Bangladesh Music
US Department Of State Post Report
Music and song are greatly appreciated in Bangladesh in both folk and classical forms. The songs of the “bauls,” the traditional wandering folk minstrels, are especially popular. Equally popular are songs of revered Bengali poets. Mogul traditional court music forms the basis for modern classical counterparts, using instruments such as the sitar, a stringed instrument, with percussion accompaniment of the “tabla.” Classical dance is similar to the stylized forms of northern India. Bangladeshi pop music consists of songs from Bangla and Hindi films and is ubiquitous throughout Bangladesh. ... [Read More]
Bangladesh
On October 6, 2000, in Gazipur, two boys and one woman were injured in an altercation between Hindus and Muslims. Muslims conducting Friday prayers asked Hindus to lower the music volume at a nearby Hindu festival. When the Hindus refused, Muslims from the mosque damaged a Hindu deity, leading to the violence and injuries. This altercation was resolved through dialog between community leaders. ... [Read More]
Global Youth Services Day – Youth Programs Division – Citizen Exchanges
On April 9th, 189 members of the international community in Tashkent attended the Spring Swing Charity Ball, organized by alumni of American Councils’ Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) and sponsored by British Airways. The night of food, dancing, live music and charity raffles raised over $3,000 for the Children’s Ward of the Tashkent Cancer Hospital, and kicked off FLEX alumni’s efforts to commemorate Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) in Uzbekistan. ... [Read More]
CultureConnect: Ambassador Tours
Mary Wilson in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, October 2003Mary Wilson traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil in early October on a tour of music, friendship and inspiration. As CultureConnect Ambassador, Mary made many new friends, some who had never seen an American, and encouraged young audiences to "Dare to Dream." Learn more!1 ... [Read More]
March
1111--03/30/04 Members of Iraq National Symphony Orchestra Return to the United States for Music Workshops in New York and Washington ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: People-to-People Diplomacy Needed More Than Ever, Harrison Says
carpet weaver, a performer of the traditional Magam music, a story-telling bard, and a seven-member ensemble of traditional music from Badakshan in northern Afghanistan. In addition, a grant from the bureau supported musical performances by eight members of cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble. Other divisions of the State Department also provided significant financial and other support to help bring participants and their equipment to Washington for the festival. ... Harrison referred to Secretary Powell's pledge that as we work to end the scourge of terrorism, we also must work to increase peace, prosperity and democracy. "That's what educational and cultural exchanges can do, because these kinds of programs are accessible," she said. "You do not need a degree to understand music. You do not need to have gone to school for years to look at someone who is creating the most beautiful silk carpet or to hear poetry or to look at a painting. These things have an immediate impact, and the inquiring mind then wants to know what kind of culture created them. [Exchanges] create a respect for differences that eventually leads to trust." ... [Read More]
Charles Cadwell, Kathleen Druschel, and Thierry van Bastelaer, "Building An Enabling Environment: A Long-Term Perspective Of Microenterprise," Economic Perspectives, February 2004
In Kabul, Afghanistan, new microenterprises, having sprung to life in the early hours after the Taliban fled the capital city in 2001, sell previously banned items such as music and radios as well as scarce necessities such as food, clothing, and fuel. Across Bangladesh, millions who lack education, capital, or information about distant markets nonetheless carry on business activities that demonstrate remarkable resilience and contribute to significant portions of that country's exports. In Africa, communities ravaged by HIV/AIDS still have active markets, with ever-increasing income generation activity, as families burdened by adopted children and ailing adults struggle to survive. ... [Read More]
Excerpt from the third annual "Trafficking in Persons Report", "Developing Countries Take a Stand Against Trafficking" Global Issues, June 2003
"Red Card Against Child Labor." African governments, the ILO, and the Federation for International Football Associations teamed up with airlines, popular African soccer players, music personalities, and television and radio stations throughout Africa to launch a continent-wide anti-child labor campaign during the Africa Cup of Nations Soccer tournament. Television and radio stations broadcast songs and public service announcements throughout the month-long tournament. In this campaign, airlines gave "red cards" to fans traveling to these matches indicating their support to "eject" or end the worst forms of child labor. This campaign is being replicated for other regions of the world and will be included in the next World Cup tournament. Some African countries, such as Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, continue to use these anti-child labor broadcasting spots during national and local soccer matches. ... [Read More]
Secretary Powell Participates in Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Secretary Powell spoke at the opening ceremony of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Washington Mall, kicking off the 10-day event, "The Silk Road: Connecting Cultures, Creating Trust." The theme for the festival, which is sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and is being held June 26-30 and July 3-7, was conceived by internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who also is coproducing the event. Featuring the talents of numerous artists, musicians, chefs, and others, the festival celebrates the legendary Silk Road which connected Europe to Asia for many centuries, leading to further cross-cultural integration and sharing of ideas and goods between the East and the West. [Read More]
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