Sunday, November 06, 2005
Its Simple: The Drums Make Noise
Seth and I look for the slightest excuse to digress from our work and indulge in conversation about our favorite topics of discussion - the non-profit world, globalization and Africa. He is able to provoke thought around such issues of global relevance like no one I know. He recently introduced me to yet another gem of an individual - Megan Mylan. She is the architect behind two spectacular films that are top on my wish list and which I probably won't get to until all this eternal graduate school chaos settles down.
Lost Boys of Sudan : "Lost Boys of Sudan is a feature-length documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees on an extraordinary journey from Africa to America. Orphaned as young boys in one of Africa's cruelest civil wars, Peter Dut and Santino Chuor survived lion attacks and militia gunfire to reach a refugee camp in Kenya along with thousands of other children. From there, remarkably, they were chosen to come to America. Safe at last from physical danger and hunger, a world away from home, they find themselves confronted with the abundance and alienation of contemporary American suburbia."
Batidania: Power in the Beat : " Batidania explores music as a means of protest for the children of Banda AfroReggae, an Afro-Brazilian youth drum corps from one of Rio de Janeiro's
most violent slums, or favelas. Through concerts and wide media coverage, the children use their music to draw attention to the intense police brutality and drug trade that dominate their community while sending a strong message to Brazilian society that they expect more for their future."
This is an awesomely written article on the above by Megan herself. I am reminded of the paper I had to write on the economic disparity that plagues this magical country while living in Belo Horizonte. Half the challenge was to decide what the focus of my paper should be and the mightier challenge was to write it in Portuguese. The former worked itself out when I fortuitiously got a chance to go visit Rocinha one of the largest slums in Rio de Janeiro all thanks to Aurelio, my guide back then. I remember him talking about Rocinha having its own samba school, FM station, soccer team and even a modelling agency. Anyway, I digress yet again. Let Megan charm you with her words.
Lost Boys of Sudan : "Lost Boys of Sudan is a feature-length documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees on an extraordinary journey from Africa to America. Orphaned as young boys in one of Africa's cruelest civil wars, Peter Dut and Santino Chuor survived lion attacks and militia gunfire to reach a refugee camp in Kenya along with thousands of other children. From there, remarkably, they were chosen to come to America. Safe at last from physical danger and hunger, a world away from home, they find themselves confronted with the abundance and alienation of contemporary American suburbia."
Batidania: Power in the Beat : " Batidania explores music as a means of protest for the children of Banda AfroReggae, an Afro-Brazilian youth drum corps from one of Rio de Janeiro's
most violent slums, or favelas. Through concerts and wide media coverage, the children use their music to draw attention to the intense police brutality and drug trade that dominate their community while sending a strong message to Brazilian society that they expect more for their future."
This is an awesomely written article on the above by Megan herself. I am reminded of the paper I had to write on the economic disparity that plagues this magical country while living in Belo Horizonte. Half the challenge was to decide what the focus of my paper should be and the mightier challenge was to write it in Portuguese. The former worked itself out when I fortuitiously got a chance to go visit Rocinha one of the largest slums in Rio de Janeiro all thanks to Aurelio, my guide back then. I remember him talking about Rocinha having its own samba school, FM station, soccer team and even a modelling agency. Anyway, I digress yet again. Let Megan charm you with her words.
# posted by Surya Swamy : 1:32 PM
