World Music: Global Sounds in Australia

This is not so much a review as it is a note to self: Seth Jordan’s book on World Music in Australia is one I want to get a hold of. With various contributing authors, the book was launched by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Bruce Elder at Gleebooks last October. This is a book I need to get my hands on…

World Events in Sydney – 1-7 Dec, 2008

Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF)

In its second year, this Melbourne Film, Music & Arts Festival is coming to Sydney from Thursday December 4th to Sunday December 7th. This festival seems to be attracting all the right kind of attention and has plenty of support. Check out their website – it has great links to other Human Rights festivals around the world. Put this one in your diary!

African Perspectives: Recent African Cinema

Where would Sydney film-goers be without Dendy? If you’re sick of cinematic take-away, then you’ll appreciate having a place like this in town. I’m certainly glad they’re giving us this African Film Festival. They’re showing 5 films over 3 days – from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th of December. Screenings include the Oscar-nominated ‘War Dance’ by directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine. The festival is being presented in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art. Check the MCA website or Dendy’s for screening details and for more information of MCA’s current exhibition of Yinka Shonibare‘s artwork

World Music: Curaçao

A musical taste of the world…

Somewhere in the Carribean, not too far off the Venezuelan coast, lies an island called ‘Kòrsou’. Most of us know it as Curaçao, one of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles. While I have never had the privilege of visiting the island, for many of my beautiful friends it is ‘home’. For several years (in the 1990s) they shared with me their language (Papiamentu), their meals and their music… they are the ones I thank for teaching me the basics of Merengue. While we no longer share the same country or city, we will always share our music – every samba makes me think of you!!

So here’s to you my friends: Ced Ride singing ‘Isla Bunita’