The Theyyam can be described as a performance that merges colour, dance, music, poetry and ceremonial rituals. Theyyams take place around the North Kerala district of Kannur.

Originally believed to have been a tribal folk art, the Theyyam has become an important part of the area’s religion – Hinduism.

A Theyyam performer or artist, as they are often referred to, begins by reciting the story of the particular Theyyam , which he is depicting (there are around 400 Theyyams).

After the recital the artist assumes a trance-like state, where he is no longer believed to be human, but a living incarnation of one of the many millions of Hindu Gods.

The performances vary from the artist slowly walking around a shrine to executing acrobatic moves and prancing around the temple grounds with great energy, it all depends on the God being invoked, each has his (or her) own story.

By the time they reach adulthood most Theyyam artists can depict a few dozen Gods. As they progress in their careers, that number increases.

Traditionally  Theyyam artists have always belonged to the lower castes on the Hindu social ladder.

While they work low paying, manual labour jobs throughout most of the year and are subjected to oppression by the higher castes…

The Theyyam season is a time when, for at least the duration of the performance even the highest members of the society bow down in front of the artists and ask for their blessings.

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Source: Mitchell Kanashkevich

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P-Square finally drops the video for “Chop My Money” with special appearance from Akon!!!….

Like always nothing short of the best is expected from the cool twins (P-Square).

Enjoy it above!…

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Check out this excellent phoot-shoot from the talented photographer MI-ZO!!

J’adore!!!…. (*Warning: NSFW!!)

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Source: MI-ZO

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Israel is a country that is loved, hated, and often misunderstood by much of the world.

Who really belongs there?… Why is Jerusalem so important?… Why do some believe in a messiah who will put things right?…

Amidst this seemingly endless battle over land and religion, surfing has emerged as an escape from the controversy.

Promised Land is a unique look at this ancient place through the lives of two friends from different faiths, brought together by their love of the oceans that separate them.

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Great new song from Gonjasufi!!…

“The Blame” is taken from his recently released new album called MU.ZZ.LE.

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Fierce Color Block style by Giuseppe Dicecca & MI-ZO!!…

We LOVE it!!… See more after the jump!! – (*Warning:NSFW!!)

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Source: Giuseppe Dicecca – MI-ZO

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Directed by Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland, State of Play/etc), it is a documentary on the life, music, and legacy of legendary Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician, Bob Marley.

It is the first feature backed by the Marley family as well as the legend’s longtime music label head Chris Blackwell which should make for the most insightful look at his life yet as it follows “the musician, revolutionary and legend from his earliest days to his rise to international superstardom” using rare footage, archival photos and incredible performances and interviews with his family, friends and bandmates!

Check out the awesome trailer above!!…

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A stunning portrait of an alternative lifestyle community by Robert Holden…

The Treehouse is more than one place…

(*Warning: NSFW!!)

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Its habitants can be anyone…

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People who choose to live differently…

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…and manage to find happiness and satisfaction…

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…by carrying an existence where the highest values are not monetizable.

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Source: Robert Holden

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Beautiful fashion inspired by Native American Culture…

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Source: Guillaume Nallet & Emily Soto

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Luscious & romantic…

Kick back & enjoy the seductive sounds of Brazilian songstress Céu.

“Retrovisor” is the brand new single from her forthcoming album.

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Some of the first Cowboys were black…

Black men born into slavery found they experienced less open discrimination and a better life on the open range.

Even the name ‘Cowboy‘ came from slavery days. From the Cabin boy to the House boy, field boy, Kitchen boy to Cow boy.

After the American Civil War many experienced black cowboys enlisted in the Army Calvary and were known as Buffalo Soldiers.

Black cowboys where brilliant horseman, and many went on to become ranch foremen and managers, while others were hired as federal peace officers in the Indian Territories.

It is estimated that as many as one-third of all cowboys contracted to drive cattle to markets across America were either Black or Mexican.

African-American cowboys, however, had to survive discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice.

The lives of these cowhands tell a story of skill and grit, as they did what was necessary to gain the trust and respect of those who controlled their destiny.

That meant being the best at roping, bronc busting, taming mustangs, calling the brands, controlling the remuda, or topping off horses.

Hollywood also played a big part in keeping the Cowboy myth alive.

We all grew up watching Wild West Tv series and Cowboy films, but how many films can you remember that feature black cowboys??… not too many.

So I went in search of the forgotten cowboys and to my great surprise found a large and thriving African-American cowboy community.

From New Mexico to Texas and as far up as the San Francisco Bay Area, many African-Americans can trace their lineage right back to the Old South.

There are many reasons why the history books fail to mention the contribution of the black cowboys.

Oone reason I’ve heard mention is that history is nearly always written by the winners, in any case, I wanted to discover more about some of the amazing characters and meet some 21st century black cowboys working on the many ranches dotted around the South.

I hope to go back to the States again in the very near future as this is an ongoing multimedia project.

My aim is to achieve a wide cultural and educational exposure for this captivating and vastly unexplored subject matter globally.

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Source: John Ferguson

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What happens when love takes you places you never thought you’d go??…

Check out above the trailer for the film Middle of Nowhere – A well-paced, well-written beautiful film, with an attractive cast delivering strong performances that profiles the life of a prison inmate’s wife.

To put it simply, it’s a deliberate, matured tribute to adulthood – that life phase when we become (or are expected to become) independent, self-reliant (in thought, action and otherwise) decision-making human beings, fully responsible for the choices we make and their repercussions, and coming to terms with who and/or what we are, warts and all.

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