Cuba’s Los Van Van are a force in their home country. And the ensemble is prepping for its fifth tour in the United States. [...] In addition to the Los Van Van concert, a Cuban film series has been airing at the NHCC.

 Thousands of members of Sudan's Nuba community turned out the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman Saturday for dancing, singing and poetry in a festival showcasing the culture of their conflict-stricken people. "This celebration is a manifestation of our resilience; we want to maintain our culture," said Guma Kunda Komey, a Nuba academic and author, who had been taking part in the dancing.

The kimono, a garment that dates back to the 5th century A.D. and worn by westerners for at least 150 years, inhabits the slippery gray area between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. [...] For a long time, the kimono as a fashion statement – both contemporary remakes and authentic vintage garments – largely avoided being called out for cultural appropriation.

This was clearly what Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun meant when he said the aim of having SIFF was not really to select the best performing country but more towards promoting peace and making new friends. “The Sabah International Folklore Festival is a symbol of peace in the world. The 16 participating countries are symbolically showcasing this message,” he said when launching the event.

A Taiwanese artist donated his latest work made from discarded steel cables to Karlsruhe as a gift to the German city that is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. Speaking about his work "Taiwan Wishful" at a news conference Tuesday, sculptor Kang Mu-xiang said he was pleased to play a part in promoting cultural diplomacy.

Andrijano Dzeladin is using TV to break down prejudice and promote the true face of the romani people. [...] His aim is to show the culture and traditions of his people, breaking down prejudices and promoting the true face of the Romas, who are often at the center of controversies and critics.

A celebration of 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France launches next year. A host of cultural programs will be held in both Korea and France for a year from Sept. this year to the end of next year. It is being called “The Year of France in Korea” and “The Year of Korea in France” events.

While at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last month, I had the opportunity to witness a powerful exchange between U.S. Culinary Ambassador for Clean Cookstoves and famous Chef Jose Andres and a group of African chefs who were catering the event.