What’s on your cultural radar?

 What’s on your cultural radar?

Who's cultural snapshot you read

I read about Ade Adeptian, a Nigerian wheelchair basketball star, who turned as a presenter in different british tv shows. He was born in Lagos in 1973, moved to London at the age of three, and became a prominent figure in sports and television. His legs were damaged by polio as a baby, so that’s the reason for his disability.

Which aspects of culture they talked about?

Ade Adepitan discussed several cultural aspects:

• Music: Afrobeat music, specifically highlighting Nigerian singer Fireboy DML and his track "Bandana."

• Place: Vilanculos, a coastal town in Mozambique where he experienced the stunning beauty of the area and swam with a dugong.

• Restaurant: Pitanga, a Nigerian restaurant in London known for its vegan and vegetarian options, despite Nigerian cuisine being traditionally meat-heavy.

• Book: Empireworld by Sathnam Sanghera, which delves into British colonial history and its lasting impact.

• Podcast: Scene on Radio (season 2), which explores the history and concept of race in America, focusing on the invention of whiteness.

• TV: The series Sugar on AppleTV+, starring Colin Farrell as a mysterious private eye.

Which of the things they talked about you found most interesting and why.

The description of Vilanculos in Mozambique was the most interesting part of the column. Ade Adepitan's vivid imagery of waking up to golden sands and a blue, blue sea creates a sense of paradise. His experience of swimming with a dugong, a rare and gentle sea creature, adds a unique and memorable touch to his travel adventure. This combination of natural beauty and a once-in-a-lifetime experience makes Vilanculos a standout in his cultural highlights.

My cultural radar

1. Music: 

Music in Chile and Argentina is generally quite similar these days (though I prefer Argentine music). However, I want to focus on an Argentine artist named Trueno. His latest album, El Último Baile, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, is outstanding. What makes it special to me is the way he explores and recreates all the possible styles and forms that hip-hop can take.

2. Sports: 

Obviously, if I want to talk about sports, I would choose to discuss football, specifically the Argentina men's football team. In this case, I'd like to talk about the 2024 Copa América, which is a historic tournament for the Argentine team. Although we didn't play as well as we did in the 2022 World Cup, we demonstrated to all of America that Argentina is the strongest football team today.

3. Tv

Nowadays, I'm really hooked on the second edition of Gran Hermano Chile, an iconic reality show worldwide. My favorite contestant is Michelle Carvalho, a Brazilian reality TV star making her return to the screen. She's direct and doesn't hesitate to call out other participants if they do something wrong.

4. Fashion

Styling in Chile is getting serious, with many new brands emerging to stay in the know (shoutout to Season Archives, my favorite brand). I really like fashion, so I'm always attentive to the new trends that are emerging, and Chile is becoming one of the biggest fashion hubs in Latin America.

5. Art

One of my favorite places for art is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago. It houses a remarkable collection of Chilean and international art, from colonial to contemporary pieces. The building’s neoclassical and art nouveau architecture adds to the experience, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in Chile's artistic heritage.