to 80% unemployment and alcoholism – and all the ills that go with such circumstances. This is a typical Karoo town predicament that is only ever addressed by politicians as political leverage for votes. Of course, when I realised the depth of this commitment, intent and vision, which keeps unfolding annually regardless of reward or publicity, I sat back in awe. But only for a moment, until it dawned on me that these special human beings are the exact circumstance that crowdfunding manifested for. Accordingly, on 7th August 2013, we launched our UMANYANO campaign, and just as I expect, the appreciation flowed in for this group of magnificent individuals. Check it out here. Our musical intent is to release three CDs on 2 November – reggae, a contemporary Zulu/ Xhosa/Afrikaans/English, and a 'Bingy Fire' album of Rastafarian spiritual songs. We are now half way complete. We are also greatly appreciative and inspired. Within 24 hours of launching UMANYANO on www.indiegogo.com, we have been able to afford to purchase Moses spectacles, and this has enabled him to complete his drivers licence. Within the next few weeks he will be equipped with all the musical instruments he requires to explore his musical talents and to prepare for his performance. Our intent is that on 2 November, at the UMANYANO 2013, Moses will launch his three albums during a live performance in front of his own community. Through crowdfunding we intend to afford a stage, PA, lighting, and to feed people no urishing food for one day. The four corners of this campaign are: launching an artist, staging a celebration, uplifting a community, realising a vision. It is also our hope that other communities in
SA discover the tool of crowdfunding as a means to
Franky Goliath, Comunity Youth Leader
Community service
Because Moses and Masterboy are dedicated Rastafarians, they know what it is like to continually experience discrimination because of their looks, even after our so-called political liberation. In the words of Bob Marley, they are showing the Aberdeen community that despite the common negative public impression of Rastafarianism, 'the stone that the builder refused will always be the head corner stone'. The reality is the Rastafarian community of Aberdeen is the only one which holds and works towards a vision for all their community and youth, regardless of political assistance or party alliances. They believe that the upliftment of their community does not come from government or social grants, but from feeding a community the nutrition of its own arts, culture, and recreational activities – specifically focusing on the development of the youth. They believe this ought to be a community's responsibility and not something left to outside authorities to facilitate and legislate.
bypass the non-existent economy and completely inept political system. If you have something others will appreciate, they will fund it. If you only read this article after our funding deadline closes on 9 September 2013, you are still welcome to participate in UMANYANO 2013 through PayPal here. Everyone who contributes receives a special MP3 from us – and when our fund raising concludes, a percentage of what we have raised will go to contributing to another worthy crowdfunding project. In this way we appreciate the economy of appreciation.? O
All books, CDs, DVDs by Michael Brown are available at www.namastepublishing.com
Masterboy vice chairperson, UMRRF
The crowdfunding site that started it all Michael Brown has 30 videos online – check them out here
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