ARTS & CULTURE

Photos: Three African artists who have passed away: (left to right) South Sudan's Dr. Mansour Khalid; Sierra Leone's Abou Whyte; Cote d'Ivoire's Rose Marie Guiraud, a distinguished African dancer.

Africans Mourn the Passing of a Distinguished Thinker and two Outstanding Artists

By Lisa VIves, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – While the rate of fatalities in Africa is still much below that of developed countries, every life lost is a library gone, according to a saying. Here are three noted Africans who passed this year just as thousands of lives were tragically lost to the coronavirus worldwide.

Dr. Mansour Khalid, a prolific author in both Arabic and English, exposed all the ailments of Sudanese elites that led to the secession of South Sudan in July 2011. These ills are vividly elucidated in two books –The Government They Deserve: The Role of the Elite in Sudan’s Political Evolution in 1990, and The Paradox of Two Sudans: The CPA and the Road to Partition in 2015.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 28 April 2020

The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, is an historic monument and home to art from around the world, including the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's most famous masterpiece. Source: UN News © Eric Ganz

The Power of Art in A Time of Coronavirus Crisis

By Jaya Ramachandran

PARIS (IDN) – As billions of people find themselves either in lockdown or on the front lines combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the first celebration of World Art Day on April 15 is a timely reminder that "art has the power to unite and connect in times of crisis", the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said.

"Bringing people together, inspiring, soothing and sharing: these are the powers of art, the importance of which has been made emphatically obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic", Audrey Azoulay said in her message.

: Jaya Ramachandran; UN INSIDER; 16 April 2020

Ugandan Singer Bobi Wine Sings of Handwashing and More in New Pop Song

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Ugandan pop star and opposition leader Bobi Wine, who describes himself "a singer, an activist and a member of parliament" is known for his "must plays" – and his latest tune "Corona Virus Alert!," is definitely one of them.

The lyrics remind listeners to wash their hands to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. But there's another message – namely that time has come for Africa's leaders to put more resources into building health care systems that serve both the rich and the poor.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 31 March 2020

Photo: Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike. Credit: All Naija Media

Passing of Acclaimed Nigerian Novelist Grieved

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike, novelist extraordinaire, passed this month into eternity, writes Nigerian author Okey Ndibe.

Born April 28, 1931, he had a rich life as an academic, bureaucrat, father to an only son, Osita Ike (who preceded him in death), husband (to Adebimpe Olurinsola Ike, nee Abimbolu, who survives him), and traditional leader of his community, Ndikelionwu.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 15 January 2020

Photo: Renowned Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o reads excerpts from his recent work in both Gikuyu and English during a presentation in the Coolidge Auditorium, May 9, 2019. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Eminent Kenyan Writer Urges Africa ‘To Do Things for Itself’

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – Over the last 100 years, Africa has been the eternal donor to the West but has been represented as always reliant on aid from the Western community.

“We must find a way of reversing this by becoming makers of our own raw materials,” asserts Kenyan author and academic Ngugi wa Thiong’o who picked up a distinguished German Peace Prize named for Erich Maria Remarque this year.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 31 December 2019

Photo: Bisi Silva, Nigerian contemporary art curator based in Lagos (2012) CC BY-SA 2.0

‘Season Africa 2020’ Recalls Much Loved Nigerian Curator

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – One of the more ambitious exhibits of African art to showcase French-speaking, English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking Africa, including North Africa, is scheduled to open June 2020 and run for six months.

The occasion will also mark the passing this year of Bisi Silva, an adventurous curator who, with her own money, founded a nonprofit art gallery and education center in Lagos, Nigeria, that has nurtured the growth and recognition of contemporary African artists. Silva died on February 12 in a hospital there. She was 56.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 30 December 2019

Photo: Austrian Mahayana Temple in Lumbini, Nepal. Credit: Kalinga Seneviratne IDN | INPS.

Mega Development Project at Buddha’s Birthplace

Might Become Dalai Lama’s New Home

By Kalinga Seneviratne

This article is the 36th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. Click here for previous articles.

LUMBINI, Nepal (IDN) – Tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, visit Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini to pay homage to its teacher who preached a philosophy of eradicating greed and being contented with what you have. But, recent construction activities here, mainly fuelled by Chinese investments, to attract more tourists run contrary to this philosophy and some argue may have a sinister motive.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 06 November 2019

Photo: Canadian author Margaret Atwood (left) and British author Bernardine Evaristo (right) have split the Booker Prize, after the judging panel ripped up the rule book and refused to name one winner for the prestigious fiction trophy. Source: Screenshot of YouTube of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Anglo-Nigerian Writer Awarded Major Literary Prize

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) - England’s most prestigious literary prize has been awarded to Bernadine Evaristo, an Anglo-Nigerian writer, for her eighth work of fiction, to be shared with Margaret Atwood, author of “The Testaments” in a surprise double award approved by the judging panel.

Of Nigerian and British parentage, Evaristo is the first black woman to win the Booker Prize, which honors the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK and Ireland.

: Global Information Network; ARTS & CULTURE; 30 October 2019

ACP-EU Culture Programme Launched in Niger

NIAMEY (IDN | ACP) – The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, in partnership with the European Commission (EC), launched a new Programme to support the cultural sector, ACP-EU Culture.

Themed, "Towards a sustainable cultural industry", the programme was officially launched and presented by Léonard-Emile Ognimba, Deputy Secretary-General of the ACP Group, at the 5th meeting of ACP Ministers of Culture, which was held in in Niamey, Niger from October 19 – 20, 2019.

: Admin; GLOBAL GOVERNANCE; ACP Group of States; 19 October 2019

Photo: ACP Group’s ministers of culture. Credit: ACP.

ACP Group Re-affirms Commitment to Cultural Sector

NIAMEY (IDN | ACP) – Senior Technical Officials of some 50+ ACP countries will meet over the next two days at the Palais de Congrès in Niamey, Niger to prepare for the 5th Meeting of ACP Ministers of Culture and assess the implementation of the 32 commitments made at the 4th ACP Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, Belgium in November 2017.

“Strengthening and Diversifying Partnerships for ACP Cultures” is the main theme of the meeting from October 17-20. The meeting also aims to explore viable financing mechanisms for culture and reach a strong ACP Group position on culture's contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).