The Great Lakes region of Africa is on the brink of a major conflict as Rwanda and Kenya face off. The conflict has been caused by thirty years of violence, regional tensions and foreign interventions. The international community has largely ignored the danger of an explosion, with the East African Community (EAC) now deploying military forces at the invitation of the Congolese government. The US’s response has been muddled, and it remains to be seen whether diplomatic or military pressure will be effective in solving this crisis. In the meantime, the people of North Kivu will bear the brunt of this escalating war. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
