Culture

Tunisia’s largest museum opens to public after closure

Published

2 weeks ago

September 15, 2023

Tunisia largest museum, the Bardo National Museum, has reopened its doors to the public after it was closed since President Kais Saied suspended all parliamentary work on July 25th, 2021.

Saied’s decision to shut down the edifice seen as the fulcrum of Tunisian heritage and cultural tourism, was in response to intense violent confrontations between assembly members.

The museum which is housed in a 19th century Ottoman governor’s palace located near the parliament in Tunis, was reopened on Thursday with visitors allowed to view several giant antique mosaic pieces including depictions of the Roman god Neptune and Hercules and his wife, Omphale.

According to Tunisian Culture Ministry, the Bardo’s fame originates from its countless rare artefacts discovered during excavations undertaken in the North African since the XIXth Century.

It is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Tunisia which has been at the crossroads of many of the world’s renowned civilizations.

“It’s different from other museums because it exhibits artefacts, whereas other museums bring in statues from other countries and exhibit them,” a visitor, Selim Yahyaou, told journalists.

“On the other hand, we have everything at our feet and that is of great value compared with other museums in the world,” Yahyaou said.

During the closure, the management of the Bardo used the opportunity to renovate the edifice with several spaces enlarged, and some collections relocated, while new sections were also added, among them one dedicated to Islamic manuscripts.

The Bardo Museum has a tradition of organizing scientific seminars and meetings as well as welcoming young people for workshops with the youths learning more about moulding and Arab calligraphy for instance.

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Culture

Spotify celebrates Nigeria’s Independence with the unveiling of three playlists

Published

3 hours ago

October 2, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Global streaming platform, Spotify celebrated Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary with the unveiling of three new playlists that highlight the country’s musical diversity, ranging from Fuji to the golden eras of Afrobeats.

The platform, in a post on its social media, said the playlists “provide a home for music that millions of Nigerians of all ages and persuasions have loved and listened to for decades.”

It said apart from the global growth of Afrobeats, “Nigeria is also home to a diverse musical culture, with genres of unique origins, and artists who have created iconic music across eras.”

“To highlight this, Spotify is giving a voice to some of Nigerian music’s unsung genres, its most essential decades, as well as the creators and hit songs that laid foundations for Afrobeats’ success,” it said.

According to the streaming platform, the playlists include:

The Fuji Sound

“Building on its most recent success, this playlist charts the evolution of the Fuji genre, and its most essential artists, from Kollington Ayinla to Wasiu Alabi Pasuma.”

I love my 2000s Afrobeats

“Fans of the early days of Afrobeats, and everyone else, will find nostalgia and great memories calling in the “I Love My 2000s Afrobeats” playlist”.

I love my 2010s Afrobeats

“Featuring some of the songs that kicked off the ‘Afrobeats To The World’ movement, this playlist is a mix of hits that you’ll definitely come back to.”

Culture

Nigerian producer, Hitsound kicks off attempt to set new Guinness World Record

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Nigerian music producer, Joshua Abba Jeremiah, popularly known as Hitsound, has kicked off an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest music recording session.

Hitsound, who began the audacious attempt on September 29, says he is hoping to break the world record for the longest recording marathon with multiple artistes.

The present record stands at 243 hours, 30 minutes (11 days). Hitsound believes he can eclipse the record.

The producer is also trying to better previous attempts by other Nigerian disc jockeys like DJ Obi, Khafi, and DJ Yin.

DJ Yin had, in 2021, recorded a time of 243 hours, 30 minutes (11 days), from the 20th of September to the 1st of October, at The Grill by Yanna, Ikoyi, Lagos, breaking the previous record set by DJ Obi who played for 240 hours in 2016.