Latest news with #culturalcelebration
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rochester school celebrates Haudenosaunee culture event
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Friday at the Harley School in Rochester, students, faculty, and community members gathered for a flag raising ceremony. This, in honor of the the Haudenosaunee people in our region. The events included an informational presentation about the history of the Hiawatha Belt flag which now waves proudly on the flagpole outside the Harley School. The day also featured traditional dances by the Seneca Allegheny River Dancers and musical performances from students. One teacher at the Harley School says Friday was a celebration of peace, culture and community. 'But not only is it a sign of peace, but it's also a sign of welcoming, and inclusivity because you'll notice when you look at our flag, the white bands extend off of the flag and those are like open arms welcoming anyone else into our nations,' teacher Trish Corcoran said. This ceremony took place as part of The Harley School`s commitment to honoring Indigenous voices and promoting a culture of peace and constitutional values. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Unity Cup final offers identity and bragging rights to London's diaspora
Where are you from? This simple question can be a minefield for anyone with a hyphenated identity. Depending on who is asking, I could be British, Nigerian or Jamaican. In Britain I'm black. In Nigeria I'm an innit innit boy. In Jamaica I'm foreign. I'm from here but I'm not from here. Each layer of my cultural backdrop explains so much and complicates even more. The Unity Cup validates the experiences of many people like me who are a part of London's diaspora communities. The friendly football tournament brings together Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago across five days to compete for nothing more than the love of game, the celebration of culture and the chance to earn unassailable bragging rights. It's a sequel to the 2004 Unity Cup that hosted Nigeria, Ghana and the Republic of Ireland at the Valley in Charlton. Nigeria won the round-robin competition 21 years ago and they will face Jamaica in the final of this year's single-elimination tournament at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium after Jamaica beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 on Tuesday and Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 on Wednesday at the same venue. Former Wimbledon, Watford and Brentford striker Marcus Gayle was at the 2004 edition of the Unity Cup as a commentator after ending his international career with Jamaica two years after the Reggae Boyz reached the 1998 World Cup. For Gayle, now an ambassador for Brentford, the competition is as much about bringing people together as it is about the results on the pitch. 'The last time this happened was 21 years ago, so there are many fans that were not even born [then] who can witness this event and I think that's a healthy thing' he says. 'They can see what their nations can produce [while staying] in their local area.' Gayle was born in Hammersmith to a Barbadian mother and Jamaican father. Despite representing England at youth level, he ultimately decided to play for Jamaica at senior level. It was a decision that was not taken lightly. 'I had to go through some politics at the time,' Gayle remarks. The 54-year-old's response alludes to debates about English-born players with heritage elsewhere playing for England or for their country of origin. 'It's about what's prestigious' says Gayle, referring to England's chances at a major tournament compared to Jamaica's, and the calibre of players in the respective national setups. 'There also should be a sense of pride in who you are, your identity and what makes you.' Once Gayle joined Jamaica's national setup with fellow English-born players such as Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton and Paul Hall, he immediately felt at home. 'It was like my DNA connected to the soil,' he says. We felt integrated. There were stories that we all had [in common], but it was just 4,000 miles apart.' He also found himself learning from the homegrown players. Used to the strict nutritional regimen of the Premier League, Gayle ate small portions of pre-match staples such as porridge and a banana while his teammates piled their plates before games. He would ask them: 'How are you going to eat that and then still run around?' Little did he know that the hot conditions would force him to match his teammates with plates full of hard food. 'I was underfueling myself because of how I was brought up in football,' Gayle says. 'I was burning calories galore so I had to adapt. I had to entwine with the culture, which is beautiful.' For Gayle, the Unity Cup is an opportunity for others to connect with their culture in a similar way. 'I hope it will encourage the younger generations to look at representing their countries with pride and dignity,' he says. This sense of pride and dignity has trickled down to the fans who enjoyed a jovial atmosphere at the semi-finals. Jamaica versus Trinidad & Tobago felt more like a carnival than a football game and, if social media is anything to go by, the 'Jollof derby' was just as joyous. Jamaica versus Nigeria is a fitting final as both countries given how much both nations have shaped Britain and its culture, albeit the match represents something of a personal dilemma. Regardless of the score on Saturday, the Unity Cup is fostering a sense of pride among the respective countries and their communities at home and abroad.
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Celebration to mark Philippine independence anniversary on June 1
To mark the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and UAE-Filipino friendship, a cultural celebration will be organised at Dubai World Trade Centre on June 1. The day-long cultural festival, hosted by 'Emirates Loves the Philippines', will take place from 8am to 10pm. Over 30,000 attendees from across the Filipino community in the UAE. Emirati dignitaries, Filipino diplomats, business leaders, and well-known social figures are also expected to join the celebration. Organised in collaboration with Dubai Police, the event aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines through traditional music and dance performances, folk competitions, art displays, and interactive exhibits. Special entertainment areas for children and food stalls serving iconic Filipino dishes will further enhance the family-friendly experience. The UAE is home to hundreds of thousands of Filipino residents, many of whom play vital roles in key sectors such as healthcare, education, engineering, retail, and tourism. The UAE and the Philippines share a long-standing friendship, even before establishing official diplomatic ties in August 1974. These relations were further strengthened with the opening of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1980 and the UAE Embassy in Manila in 1989, paving the way for deeper and more fruitful cooperation across various fields. Dubai
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Meet the newly crowned Queen of Carnaval San Francisco, Zoel Mendoza
SAN FRANCISCO — For Zoel Mendoza, the newly crowned 2025 Queen of Carnaval San Francisco, this is no ordinary crown — it's a symbol of renewal, identity, and cultural celebration. As she rehearses at Casa de Carnaval ahead of the city's iconic Mission District parade, Mendoza said Carnaval represents far more than music and dance. "Carnaval is a celebration. It is, what we say in Portuguese, 'Uma limpeza' — it cleans energy. It brings in new things. It opens doors. It's almost like the beginning of a new year. It's a renewal," she said. That sense of renewal is deeply personal for Mendoza. As an Afro-Mexicana, she said this year's theme, Afro-Mundo, resonates with her own story — one shaped by a layered and evolving relationship with race and identity. "Afro-Mundo really, really resonates with me. Especially because I'm Afro-Latina. And it's something that I kind of struggled with when I was younger," Mendoza said. "I felt I didn't really land in one camp or the other. So, I had a bit of an identity crisis." Through dance — and with training in Brazil and other cultural centers — Mendoza found clarity and confidence in her identity, as well as a calling to uplift others on similar journeys. In her new role as queen, she hopes to shine a light on fellow artists and deepen the impact of Carnaval's vibrant legacy. "I really believe in community, and I really want to bring on as many artists as I possibly can," she said. "Platform them, work with them, collaborate with them. Because that's how culture grows, and that's how it's passed — by sharing the space." Mendoza currently shares her passion for samba while building spaces where others in the diaspora can also feel seen and celebrated. "Being crowned this year means so much to me because not only have I found my own identity in something that is 100 percent me," she said, "but I'm crowned in a year that really feels like a year that celebrates people like us — who are part of the diaspora, those who are very aware of who they are in the diaspora, and those that are lost, like I was. So it feels like I'm coming home with a win, and I'm very grateful." It's that gratitude, rooted in rhythm and joy, that Mendoza now brings to every step of her Carnaval reign.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Art World Enters Beijing Time: 'Beijing Art Season' Launches at 798 Art District
BEIJING, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 24, the opening ceremony of the 2025 Beijing Art Season was held at the 798 Art District, marking the official launch of a month-long cultural celebration. Bringing together over 200 galleries and art institutions, the event sets the tone for shaping Beijing's dynamic art landscape. At the same time, the 798 Art Committee was officially announced, signaling a new chapter in the development of 798. With a diverse lineup of activities and a projected market impact in the hundreds of millions of yuan, this phenomenon-level art season aims to draw global collectors, curators, and art lovers to the capital. Guests celebrate the Opening of Beijing Art Season With the core City Resonates Through Art, this cultural initiative is co-led by 798 and three major art platforms. Gallery Weekend Beijing, a flagship project incubated at 798, is a key player in the local art ecosystem. ART021 BEIJING, debuting at 798 this year, brings new commercial energy to the capital, while Beijing Dangdai Art Fair deepens its ongoing collaboration with the district. Together, these platforms turn 798 into a nexus of creativity and place Beijing firmly on the global art calendar. Gallery Weekend Beijing, ART021 BEIJING, and Beijing Dangdai Art Fair During the Season, the city transforms into an open-air museum. From 798 and the National Agricultural Exhibition Center to the CBD and Beijing Cultural Bounded Area, over 300 exhibitions by institutions from nearly 20 countries fill the city. Dozens of events and forums add to the momentum. Powered by the international influence of the 798 Art District, the Beijing Art Season positions the entire city as an exhibition space, fostering a seamless cultural ecosystem that integrates art fairs, exhibitions, lifestyle, retail, and hospitality. Art spills beyond galleries into streets, cafés, shops, and neighborhoods, inviting the public to become cultural participants and co-creators. Looking ahead, the 798 Art District will continue to serve as a cultural landmark and a high-traffic engine for the city, fueling the growth of Beijing's artistic ecosystem and supporting the rise of new cultural tourism destinations. With a commitment to diversified offerings and immersive experiences, 798 aims to become a model of how contemporary art can energize urban life and make a meaningful contribution to the capital's cultural economy. Contact info: info@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
