Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Will Perform at Granada Theater Feb. 2

By Pegasus News wire

For the first time in Dallas, Texas, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will perform, as part of their 2008 World Tour, at Granada Theater, Saturday, February 2, 2008, at 8 p.m. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars formed in a refugee camp in the West African nation of Guinea after fleeing the horrific civil war in their native Sierra Leone. Now Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars tour the world spreading their message of peace and love in a "can't help but dance" show that fans from all musical backgrounds can enjoy. With a spirited fusion of traditional West African music, roots reggae and rhythmic traditional folk, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars craft music that transforms and uplifts.

The Refugee All-Stars. Not to be confused the these singing "refugees."

It was in this refugee camp that they were discovered by filmmakers Zach Niles and Banker White, who subsequently shot an award-winning documentary about their story. Their CD, “Living Like A Refugee,” was released last year on Anti- Records to critical acclaim. They have been touring the world extensively since the summer of 2006 spreading a message of hope and healing and decrying the insanity of war. Championed by The New York Times, critic Stephen Holden wrote, “As harrowing as these personal tales may be, the music buoying them is uplifting. The cliché bears repeating: music heals and creates community.”

The documentary, initially backed by such luminaries as Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Angelina Jolie has since won 13 awards at major film festivals, recently aired on PBS in the U.S. and is available via Netflix and in stores everywhere on DVD. They recently collaborated with Aerosmith on “Give Peace A Chance” for Amnesty International’s hit Darfur-focused benefit compilation CD, “Instant Karma” and are joined by Joe Perry on a cover version of U2’s “Seconds” for the compilation CD, “In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2,” set for release April 1st, 2008. The All Stars also have appeared on Oprah Winfrey, CBS’ Sunday Morning, CNN, National Geographic Channel and NPR’s Talk of the Nation.

The band has seen the worst that this world can offer - yet, through their unflinching spirit and joyful sound they celebrate the best in all of us, and thankfully, they are now sharing their message and uplifting music throughout the world. Only recently having emerged from refugee status themselves, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have already begun helping others still in need through their work with Amnesty International, the United Nations ninemillion.org campaign, the ONE campaign, Witness and numerous others in the U.S. and internationally, speaking out for peace and against the insanity of war while calling attention to issues in Africa and the plight of refugees throughout the world.

There is a tremendous opportunity to help Sierra Leone at this time. They are the poorest country in the world (UNDP index), they have the lowest levels of life expectancy, a 20 percent literacy rate and seventy percent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day. They have a newly elected government determined to end corruption.

Prior to their concert at 7 p.m., there will be a special Dallas fundraising party benefiting Schools for Salone that will include a screening of highlights from Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars’ documentary, a meet and greet with the band, a special raffle of a “conflict-free” diamond from Sierra Leone and a silent auction. Dallas commercial producer Melonie Kastman has been supporting efforts of Schools for Salone and working to bring thousands of books and school supplies to Freetown in Sierra Leone and is raising awareness of the needs of its children with her upcoming documentary Forgotten Diamonds and her tireless efforts in creating pen pal relationships between Dallas and Sierra Leone’s school children. A special preview trailer of Kastman’s film will be shown and she will be in attendance.

A portion of the proceeds from the evening will go to buying and shipping books and school supplies to the country as well as to help build educational centers and libraries there. Local supporters joining Kastman include Trammell Crow, Southwest Airlines, Half-Price Books, and Angus Wynne.

In addition, Granada Theater will be accepting donations of textbooks, books, educational tools and software, and school supplies through the concert on February 2, 2008. The winner of the diamond raffle will be announced after the concert.

The Schools for Salone Project is a non-profit organization that partners with local villages throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone, to rebuild the devastated educational infrastructure destroyed in the decade long civil war that ended in 2002. The organization aims to revitalize communities in Salone (the indigenous word for Sierra Leone), empower children, and ultimately improve socioeconomic conditions for families, communities, and future generations. The decade long war intensified poverty in the population, placing the country at the bottom of the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Human Development Index. The country has one of the lowest levels of life expectancy in the world. Immediately after the war a top priority was to rehabilitate destroyed and damaged schools. This mission is far from complete. Many schools, especially in the rural areas have not been rebuilt.

Source: Endicott & Company PR

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