Mali – known for its music and cultural events – attracted artists from around West Africa to this year’s annual slam poetry festival. Reporter Annie Risemberg followed one young Malian poet who is bucking stereotypes in the conservative nation in this report from Bamako. …
your ad here’Lockdown’ Named 2020 Word of the Year
The Collins English Dictionary has named “lockdown” its Word of the Year for 2020. The word, which the dictionary said surged in usage from 4,000 logged uses last year to more than a quarter million this year, refers to “the containment measure implemented by governments around the world to …
your ad hereEmmy-Winning Visual Effects Artist Draws From Her Cambodian Roots
From a child of immigrants drawing on the walls of the family’s house to an Emmy-winning visual effects artist drawing for Hollywood, a Cambodian American talent represents a classic success story of the American dream. Now, she hopes to bring the dream to her motherland. VOA’s Chetra Chap reports.Camera: Sisovann …
your ad hereAlex Trebek, Long-Running ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, Dies at 80
“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek died Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years. He was 80. Trebek died at home early Sunday with family and friends surrounding him, “Jeopardy!” studio Sony said in a statement.Trebek presided over the beloved quiz show for more than 30 years.He was a master …
your ad herePioneering Black Doll Baby Nancy Enters Toy Hall of Fame
Baby Nancy, the first Black baby doll to have an Afro and other authentic features, was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday, along with sidewalk chalk and the wooden block game Jenga. The 2020 honorees were recognized for their creativity and popularity over time. They were …
your ad hereWith Performers Infected, La Scala Season Premiere Canceled
The Dec. 7 season premiere at Milan’s La Scala opera house, a gala event that is one of Italy’s cultural highlights, is being canceled after a rash of COVID-19 infections among musicians and chorus members.The theater’s board of directors concluded Wednesday that the status of the pandemic and Italy’s virus-control …
your ad hereUK Court Rules Against Johnny Depp in Libel Action
A British court ruled Monday against Johnny Depp in his libel case against the owner of TheSun tabloid newspaper, which labelled him a “wife beater.” In a ruling, Justice Andrew Nicol said Depp has “not succeeded in his action for libel.” He added that the defendants had shown what they …
your ad hereFormer James Bond Actor Sean Connery Dies Aged 90
Scottish movie legend Sean Connery, who shot to international stardom as the suave, sexy and sophisticated British agent James Bond and went on to grace the silver screen for four decades, has died aged 90. The BBC and Sky News reported his death on Saturday. “I was heartbroken to learn this …
your ad herePlastic Bag Store Opens in New York City
The Plastic Bag Store isn’t really a store but an art installation. Nina Vishneva, in this story narrated by Anna Rice reports on this unique piece of art that’s all about plastic. Camera: Alexander Barash, Natalia Latukhina …
your ad hereMuseum Exhibit Revamp Raises Concerns in Hong Kong
Scholars are urging government curators not to shy away from controversial issues in the production of new exhibits as the Hong Kong Museum of History undertakes a two-year revamp of its popular Hong Kong Story exhibition.Occupying 7,000 square meters in eight galleries on two floors, the permanent exhibition of the …
your ad hereDodgers Defeat Rays to Claim World Series Title
The Los Angeles Dodgers won their first Major League Baseball World Series in more than three decades Tuesday night, shaking off a slow offensive start to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6. For five innings, the Rays appeared to be in control in their bid to force a deciding seventh game in the series …
your ad hereHalloween Goes On at White House With a Few Twists
With a bit of rejiggering, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump played host Sunday to hundreds of superheroes, unicorns, skeletons and even a miniature version of themselves as part of a Halloween celebration at the White House. In years past, the president and first lady personally handed out …
your ad hereTexas Singer-Songwriter Walker Dies at 78
Jerry Jeff Walker, a Texas country singer and songwriter who wrote the pop song “Mr. Bojangles,” has died at age 78.Walker died Friday of cancer, family spokesman John T. Davis told The Associated Press.”He had battled throat cancer for many years, and some other health issues,” Davis said Saturday.Walker emerged …
your ad hereBilingual Virtual Festival Features American, Russian Playwrights
A bilingual virtual festival featuring American and Russian playwrights is taking place as tensions between the two countries are high and serving as a reminder of how art can bridge differences. Maxim Moskalkov has the story. Camera: David Gogokhia …
your ad hereIOC Chief Bach Says Olympics Cannot Be ‘Marketplace of Demonstrations’
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said the Olympic Games are not about politics and must guard against becoming a “marketplace of demonstrations.” Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement to protest racial injustice, calls have increased this year for a change to Rule 50 of the …
your ad hereWhite House Halloween Event Tweaked for Coronavirus
Ghosts, goblins and other costumed kids are welcome to trick or treat at the White House on Sunday during a Halloween event that has been rejiggered to include coronavirus precautions. The gates to the South Lawn will be opened to children from military families, frontline workers and others, from 3:30 …
your ad hereAmerican Film Institute Adjusts to Virtual Reality During Pandemic
AFI FEST, one of Hollywood’s most prestigious film festivals and part of the American Film Institute, was held virtually this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. VOA’s Penelope Poulou spoke to the festival’s organizers and filmmakers about the challenges and advantages of the online platform. Camera: Penelope Poulou Producer: …
your ad hereDuring the Pandemic AFI Fest Adjusts to a Virtual Reality
AFI FEST, one of Hollywood’s most prestigious film festivals and part of the American Film Institute, was held virtually this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. VOA’s Penelope Poulou spoke to the festival’s organizers and filmmakers about the challenges and advantages of the online platform. Camera: Penelope Poulou Producer: …
your ad hereTheater World to Unite for Get-Out-The-Vote Event on Oct. 29
Playwright and “The Walking Dead” star Danai Gurira, Tony Award-winning director Stephen Daldry and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner playwright Lynn Nottage are spearheading a night of music and short monologues as part of a national get-out-the-vote effort. The hourlong, nonpartisan “Act Out: Vote 2020” will be performed by Yvette Nicole …
your ad hereArtworks Vandalized at 3 Berlin Museums
German police and museum officials reported Wednesday that vandals have damaged more than 70 artworks and artifacts at some of Berlin’s most renowned museums. The targeted attacks were kept quiet by authorities for more than two weeks.Christina Haak, deputy director of Berlin’s state museums, told reporters that at least 63 …
your ad hereSpain’s DJ Padilla, Icon of Chillout Music, Dies
Spanish DJ Jose Padilla, who became famous for pairing relaxed music with sunset views on the holiday island of Ibiza, has died of cancer. He was 64.”It is with great sadness that we bring you the news that Jose passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night here on …
your ad hereReggae, Bongo Flava Songs Energize Tanzanian Campaign Rallies
Music has featured prominently in Tanzania’s political campaigns this year ahead of the Oct. 28 general elections.The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), or Party of the Revolution, has trotted out the biggest number of musicians during rallies by incumbent President John Pombe Magufuli. CCM opened Magufuli’s campaign in late …
your ad hereAfghan Artists Fear a Taliban Return to Power
As the Afghan Taliban tries to negotiate a political settlement with the government, many musicians in the country are worried about the impact a deal will have on their ability to work, as VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem reports from Kabul.Videographer: Ahmad Javed, Rahim Gul Sarwan Producer: Marcus Harton …
your ad hereWorld Series to Feature Dodgers, Rays
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in Major League Baseball’s World Series beginning Tuesday. The Dodgers secured their spot with a dramatic victory Sunday night, defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in the deciding seventh game of the National League Championship Series. Los Angeles at one point trailed in the …
your ad herePandemic Inspires NY Philharmonic Pop-Up Concerts
Live music is slowly coming back to the streets of New York City – in a new, pandemic-inspired way. With the city concert venues still closed, New York Philharmonic decided to put its world-class musicians on a truck to perform on city roads and intersections. Anna Nelson has the story, …
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