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CULTURE CURRENT
Global Trends & Traditions in Motion
Issue: July 2025 | Curated by FANS

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WHAT’S TRENDING AROUND THE WORLD
           A monthly roundup of cultural moments, from traditional revivals to pop culture shocks.

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South Korea 🇰🇷 – K-Culture Keeps Dominating

  • NJZ and AI in K-Pop: K-pop girl group NJZ is redefining youth culture with retro visuals and minimalist vibes, while AI idols are sparking debate about authenticity in the music scene.

  • Hanbok Renaissance: A new wave of Korean designers is modernizing the hanbok, blending it with streetwear for a Gen Z audience embracing heritage in daily fashion

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France 🇫🇷 – Protests + Paris Prep

  • Youth-Led Climate Marches: Thousands of French students walked out in protest over climate inaction ahead of the UN Climate Talks hosted in Lyon this summer.

  •  Paris 2024 Legacy: Post-Olympics, Paris is spotlighting urban renewal and public art, transforming former Olympic sites into creative spaces for musicians and local artists.

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Nigeria 🇳🇬 – Afrobeats Goes Global

  • Burna Boy & Tems at the GRAMMYs: Afrobeats took center stage at the 2025 GRAMMYs, with Burna Boy and Tems earning global praise and sparking worldwide interest in African fashion and slang.

  • Nollywood Expansion: Nigeria’s film industry is now exporting thrillers and romantic comedies to Amazon Prime and Netflix, expanding Africa’s storytelling footprint.

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Brazil 🇧🇷 – Carnival Beyond the Streets

  • Afro-Brazilian Culture in Focus: Bahia Carnival this year centered on Afro-Brazilian identity, highlighting Candomblé traditions and Black pride in performances and floats.

  • Favela Fashion Goes Global: Streetwear brands from Rio’s favelas are now appearing on runways in Milan and Paris, celebrated for turning struggle into style.

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Japan 🇯🇵 – Tradition Meets Tech

  • Kyoto’s Digital Zen Gardens: Temples in Kyoto are embracing projection art, blending ancient rituals with light shows to attract younger tourists.

  • Anime Diplomacy: Anime creators were invited to the Tokyo Cultural Summit to discuss how manga and animation have become unofficial ambassadors for Japanese culture.

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Mexico 🇲🇽 – Youth-Driven Cultural Revival

  • Corridos Tumbados: Urban regional music—led by Peso Pluma—is blending traditional instruments with trap and hip-hop, becoming a defining sound for young Latinos.

  • Día de los Muertos x TikTok: Millions tuned into TikTok livestreams of Day of the Dead altars, merging spiritual tradition with digital storytelling.

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Pakistan 🇵🇰 – Creative Resistance & Cultural Bloom

  • Coke Studio Season 16: Fusing Balochi folk with EDM, Pakistan’s biggest music platform is uniting generations through genre-bending sounds.

  • Fashion as Protest: Designers in Lahore are turning runway shows into statements about women’s rights and climate change, using traditional patterns with activist theme

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United States 🇺🇸 – Culture as Commentary

  • Art Responds to AI & Politics: Murals from New York to San Francisco reflect concerns over artificial intelligence and America’s political divides—art as protest and healing.

  • Cozy Culture: Post-pandemic youth are embracing “soft life” aesthetics—vintage sweaters, journaling, tea-making rituals, and minimalist indie playlists.

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GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • India 🇮🇳 – Bollywood stars speak out against colorism in casting.

  • Canada 🇨🇦 – Indigenous languages like Inuktitut now taught in public schools.

  • Germany 🇩🇪 – Berlin’s underground rave scene returns with anti-AI themes.

  • China 🇨🇳 – Hanfu clothing makes a major comeback among Gen Z.

  • South Africa 🇿🇦 – Cape Town poets livestream slam battles to global fans.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
     “Culture is not a luxury—it’s a map to who we are becoming.”
                – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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COMING UP NEXT MONTH

  • India – Coverage of the Rath Yatra Festival in Odisha

  • UK – London Pride 2025 and global LGBTQ+ culture updates

  • Global South – Youth-led fashion startups changing the game

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Want to submit a culture spotlight from your country?
Email us: Friendsacrossnations@gmail.com

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