Kyrgyzstan’s Akyn Poets

Kyrgyzstan held its first presidential election since a violent revolution and an outburst of ethnic violence rattled the country last year. As the country’s fledgling democracy moves forward, the local media have been covering events closely. But so has an older, arguably more powerful institution in Kyrgyzstan.

Bahrain Poet Jailed for Criticizing the Government Released

Poet Ayat al Gormezi was jailed after reading a poem critical of government in February.

South African poet Lesego Rampolokeng

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Lesego Rampolokeng is a South African writer and poet who came out of the ‘Black Consciousness’ movement of the 1980s. A tough upbringing in Soweto informed his angry poetic voice during the final years of apartheid. More than 20 years later, he is still angry, and his written voice is still appealing to South African musicians who use his poems – and his own voice – on their tracks. The World’s Carol Hills has the story. Download MP3

Video: Lesego Rampolokeng’s poetry recitation

Franco-Egyptian poet Andree Chedid dies in Paris

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The World’s Marco Werman tells us about the poetry and life of the late Andree Chedid, born in Egypt and most recently of Paris, France. Chedid, who won the 1979 Goncourt prize for literature for “Time And The Body,” was born in Cairo of Lebanese Christian descent and moved to Paris in 1946. Her son Louis Chedid is a well-known French singer and grandson Matthieu “M” Chedid is a pop star. Download MP3
Video: Matthieu “M” Chedid performs tribute

Chile mourns celebrated folksinger Jara

Chilean folksinger and songwriter Victor Jara was reburied in Chile on Saturday – 36 years after his death. Thousands of people joined the procession in Santiago to celebrate the life of this national icon. Jara was an activist and supporter of deposed socialist president Salvadore Allende. He was killed in 1973 following General Pinochet’s coup. His body was exhumed in an effort to piece together the details of his death.

• Click here for the Victor Jara slideshow
• Chile reburies coup victim and singer Jara

Boom, Bust and Bertolt Brecht

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In the late 1920s, American capitalism inspired a German opera about a city built on greed … “Everything is defined by money. Everything can be bought, including human relations” … The opera’s creator decried capitalism. In the wake of the 1929 Wall Street Crash, Brecht wrote about New York. It’s as if he was writing last year. The World’s Alex Gallafent has the story. Download MP3

• Poem: Late Lamented Fame of the Giant City of New York
• Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
• Bertolt Brecht: Poems 1913-1956