As part of the COP 17 Conference (which is taking place in Durban soon) Artists Project Earth (APE) presents A Climate of Change Concert for East Africa. on the 4th of December 2011. The concert will be hosted on the Durban beach front. The concert starts at 3 PM on the day and will finish into the early evening.
The line-up for the A Climate of Change Concert includes headliner and legendary South African musician Johnny Clegg, renowned jazz artist Jimmy Dludlu and world music group Jika Nelanga. Established acapella group Amaryoni will be opening the show, together with DJ Politburo sessions and special guests. The concert is open to delegates at the COP 17 Conference and the general public alike, and is billed as a ‘concert with an agenda’. Ticket proceeds will be going to APE’s dedicated East Africa Famine Relief initiative.
For those of you who did not know. COP 17 is a climate change conference (which is in its 17th year of assembly). COP Conferences are held annually to assess progress in dealing with Climate Change. APE was conceptualised and started in 2005 in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami which hit South-East Asia. The specific aim is to find ways to help people suffering from natural disasters and the vagaries of climate change. Artists Project Earth is a collaboration with international musicians such as Coldplay, U2, Bob Dylan, Gorillaz, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Green Day, The Killers, Rolling Stones and many others, and has produced three fundraising albums to date: Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba, RDM: Classics and RDM: Revival with the fourth album Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa being released in early 2012. Profits from sales of the albums go to support projects all around the world. To date APE has supported around 300 projects globally.
Thousands of people are facing starvation in the Horn of Africa due to the relentless drought in the region. Ongoing food shortages are affecting southern Somalia and the refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Artists Project Earth has already given emergency funding to Mercy Corps, Merlin, the Human Relief Foundation, Qaaf Aid and Action Against Hunger (but this is just a drop in the ocean). For this reason APE is staging the Durban concert to raise further funds to provide humanitarian aid. Without doubt the spectre of climate change is exacerbating the situation, undermining the chances for long-term recovery and resilience. Climate change is a global phenomenon, but sadly it is those least responsible who are most at risk from the effects.
“APE’s presence at COP17 enables us to link the ravages of famine with the reality of climate change. By attending the Climate of Change concert you can be an active part of the voices for change at COP17, whilst also helping us to fundraise for our Horn of Africa appeal.” says APE founder and American songwriter Kenny Young.
Artists Project Earth is best known in South Africa for their Rhythm Del Mundo releases. A fourth album will be released hot on the heels of the concert. Rhythm Del Mundo Africa will be featuring top international artists such as Coldplay, Beyoncé, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, REM, Mumford and Sons, Fleet Foxes, Aloe Blacc and more. It will also feature some of Africa’s finest musicians, including Toumani Diabate, Rokia Traore, Ali Farke Toure’s band and Amadou & Mariam. The album also features perfomances by top South African session musicians like Zamo Mbutho, Godfrey Mgcina, Stella Khumalo, Malebo and Lu Dlamini (whose names can be found on countless South African albums). The album will also be sold to raised funds for people suffering from the famine in East Africa.
Tickets for the event are available from Computicket at R200 per person. Doors open at 2 PM. Visit www.apeuk.org and www.rhythmsdelmundo.org for more info about Artists Project Earth and Rhythm Del Mundo. You can also contact juliet@apeuk.org for more information.
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