Music, book and film reviews from the last 3 months
Inspired by his Tuareg origins. Bombino is considered one of the best living blues guitarists. We met him in Madrid during one of his tours. “The best place to create and listen to music is in the desert. It is there that you live a unique experience. You have the feeling that when you hold…
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The feast of Santa Vera Cruz marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of a new life cycle. It is considered the fertility feast for the regeneration of human and animal life. According to oral narratives, the festival was anciently celebrated on a stone bearing the sign of a cross, a symbol of…
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Video makers, sculptors, painters and creative Sudanese have taken part in the civil society protests of recent years, but after the outbreak of the conflict they had to leave. In Nairobi they have enriched an active and supportive community of artists. We met some of them at the Kuona Artists Collective. Yassir Ali Mohammed is…
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With an investment of billions of euros, the new administrative capital of Egypt is one of the main projects of President Al Sisi. Its development will lead to the disappearance of the City of the Dead, an emblem of Cairo. An uncomfortable silence. You can’t hear the noise of cars stirring up dust or the…
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Rather than talking about the religion of the Pokot, an ethnic group living in West Pokot and Baringo counties in Kenya, it is better to talk about the specifics of the Pokot’s ‘religious sensibility’ and how it manifests itself. The sensibility is one of the Pokot traditional religiosities, which has changed due to the influence…
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Respect for elders is a core value in the African culture. It comes from the mentality which values the past more than the future. Some people call it a mythical mentality that looks towards the past more than towards the future. In this mentality, things that happened in the past are held in high esteem.…
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The plant is a cornerstone in traditional medicine across tropical Africa, revered for its myriad therapeutic properties. It is well integrated into the fabric of human life, healing, preserving cultural heritage and maintaining ecological harmony. Flueggea virosa, known for its dioecious nature, presents itself as a multi-stemmed shrub or occasionally as a spreading tree, reaching…
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In the northern tip of Colombia and Venezuela, an indigenous ethnic group has survived, proud of its artisanal tradition. From one stitch to another, this is the textile culture of the desert. According to the myths and traditions of the women of the Wayúu community, settled in the Colombian department of La Guajira, on the…
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The Znous are a Tunisian band of the hardcore punk and metal genre with a strong political character. They define themselves as feminists and anti-elitists. We talk to Hamma, the band’s singer and guitarist, about the work of the Znous. Their production began in 2019 with Juna, the single that opens Znousland 1 and traces…
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The ancient art of weaving continues to be the heart of life in the Bolivian highlands, where extraordinary fabrics reflect the cultural identity of Andean communities. The inhabitants of the Bolivian highlands are not nomadic herders but live in permanent settlements on lands where nature is not generous. This has forced them to exploit the…
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On the border with China, the Wa people have created a narco-state that generates billions from drug trafficking. Of the more than 135 ethnic groups that populate Myanmar, only the Wa have managed to create their own autonomous region: effectively a state within a state, with its own laws, schools, roads and a permanent army,…
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It is a versatile plant with a wide range of uses. Its role in traditional medicine has led to its integration into the pharmaceutical industry. The plant, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family, is commonly known as “devil’s pepper”, a name that reflects its potent properties and peculiarities. This shrub or small tree, which can…
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Determined to protect his homeland from mining, Batmunkh Luvsandash’s activism resulted in the creation of a 66,000-acre protected area in Dornogovi province in April 2022,…
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Once upon a time, there was a girl of enchanting beauty. Her name was Nyanjira. She had soft, smooth skin and a very sweet smile that…
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During his pontificate, Pope Francis has placed young people at the centre of his pastoral attention, recognising them as key players in building a better future.…
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