own.
French Caribbean DOMs: Welcoming Vaval, King of Carnival
Mas a kle, a Guadeloupe mas bandUploaded by Akynou No sooner were the 2006 holidays over that Martiniquans, Guadeloupeans and Guianese were kicking off the prelude to “Vaval”, their affectionate nickname for carnival which will take place in February, in a three-day celebration peaking on “Mardi Gras”, the “fat tuesday”...
Guadeloupe: Invited to Brooklyn's Labor Day Parade 2007
Atout-Guadeloupe explains that Guadeloupe has been invited to Brooklyn's West Indian Day parade in 2007 and notes (Fr): “It is an important event for Guadeloupean culture to be parading in Brooklyn, NY in 2007! Since October 2006, 5 carnival bands have converged into a single association , “K'Ribeens” to prepare...
Pakistan: Lahore and across the border
Prosenoma goes to Pakistan, and discovers much warmth and beauty. “When we segregate people for long, the lines between fact and fiction blur. Our curiosity leads us to lap up any information thrown at us and in order to know the other, we start relying on anything offered – second-hand...
Trinidad & Tobago: Soca podcast
The latest IZATRINI.com soca podcast features 2007 tracks by several Trinidadian artists and by Japanese soca sensation Minmi.
Puerto Rico: Whither reggaetón?
Puerto Rican blogger Norenid Ramírez posts an article (ES), originally written for the journal La Voz, on the current state of reggaetón.
Nigeria/Sierra Leone: Nollywood goes to Sierra Leone
Naija Vixen writes about Nollywood stars visiting Sierra Leone to shoot a Sierra Leonean film, Bai Bure Goes to War, “The script which was written by Abu Noah portrays the traditional and cultural values of the northern Temne ethnic group and the conflicts between local rulers and the British colonial...
Senegal: contemporary Senegalese musician
Benn Loxo writes about the Senegalese musician, Chérif Mbaw, “Chérif Mbaw has the voice of a young Youssou, the guitar of Pape & Cheikh and the feel of Cheikh Lô. In other words, he sounds like everything I like about contemporary Senegalese music.”
South Africa: 27dinner in Johannesburg
Chilibean blogs about the first 27Dinner in Johannesburg, “27 is a get together, held on the 27th day of each month for geeks, marketers, entrepreneurs, writers, media practitioners, speakers – well, just about anybody who is keen – to share ideas and news and opinions over food and drink. Alternating...
China: year of the pig
The lunar new year of pig is approaching, Hayford at China History group blog writes about the meaning of pig in different cultures.