Country/Region: Chincha and El Carmen, Peru
Status: Completed

This year I had the fortunate opportunity of attending Verano Negro – a yearly festival celebrated in the cities of Chincha and El Carmen. The festival combines an array of Afro-Peruvian traditions: cuisine, music, culture, poetry, dances, and cultural art. Check out some the videos below to watch some of the festivities:

Una celebración de la cultura Afro-Peruana en las ciudades de Chincha y El Carmen, Perú

Country/Region: Mongolia
Goal: To explore the influence of Hip-Hop culture in Mongolia, and within that context to understand the essence of a people and their way of life.
Status: Completed

(…following-up my previous project post)
Mongolia…the name rings familiar but little is spoken of its deep culture and history shaped by the powerful dynamics of an extreme climate, nomadic tribal heritage, and the vision of Genghis Khan. Here, just beyond the hills, reside an ancient people who live intimately, and in full harmony with Mother Nature. I found a culture marked by the deepest of warmth and hospitality, despite an unforgiving winter climate. Mongolian, the official language, is a member of the Ural-Altaic family of languages that is surprisingly unique in pronunciation and intonation. Lacking the linguistic ability to effectively communicate in this region, I was fortunate enough to have found the proper medium to penetrate the soul of this legendary country.

The true sound of Hip-Hop has resonated in the farthest corners of this earth; here too, local dialects are employing the sound of freedom to break microphones in half. The tribes of Mongolia are slowly transforming themselves into tribes of city dwellers. Urbanization is very much alive, like any other developing nation. The proud, independent people of Mongolia are adjusting to a new urban way of living. However, behind a picturesque, traditionally shamanistic landscape lies the history of men with a political agenda – a long awaited promise never delivered. I sought to understand their struggle via the masses gathering, chanting, and surrounding a group of MCs that embarked on a voyage to renew a promise to their people….

Respect and One Love to all my Mongolian brethren and sisthren out there, this is a dedication to moments we lived. Let us comprehend the tears of Ulaan Baatar City: