· July, 2008

Stories about Music from July, 2008

Barbados, Canada: Caribana Fever

  31 July 2008

“Wha happen Crop Over music from Crop-Over this year cant reach here? Dem waiting on steam boat to bring the tunes? Man this is internet era, download man download”: Barbadian diaspora blogger Jdid explains why he is not one to catch “Caribana Feva”.

Formoz Festival 2008: Don't wanna say goodbye

  30 July 2008

Here is wikipedia's explanation of the annual Formoz Festival: The annual Formoz Festival, Spring Scream, and Gung-liao Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival are representative gatherings within Taiwan's indie scene. Of these, Formoz Festival is notable for its international draw. Facing the threat of typhoon Phoenix, lots of people still decided to attend...

Haiti, U.S.A.: Musical Militia

  30 July 2008

AfriClassical quotes author Michael Largey in its profile of Haitian classical composer Occide Jeanty (1860-1936): “By performing pieces that had extramusical programs referring to Haitian political resistance, the Musique du Palais National, with Occide Jeanty conducting, became a symbol of Haitian resistance, albeit in musical, not military terms.”

Costa Rica: Concerts, riots and concerns.

  29 July 2008

Journalist Cristian Cambronero from popular Costa Rican blog Fusil de Chispas posts a recount of Sunday's Concert where youth rioted and destroyed the campus of the Universidad Latina in the capital city of San José. It seems that when around 3000 of them were not allowed entrance to the free concert venue where already 5000 spectators were waiting for the concert some of the irate teens destroyed the university buildings, storefronts,dismantled cars, damaged the church in the vicinity, looted, threw chairs, rocks and bricks everywhere.

Bahamas: Cultural Pride

  22 July 2008

“If you’re in doubt about Bahamians’ lack of pride in our culture, you shoulda been there”: Nicolette Bethel was as Ronnie Butler's farewell concert and writes an homage to the “entertainment maestro”.

Mali: Balafon museum for Sikasso

  20 July 2008

Sociolingo's Africa reports on a new museum to be created in Sikasso, Mali. It will be the first museum designed to preserve the heritage of the balafon, an African xylophene played in Mali, Burkina Faso, Cote-d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Ghana. The post includes a video of two balafon musicians.

Kenya: Matatu hip-hop

  18 July 2008

AfricanHipHop posted a music video by radio presenter Jimmy Gathu from around 1992, which he describes as follows: “not only is it one of the first ever rap videos in Kenya, it also gives a unique view into [matatu] culture as it was back in the days”.