Culture

How the German language is changing to become more gender-inclusive
Language is the basis of communication in every country, and the tool goes simply beyond the word used. German, like many other languages, uses a gender-based system which employs feminine, masculine or neutral words. Each German noun falls into one of these three, with words having counterparts for both male and female participants.  Read more...
A tale of two cities, or rather, ten thousand
A tale of two cities, or rather, ten thousand
words by Alexandra Turnbull   More than half the world now lives in cities. That's over 4.032 billion people. The world has over 10,000 cities in it, each with their... Read more...
A nation emerging as rhythm: Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s search for Caribbean poetry
A nation emerging as rhythm: Edward Kamau Brathwaite’s search for Caribbean poetry
Brathwaite’s whole text is not really a prescription on how to write if you are Caribbean; it is a celebration of the different references and the rich culture that exists... Read more...
Inside BookTok's revolutionary reading culture
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel with a feature from influencer William Dozier   BookTok is a space that attracts good people, author and book influencer William P. Dozier tells us. In our digital age, social media platforms have emerged as hubs for niche communities and cultural movements. Amongst these, Booktok stands out as one of the most surprising and impactful phenomena —a diverse aspect of TikTok dedicated to celebrating books and reading. What began as a small group of bibliophiles sharing their literary passions has evolved into a global phenomenon,... Read more...
Why don’t people write letters anymore?
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel   The irony of this article is that, while I am typing it on my computer, there’s a slight sting in the back of my mind – I have not wholeheartedly put pen to paper in a long time. And yet, here I am, typing about the very act of putting pen to paper. The world has changed so much. Progress comes with letting go of certain things from the past. Sure, I could write this on a piece of paper, but the postage, travel... Read more...
The beginning of poet Alexander Lima’s transformative journey
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel   Finding yourself is a lifelong task, even more so for an aspiring poet. Finding their voice and themselves in this unprecedented world surely is a challenge. But like all our lives, every challenge and barrier we cross is a step to unearthing our meaning in the world.  Enter Alexander Lima, a Bulgarian poet who is finding himself and exploring his psyche through the art of poetry. Currently a student at Royal Holloway University and a feature in Zimmer Magazine, he’s embarking on a journey... Read more...
Silence of the Specimens
Silence of the Specimens
words by Amy Woodward   There is something about the entrance to a museum. A threshold between worlds. Outside, the world is busy with traffic building impatiently. As the doors... Read more...
How do you deal with racism in a church?
How do you deal with racism in a church?
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel | photo by Getty Images Dear reader, we live in a world where spurious things have overtaken kindness and truth. This aspect has seeped into sacred... Read more...
A world without Sharnush Parsipur
A world without Sharnush Parsipur
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel   It's hard to imagine a world without Shahrnush Parsipur — one in which silence replaces defiance and the stories of women yearning for freedom remain untold.... Read more...
Do book prizes still matter in an age of self-publishing?
Do book prizes still matter in an age of self-publishing?
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel   It only takes a few clicks to publish books nowadays. In an age when TikTok,Instagram algorithms, Amazon, and mobile ads dictate what we read,... Read more...
Ken Saro-Wiwa's courage and price of telling the inconvenient truth
Ken Saro-Wiwa's courage and price of telling the inconvenient truth
words by Cheryl S. Ezekiel   Would you risk your life for the truth? Would you speak and write about the grave aspects that are driven by mankind’s lust for... Read more...