Cultural Reads 1: Bestseller Nigeria, Manila Chill Pop, French Cultural Thriller

Hi Everyone Welcome to this first issue of the Cultural Reads Newsletter, a bi-weekly book, music, and movie recommendation from different countries all around the world. This week covers Nigeria, France, and the Philippines.

đź“™ Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)

Chinua Achebe is one of Nigeria’s best authors of all time. He grew up in an Igbo family that had embraced Christianity and pursued an education in English, history, and theology.

His widely acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart discusses colonialism and the clashes between foreign and local religions and traditions.

Achebe wrote about the Civil War between 1967-1970 primarily through poetry but later published There Was a Country, which is a brutally honest account of Nigeria’s recent history.

🎶 Up Dharma Down (Philippines)

Up Dharma Down is one of my favorite bands. Not just from the Philippines but worldwide. They’re a pop band from Manila with a unique sound that’s both chill and dancy.

My current favorite song is Sigurado.

🎬 Dans la Maison (France)

Dans la Maison is a French movie by director François Ozon (also known for his more recent work Été 85).

The movie starts with a school teacher asking his students to write an essay. Although most of the stories are disappointing, one particular piece stands out. This student writes about visiting his friend’s house, describing the household in detail, and finishing with the words “to be continued…”.

As the movie progresses, truth and fiction mix, and it becomes difficult to find out what’s real and what’s not

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Cultural Reads

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