Short movie “Only in Trinidad” by producers Dominic de Bourg and Amilcar Sanatan. Have some doubles with this.
In this short 2 minute film, producers Dominic de Bourg and Amilcar Sanatan explore a simple situation, while adding immense symbolism. Issues subliminally highlighted include: the division of race, the unity of Trinidadian culture, the simplicity of human kindness. The storyline has been seamlessly blended to create something that’s short, simple and entertaining.
via trinimummy | coconut-twist
Record diggers in Africa: The Scramble for Vinyl
Good article by Chief Boima, a NY-based DJ and cultural activist. It deals with the vinyl diggers, who are looking for rare material in Africa and sometimes compile it to a CD release. Boima says they might do a good job in preserving lost music, but usually they are focused on music which fits in a Western scheme.
The analysis made in the article is correct and was already stated before. It forgets though that a DJ or a record digger is not a cultural institute, they are (usually) theme-oriented collectors. What they do is looking for music that fits in their personal focus.
To preserve the full spectrum of the musical culture of a country is not the primary job of the record digger. I would see it more as a side effect.
(via Akwaaba)
