music diplomacy

In a rural area of the Malaysian island of Borneo, a punk group gathers around a massive print of a Snakes and Ladders board game on the floor of their art studio. On his knees, Jerome Manjat presses an inked piece of Lino onto a blank square. Lifts it. Emblazoned in red ink is the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, depicted as a clown.

Fuerza Ecuador Playlist Cover

Using playlists as a tool for awareness and advocacy.

Ivory Coast’s All-Female Band Breaks Social Barriers

Nine female musicians in the Ivory Coast are challenging perceptions about women in the music business. 

Following U.S. President Barack Obama’s trailblazing visit to Cuba, a free concert by the Rolling Stones in Havana might seem like a relatively minor event. Obama revived relations with Cuba after more than a half-century of deep hostility. The septuagenarian Stones just played some very loud music. And yet, symbolically, the concert was not minor at all.

 Stories about art, food and cultural exchanges featured prominently in this week's roundup

March 30, 2016

After more than five decades of touring, the Rolling Stones will finally bring their music to Cuba Friday night for the first time. The performance is billed as the first open-air concert in Cuba by a British rock band. The concert marks a milestone as rock 'n' roll was considered subversive and decadent by the Castro regime no too long ago.

For the first time Pakistan marked its National Day at the UN with a concert in the prestigious General Assembly hall on March 23. Organized by the Pakistan Mission to the UN in collaboration with Geo Television Network the even featured a concert by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The concert titled 'Sufi Night Music of Peace' aimed at spreading the message of international peace and harmony at the world stage.

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