Artists Project Earth presents a fundraising concert for East Africa as part of the COP17 conference, Sunday on 4th December, 2011. The concert will be hosted on the Durban beach front, from 3PM and will play under the sunset into the late evening.
The line-up for the Festival includes headliner and South African great Johnny Clegg, renowned jazz artist Jimmy Dludlu and Africa artist Jika Nglanga, with newcomer acapella group Amaryoni opening the show, together with DJ Politburo sessions and special guests. The concert will form part of the COP 17 line up of entertainment over the duration of the conference, and is billed as a ‘concert with an agenda’ with ticket proceeds going to APE’s dedicated East Africa Famine Relief.
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. APE has already given emergency funding to Mercy Corps, Merlin, Human Relief Foundation, Qaaf Aid and Action Against Hunger – but this is just a drop in the ocean, so 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” notes APE Founder and music director, Kenny Young. “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.”
A fourth album, Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa will come hot on the heels of the concert, featuring top international artists such as Coldplay, Beyoncé, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, REM, Mumford and Son, Fleet Foxes, Aloe Blacc and many more – together with some of Africa’s finest musicians, including Toumani Diabate, Rokia Traore, Ali Farke Toure’s band and Amadou & Mariam. The album is also sold in aid of those suffering from the famine in East Africa.
Tickets for the event are available from Computicket or at the venue Box Office at R200/R150 youth/student/low-income concessions.
Doors open at 2PM with a welcome from Kumi Naidoo Head of Greenpeace International and Herbert Girardet, Co-Founder of The World Future Council, with the first artist on stage 3:30PM.
