Back to Africa

BACK TO AFRICA: Our longtime pal, former Virgin Records publicist Suzan Crane, who has been traveling the world on her own mission, checked in with news of the Annual MTN Bushfire Festival for Charity, a special three-day cross-cultural music/arts event being held in Swaziland, Africa, May 25-27. Poet/actor/activist Saul Williams and Nigerian/ Romanian songstress Ayo will co-headline the event, conceived six years ago as a vehicle to benefit the country’s most needy, including AIDS orphans, and to stimulate its economy. Past headliners include Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Johnny Clegg and Hugh Masakela. The event routinely draws 20,000 people from around the world, with 100% of the profits earmarked for AIDS orphans through NGO Young Heroes, while remote rural communities are granted all proceeds from merchandise through the nonprofit Gone Rural boMake. The event showcases local artists through the "100% Swazi" initiative as well as the recent launch of the “Bushfire in the Schools” arts program. For more info, contact Suzan at (561) 641-8469 or at [email protected]. (5/1p)