Madagascar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Madagascar - Research Paper Example The major language spoken in Madagascar is Malagasy. However, other languages including French and English are also used, but not as much as Malagasy (Tyson, 2013). This country has various cultures as well as ethnic groups. The capital city of Madagascar is called Antananarivo. The latest GDP(PPP) as well as GDP(nominal) for Madagascar stand at $33.642 billion and $ 11.188 billion respectively relevant to the latest estimates in the year 2014. The culture of Madagascar is greatly influenced by the different ethnicities that are found there. Some of these ethnicities comprise of the Indonesians, Arabs, Africans as well as the French (Campbell, 2005). However, it is important to note that Madagascar has always been having long lasting cultures as well as traditions. The different forms of cultures and traditions of the country of Madagascar can be seen through three main perspectives. These include the cuisine, language, the culture relevant to daily life and customs, as well as the culture relevant to religion (Tyson, 2013). Relevant to the religious culture, it is widely known that the people of Madagascar always worship as well as venerate the spirits of the dead. This is one of the traditional religious practices in Madagascar, popularly known as Fomban-razana (ancestor-worship) (Bradt, 2011). However, these traditional religious beliefs are not practiced by all the people of Madagascar. It is always believed that praye rs offered to Andriamanitra (the Supreme God) must always pass through the ancestors. This is always a culture in most religions in Madagascar, practiced regularly during ceremonies, events as well as performance of rituals. Other than religion, the cultures of Madagascar can also be viewed in terms of their cuisine. These cuisines always reflect a collection of interests from various ethnic groups. In Madagascar, it is always a culture that all traditional meals are consumed on the floor

Elvis Presley King of Rock and Roll Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Elvis Presley King of Rock and Roll - Essay Example nt, his reputation as the world’s greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll singer even after the sensational impact of ‘Beatlemania’ of 1964 had not declined even decades after his demise. Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in the humblest circumstances on January 8, 1935, in Mississippi. He graduated from Humes High School, in Tennessee where his parents migrated, in 1953. The young Elvis displayed a natural gift for singing and took up guitar at eleven that was given by his father as a birthday gift. Pop, country music, gospel music, and the black R&B of the time influenced him in molding his musical genius. He began his singing experimentation in the summer of 1953, when he decided to record songs, mainly out of curiosity to hear his own sound on record. The two songs ‘My Happiness’ and ‘That’s When Your Heartaches Begin’ recorded at Memphis Recording Service Studio caught attention of Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and assistant Marion Keisker recognize his â€Å"nascent talent.† (Chuck). In 1954 Phillips asked Elvis to team up with two local musicians to try out a speeded-up version of blues singer Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup’s song ‘That is All Right,’ which was released as Elvis’ first single. In 1955 his recording career was sold to RCV Records, one of the worlds biggest record companies, on the advice of Colonel Tom Parker (Andreas van Kuijk). The RCA had the necessary influence to â€Å"expose Elvis on nationally networked television† and by 1956 he was an international sensation. (Lennon and Dylan). His popular number one hits are: Heart Break Hotel (1956), Love me Tender (1956), (Let me be your) Teddy Bear-Loving You (1957), Jailhouse Rock(1957), Stuck on You-Welcome Home (1960), Are You lonesome Tonight? & All shook up (1968 come back specials), Can’t help falling in love (1961), In the Ghetto (1970), The Wonder of You (1970), and Burning Love (1973). He had a short stint with U.S army and also experimented with