Culture / Music

Rap is a genre intertwined with politics, but the political courage of Iran’s rappers takes some beating, Lorraine Mallinder finds.

Lazinho and Lucas di Fiori of Brazil’s famous Banda Olodum talk to Alessio Perrone about 40 years of drumming up change.

(aka Radwan Ghazi Moumneh) Words by Louise Gray, photograph by Melanie Marsman.

Bush Lady by Alanis Obomsawin; Under Frustration, Vol 1 by Arabstazy.

Mali’s blind musical duo speak to Graeme Green about the ‘refugee crisis’ and why extremist efforts to stop the music will ultimately fail.

Remain in Light by Angélique Kidjo; Voice of Resistance by Rim Banna.

With a career spanning six decades, Tobago’s Calypso Rose has written more than 800 songs focusing on gender discrimination and social injustice. The 78-year-old, who has survived cancer and two heart attacks, spoke to Sian Griffiths.

Your Queen Is a Reptile by Sons of Kemet and Radyo Siwèl, by Mélissa Laveaux.

What a year! We’re all in need of some light relief – here we pick out the top films, books and music reviewed by New Internationalist in 2017

Economic Partnership Agreement by Sven Kacirek and Daniel Mburu Muhuni; Syrian Dreams by Maya Youssef.

Acclaimed British-Indian musician Nitin Sawhney talks to Subi Shah about colonialism, music as a passport to possibility and why he wants to be known as ‘someone who gives a shit’.

We review TootArd, from the Golan Heights, with their second album Laissez Passer, and Live at Ronnie Scott’s, by Nitin Sawhney.

British singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore’s acclaimed new album The Counterweight was written during the turbulent events of 2016. She spoke to Danny Chivers about music, politics and crying on stage.

At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me by Saz’iso; Frost on Fiddles by Frigg.

Sleaford Mods’ vocalist Jason Williamson talks to Graeme Green about anger, politics and anti-singing.

‘The struggle is in the song, and the song is in the struggle.’ West Papuan musician Ronny Kareni explains the vital role of Melanesian culture in the fight for freedom.

The singer and musician talks to Graeme Green about fame, frustration and failing systems.

Hopelessness by Anohni; Legend of Funaná by Bitori.

The Western Saharan singer and activist on Cuban solidarity, life as a refugee, and making her grandmother proud.

The award-winning rapper, writer, campaigner and lecturer talks to Dan Glazebrook about the myth of white supremacy and the death of racism.