Fading Cultures Magazine
April 2025
"Your subscription directly supports ethnographic research, helps document endangered cultural traditions, and empowers communities to share their stories.
Navigation is one of humanity’s most ancient and universal skills. Every journey—whether to the corner shop, a child’s school, or across uncharted terrain—is a testament to our ability to find our way in a complex world. Yet navigation is far more than a practical act of moving from point A to point B. It is a story that weaves together culture, survival, and ingenuity,
by James Pierce
Across the world, the ocean is more than a vast expanse of water—it is sacred, alive, and deeply woven into the spiritual and cultural fabric of many Indigenous and traditional societies. Among the Bajau people of Southeast Asia, the sea is both home and deity. As nomadic seafarers, they spend their lives on the water, guided by generations of inherited knowledge and an unshakable belief in the spirits of the ocean.
by Tom Corcoran
“Sweat bathing cultures worldwide embody so much of what it is to be human, a ritual honed by generations of instinct and embodied knowledge” (Social Sauna - Bathing and Wellbathing, catalogue by Jane Withers Studio), creating space for reconnection to the earthly and elemental.
by Agnese Abolina and Masha Segal
Exploring Wedding Rituals
The rhythmic pounding of dhol drums reverberates through the air, mingling with the scent of marigold garlands in an Indian courtyard. Halfway across the globe, the soft chants of a Shinto priest echo through a tranquil shrine in Japan,
by Amara Doshi
Sasha Priyo is a researcher, thinker, and philosopher focused on lifelong learning and inclusive education. For decades, he has worked with marginalised communities across Rajasthan through BODH Shiksha Samiti, promoting learning rooted in local knowledge and cultural identity. In his short film, Sasha challenges conventional views on the origins of history, proposing that memory—expressed through oral traditions, myths, and literature—is the true foundation of the discipline. The film offers a thought-provoking reflection on how collective memory shapes our understanding of the past.
IFor as long as humans have walked the earth, they have created. From the first hands who painted the walls of caves to the architects of ancient cities, from the poets who wove myths into language to the musicians who built entire cultures around rhythm, creativity has been our defining trait. But now, artificial intelligence—something that does not think, feel, or dream—threatens to redefine what it means to create.
by Tom Corcoran
In desperation, the gods turned to Lord Shiva, the compassionate one regarded as both destroyer and restorer. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Shiva swallowed the poison to save all of creation. His wife, Parvati, ran to him and held his neck tightly to prevent the poison from descending into his body.
by Amara Doshi
Who will grow our food
"With the average farmer nearing 60 in many regions, the future of agriculture is at a crossroads. As younger generations turn away from farming, who will sustain the world's food supply—and what must change to keep our fields flourishing?
by James Pierce
The Hidden Struggle of Indigenous, Tribal and Traditional Stewards
In the dense jungles of central India, a Baiga elder gazes at the land her people have nurtured for generations. Renowned for their intricate tattoos, the Baiga women embody the deep cultural connection their tribe shares with the land.
by Tom Corcoran
by Éireann Brown
Growing up I was always hearing that you could find great quality produce at great prices at the vegetable market and for some reason the direct contact with the producers and its relaxed environment always excited and intrigued me.
by Emily Anna Mavridou
The story of the Western Sahara and the Saharawi people is one that has remained largely overlooked by the wider world. It is a tale of resilience, displacement, and an enduring hope for justice. For decades, this disputed territory has been caught in a geopolitical limbo,
by Tom Corcoran