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Catch the Spirit! Empower African Children Presents The National Tour of "Spirit of Uganada"
February 01, 2008
Spirit of Uganda, a joyous celebration of life, will tour the U.S. bringing the dances of East Africa and songs of hope performed by a vibrant cast of young performers ages 8-22.
The Spirit of Uganda tour will raise funds to increase the global awareness of Africa's AIDS epidemic and help raise funds to eucate some of the region's most vulnerable children. The cast oscillates between ferocity and softness as they bring to life the sounds and movements of East Africa and Uganda. The company, which has received raves and accolades in every major city, plays a variety of drums, harps, flutes and xylophones and performs dances from a number of regions throughout Uganda and surrounding countries including Rwand, Congo, Tanzania and Kenya and sings in several different languages. The 22 young performers represent the promise, hope and potential of the youth of Uganda; 2.4 million of whom are orphans of HIV/AIDS, civil war and acute poverty. Through their performances, educational programs and community exchanges on tour, these goodwill ambassadors share their stories in the USA, promoting the culture of their homeland and increasing the awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. They are thriving proof of the transformative power of art, and of what is possible when children are provided with resources to succeed.
Empower African Children (EAC) helps represent the promise and potential of the youth of Uganda, 2.4 million who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS, civil war and acute poverty. In the country, they perform at weddings, public ceremonies and other celebrations. Through their performances in the US and abroad, these goodwill ambassadors share their stories about East African culture not only with shows, but with educational programs and outreach providing increased awareness of the crisis in their homeland. They are thriving proof of the transformative power of art, and what is possible when children are provided with resources to succeed. EAC is a non profit organization based in the US and Uganda and founded in 2006 which creates and develops opportunities for Arica's orphaned and most vulnerable children to realize their full potential.
The US tour of Spirit of Uganda is sponsored by Macy's and launched its 2007-2008 activities with performances at Macy's Passport, one of the nation's top HIV/AIDS fund raising and awareness platforms.
Peter Kasule (Artistic Director) was born in Kampala, Uganda in 1981. His mother died when he was nine, his father died four years later of AIDS. While living at the Daughters of Charity Orphanage from 1989-1996, he traveled to Germany for the International Children's Festival where his dance troupe was awarded "Best Performers" in 1994. In 1996, he accepted an invitation from Uganda Children's Charity Foundation to join the U.S. Scholarship Program as one of its first participants, and enrolled in high school in Dallas, TX where he won many awards including "Best Percussionist" at the 2000 International Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Kasule was an original member of the Children of Uganda company and served as that group's director from 2004-2006. With the assistance of Empower African Children's US Scholarship Program, he earned a degree from the College of Santa Fe in 2007 in music technology, with a focus on composition and recording and an interest in blending African and Western music. After graduation, he then returned to Uganda to open a music recording studio in Kampala. He directs Empower African Children's artistic initiatives.
"Transcendent Spirit: The Orphans of Uganda", a large-format book by photo-journalist Douglas Menuez (with an introduction by Dame Elizabeth Taylor) captures the personal stories and photos of many of Spirit of Uganda performers. This companion book is published by Beaufort Books and proceeds from the sale of the books directly support Empower African's hildren's programs.
ABOUT THE AIDS/HIV PANDEMIC IN AFRICA AND UGANDA
AIDS is a leading cause of death in Uganda, killing more than 200 people a day, devastating the 25-40 year-old segment of the population and leaving behind more than 2 million orphans since its onset. In Uganda today, 1 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
www.EmpowerAfricanChildren.org
NATIONAL PRESS REPRESENTATIVE/PETE SANDERS, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS
212 601-9345 PETE@FIFTEENMINUTES.COM
