Ancient DNA reveals Maghreb communities preserved their culture and genes, even in a time of human migration: Doukanet el Khoutifa, Tunisia, where some of the remains were found. Giulio Lucarini, CC BY-NC-ND The Neolithic period began in southwest Asia around 12,000 years ago. It marked a major shift in human history as societies transitioned from …
How virtual reality could help revive endangered language and culture: Every two weeks, a language is at risk of disappearing. According to the UN, at least 50% of the 7,000 different languages spoken around the world today could either disappear or become seriously endangered by the end of this century, leading to a significant loss …
Discovery of 5,000-year-old farming society in Morocco fills a major gap in history – north-west Africa was a central player in trade and culture: A new discovery of an ancient farming society at Oued Beht in Morocco fills a centuries-old gap in history. It reveals that, 5,000 years ago, the Maghreb (north-west Africa) was far …
Five MTV Video Music Awards performances that have influenced queer culture: The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are always an important date in the queer cultural calendar. And the 2024 event, which took place on September 11, was no exception. Chappell Roan’s performance of Good Luck, Babe! is already one for the ages; looking at …
Eugen Sandow was the posterboy of physical culture: his 1904 visit to South Africa reinforced racist ideas: Eugen Sandow stopped in South Africa on a world tour. Wellcome Collection/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY Eugen Sandow was an internationally famous strongman. The German-born British showman (1867-1925) toured the world challenging other strongmen and staging displays of strength. …
How 2-Tone brought new ideas about race and culture to young people beyond the inner cities: This Town, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s latest drama for the BBC, brings to life a defining – if short-lived – era in the history of British youth culture and popular music. Set in the West Midlands against the …
Japan: Myths to Manga – Young V&A exhibition celebrates nature’s influence on Japanese culture: Japan: Myths to Manga at the Young V&A is loosely divided into four parts: sky, sea, forest and city. The underlying theme of the exhibition is showcasing how traditions developed in these contexts relate to contemporary Japanese culture. Japan’s dramatic natural …
Skateboard at the Design Museum celebrates 60 years of style, culture and cool: Skateboards are not complicated design objects. They consist of little more than a simple deck, usually made of wood, which forms the riding surface. The board is completed by a pair of trucks (pivoted metal turning devices) and four polyurethane wheels. With …
‘No one would ever speak up again’: servicewomen feel military culture stops them from reporting sexual assault: An inquiry into the death of a 19-year-old soldier in the British army found that relentless sexual harassment by her line manager was “almost certain” to have been a causal factor in her death. Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley-Louise …
Firearms officers: new report reveals the ‘toxic culture’ keeping women and ethnic minorities out of specialist squads: Svet foto/Shutterstock Hundreds of London’s Metropolitan police officers temporarily turned in their firearms in September after the Crown Prosecution Service charged an officer with the murder of unarmed 24-year-old Chris Kaba. Up to 300 of the force’s 2,500 …
Sho Madjozi: the pop star using traditional culture to shape a fresh identity for young South Africans: South African rapper Sho Madjozi is a bold and colourful presence in pop culture, as famous for her catchy lyrics as for using traditional clothing and dance in a fresh way. The musician, actress and poet is also …
The UK has relatively few armed police – but their specialist squads are hotbeds of ‘warrior culture’: Armed police are relatively rare in the UK. Juiced Up Media/Shutterstock When unarmed black Briton Chris Kaba was killed by a single shot from a London Metropolitan police officer in September 2022, his family and communities of colour …
How Russia’s theatre scene has been obliterated by Putin’s culture war: View from stage of Moscow's Vakhtangov Theatre. Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock Over the past decade, Russian president Vladimir Putin’s regime has introduced ideologically driven cultural policies intended to shape a new, virtuous Russian citizen for the future. For those – like Putin himself …
Britain’s next election could be a climate change culture war: A byelection in a London suburb has placed environmental policy at the centre of political debate in the UK, and could make it a key battleground in the next general election. The Conservative party narrowly held former prime minister Boris Johnson’s seat in Uxbridge and …
2001: A Space Odyssey still leaves an indelible mark on our culture 55 years on: 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark film in the history of cinema. It is a work of extraordinary imagination that has transcended film history to become something of a cultural marker. And since 1968, it has penetrated the psyche …
Treat culture: why indulging in small, affordable pleasures can help you cope with tough times: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock Life today is stressful. Since the start of the pandemic, social media has been flooded with coping mechanisms and wellbeing trends to help people manage their emotions and worries about the state of the world. If you’ve tried …
Shaka Zulu is back in pop culture – how the famous king has been portrayed over the decades: From left Neo Magagula, Ntando Zondi, Senzo Radebe and Sibonile Ngubane in the forthcoming South African TV series Shaka iLembe. Courtesy Mzansi Magic Shaka Zulu is one of the most famous figures in South African history, even …
Ethiopia’s musicians fled the country after the 1974 revolution – how their culture lives on: A procession in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Countess/Getty Images The overthrow of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 led to violent conflict that had a particularly heavy impact on musicians. Sing and Sing On: Sentinel Musicians and the Making of …