Film Review: Rising from Ashes
Rising from Ashes is a documentary about a team of cyclists in post genocide Rwanda. It’s narrated by UNESCO goodwill ambassador Forest Whitaker.
History tradition and culture: Terakaft rocks music of the Tuareg people in Paris concert
Tuareg rockers Terakaft have been touring Europe for the past month. They played in Paris at the much-hyped Fête de la Musique on 21 June. Imagine a story that began a few centuries ago. Imagine a time when Timbuktu was so busy that it would make New York City blush. Imagine an age when the…
SupaKids to take to the stage at London’s Park Theatre
SupaKids are set to show the London public that they are more than just runners up in their one night only production of Addiction on May 26 at 7.30pm at the newly opened Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. Drama school sensation SupaKids, established in 2008 by Actress and playwright Sophia Roomes, were recent runners up…
Pedro Kouyaté: review of new album ‘Live’
Pedro Kouyaté is not a typical griot artist. In West Africa, griots are the guardians of oral tradition. They can be historians, storytellers or musicians. Pedro was born of griot ancestors but he has grown tired of this world. His mind wanders elsewhere. When he was younger he rather enjoyed hanging out at Siby, his…
Music Review: Tassili by Tinariwen
Tinariwen have taken Saharan music to a whole new level over the past few decades. Their latest album Tassili slightly shifted towards a new direction. Here’s my verdict. How often do we listen to a song for the first time, either love it or hate at once, only to change our mind later on? Normally,…
New website launched to honour India’s war dead
A new website has been launched by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to mark the often overlooked contribution of the people of India during the First and Second World Wars. “Forever India” at www.cwgc.org/foreverindia tells the remarkable story of some of the millions of Indians who left their homes in order to fight for the…
Music Review: Kora Jazz Band in Paris
Building on the release of a recent album, Kora Jazz Band and their brand new line-up delivered a fiery performance at the New Morning in Paris. I obviously would not have missed it for anything. Here’s my verdict. As soon as I entered the jam-packed venue, I could not help but sensing a general impression…