Love for East Africa

SVMH RMXD: Alsarah, "Vote" remixed by Dal-Green and Kirikoo-Des

SV

From AITF on vimeo:

The idea of the original album compiled by singer/songwriter Max Herre was to bring together artists and musicians from different regions of Sudan to write music to encourage people to make a mark on their future.

SVMH remixed aims to increase awareness of the 2011 referendum on an international level. The message of the music was and is: "Yes to political participation! Yes to free and fair elections and peaceful referendum!"

This edition features Parisian artist Dal-Green and Kirikoo-Des with their interpretation of Sudanese artist Alsarah and her song "Vote."

Saba Saba, "Harambe"

Saba Saba's Ugandan dancehall/hip-hop fusion

In Swahili, the word 'Harambe' translates roughly to "working together in unity," a concept used throughout the East African regions to initiate projects that require people to pull together and pool resources to work toward a common cause.

As you may know, the current drought in East Africa is the worst in 60 years, putting the lives of millions of Somalians at risk. Each day over 1,200 people are arriving at the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya, the largest in the world and already home almost half a million. Due to the drastically increasing numbers of those fleeing Somalia over the past few weeks, the camp is struggling to cope.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization that I will be working closely with upon my move to ATL, offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. They are currently on the ground in Dadaab and are aiding refugees by providing medical screenings and assistance, fortified food to malnourished young children, and counseling and support services for gender-based violence, among other projects.

I wouldn't typically use SJFM as a platform to raise awareness or money for a cause, but this famine is currently THE WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE WORLD and it is not receiving the attention adequate to meet emergency needs and to effectively respond to the deteriorating situation.

So, if you have a bit of extra graduation ca$h lying around (or if you know any wealthy, empathetic adults you can forward this to), I would urge you to donate to the IRC, which is currently scaling up relief efforts to aid those devastated by the drought.

You can learn more about the situation, what the IRC is doing to help, and donate HERE.