The Best Kenyan Music | A Top 15

I recently interviewed Udulele, a Kenyan singer and producer, who’s behind the genre he calls Soulful Benga. In our conversation, he spoke about how Soulful Benga grew from traditional Benga, with East African percussion, acoustic arrangements, and a spiritual touch. Revisiting that conversation got me thinking more about Kenyan music. Also, I have been to […]
10 Books About Plants You Need To Read Now

There are many elements around us like air, light, water, soil and plants that we take for granted. Just consider plants, for example, on how they shape our lives in profound ways. They feed us, heal us, and even communicate in ways science is only beginning to understand. Human connection with plants is something of […]
The Best Filipino Singers of All Time | A Top 10

Some countries are small, and we often overlook them on the global map, but they punch above their weight when it comes to talent. Think of how South Korea has taken the world by storm with K-pop, or how Sweden quietly dominates global pop charts. At this point, one could also ask: What country has […]
11 Books About Bookstores You Have To Read Now

We come across pictures and videos of aesthetic bookstores on social media all the time. While watching one such reel, I came across an idea: what about the stories behind these bookstores? Apart from their visual appeal, bookstores also have a history and stories that are just as intriguing as the books they house. So, […]
Ultimate Guide To Genres Of Music In South Africa And Singers

South Africa is a country with a history of struggle and resilience. It is also a country full of celebrations. And, there’s no better way to know a country than through its language and music. After all, languages and music carry the stories of resilience and celebration of their people. With 12 official languages, one […]
10 Books About Congo DRC You Need To Read

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo DRC) has a contrasting history. It has a great culture, a long history, and natural resources. If we consider the land area, it’s the second largest country in Africa and the 11th largest in the world. So, with abundant natural resources in a vast land, external powers have […]
The Best Pakistani Novels & Books on Pakistani Culture

Pakistan often finds itself in the spotlight for good, bad, and ugly reasons. The reason is quite simple: it is a nation of contrasts and complexities and at war with itself. But beyond the headlines, it is also a country of history, rich cultural traditions, spicy food, and breathtaking landscapes. At CulturalReads, we discuss topics […]
The Best Mariachi Songs | A Top 14

What country has the best music in the world? It’s a question with many answers. However, if you ask, which country’s music is the best to dance to? The straight answer would be mariachi songs from Mexico. Mariachi music is a vibrant part of Mexican culture. It is a traditional Mexican folk music that combines […]
Read Differently! 10 of the Best Indigenous Books Worldwide

If you are a regular reader of CulturalReads, you probably very well know that I wrote about some Indigenous books in the spiritual books. So, I thought, why not cover books only written by Indigenous authors? There’s a reason for that, as I find the works of Indigenous people quite fascinating, revealing and full of […]
Best Nigerian Books | 10 Great Writers To Start With

We often use the words ‘overrated’ and ‘underrated’ for almost everything we dislike or like. And, that is a bit problematic as it gives us an excuse to not talk about any topic that we don’t know or are not interested to know. But if in all honesty, we discuss the merits of these words, […]