Cultural Reads 9: Sudanese Refugees, Iranian Drug War, Malinese Desert Blues

Good morning all, I’m back in Rotterdam!

Welcome to the 9th issue of the Cultural Reads Newsletter! A bi-weekly book, music, and movie recommendation from different countries all around the world.

In this week’s newsletter: South Sudan, Iran, and Mali

📕 What is the What – Dave Eggers (South Sudan/UK)

Valentino Achak Deng is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan – a group of 20,000 boys displaced and orphaned during the Sudanese Civil War. The group tracked hundred of kilometers by foot, escaping attacks by soldiers, militias, and animals alike.

After finally arriving at a refugee camp in Ethiopia, Valentino’s journey is far from over. After another refugee camp in Kenya, the young boy is granted asylum in the United States. However, the “promised land” has challenges of its own, and the hardships are far from over.

What is the What touches on the full spectrum of emotions. The story is cruel, sad, and even depressing at times, but also adventurous and full of hope. If you’re interested to hear more about Valentino’s life, check out this Ted Talk and this BBC news article. Be aware; these links may contain spoilers.

📽️ Just 6.5 (Iran)

This action movie is a riveting thriller about a narcotics task force hunting down one of Iran’s most-wanted drug pins. It’s much more than your Friday night adrenaline kick, though.

Just 6.5 hints at the 6.5 million drug addicts in Iran (on a population of 84 million), despite strict punishments for drug possession.

Through the heated dialogues, the film implicitly asks about the underlying societal problems. Will a police team with highly motivated but stressed-out members be able to solve the issue? And what is being done to solve the underlying motivations for getting involved in trafficking?

The combination of solid character development, a fast pace, and societal criticism make it a fantastic theater experience.

🎼 Tinariwen (Mali)

Tinariwen, which means desert, is a band from the Sahara region in northern Mali. The group’s founder (Ibrahim Ag Alhabib) witnessed his father’s execution as a young kid and later fled to Algeria, where he lived as a refugee. In 1980 the band members received military training in Libya, which Ghaddaffi offered to illegal immigrants. They later joined a similar Tuareg rebel training program in Libya, where Ibrahim and the other band members met.

During this period, the group started producing free tapes with songs about the Tuareg people’s issues. After a peace agreement in 1991, the band entirely dedicated itself to music.

Tinariwen received more international recognition in the following years and eventually won a Grammy in 2011 for their album Tassili. Although they often tour Europe, I have to admit that I missed the last two before the pandemic.

For more music from Mali, check out this post about the best Malian artists.

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