Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Country music legend Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his family said late Friday. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” they said …
Read More »Cinemas in Kampala close
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Century Cinemax in Acacia Mall and Ham Cinemax Makerere have suspended operations following President Museveni’s ban on all public gatherings. Although it had scheduled movies to show on Thursday, Century Cinemax cancelled all movies. Management announced a closure at 3:00 pm on their social media …
Read More »‘The Plot Against America’ goes for daring Trump parallel
New York, United States | AFP | US author Philip Roth certainly could never have imagined Donald Trump’s presidency when he wrote “The Plot Against America.” But a new TV adaptation of his bleak 2004 novel, which envisions an alternate history of a fascist United States, certainly suggests a link between …
Read More »Booming business of the booty-ful nut of the Seychelles
Au Cap, Seychelles | AFP | It is the world’s largest seed, and with a shape suggestive of a woman’s hips and myths of love-making powers, the coco de mer is an icon of the Seychelles. With a 10-kilogramme (22-pound) coconut wedged between his feet, experienced nut cutter Christophe Bristol uses …
Read More »Harvey Weinstein convicted of sexual assault and rape
New York, United States | AFP | Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of sexual assault and rape but cleared of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges, a verdict hailed as a historic victory by the #MeToo Movement against sexual abuse. The jury of seven men and five women, delivering …
Read More »UK pianist Alexis Ffrench bids to change image of classical music
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British composer and pianist Alexis Ffrench, a rising black star in the overwhelmingly white world of classical music, is on a mission “to change the narrative” that the genre is stuffy and outdated. The 48-year-old, who is set to release his latest album next month, …
Read More »Morocco fortress village hopes to draw ‘Game of Thrones’ fans
AIT-BEN-HADDOU, Morocco | AFP | Millions worldwide may have seen the desert fortress in the hit fantasy series “Game of Thrones”, but fewer know they can visit the Moroccan village of Ait-Ben-Haddou. The fortified old settlement at the foot of the majestic Atlas mountains enchanted audiences in the HBO series and …
Read More »Nigerian singer Rude Boy to perform on Valentine’s Day in Kampala
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Nigerian singer, real name Paul Okoye, famously known by his stage name “Rude boy” is in Kampala to perform on Valentine’s Day celebrations this Friday, Feb.14. The popular singer has been brought to Uganda by Comedy Store Director, Alex Muhangi. Speaking to …
Read More »Did the Oscars snub women? Decades-old debate rages on
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | It is an accusation that has been levelled at the Oscars all too often over the years, and 2020 is no different — too many men, not enough women, particularly in the most prestigious categories. The hashtag #OscarsSoMale reared up again following the Academy …
Read More »Can foreign-language films ever win over Hollywood?
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | When South Korea’s Bong Joon-ho accepted the Golden Globe for best foreign language film for his widely hailed “Parasite,” he urged moviegoers to “overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles.” “You will be introduced to so many more amazing films,” he promised, reopening a debate …
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