Zulu Emergency Fund

[jacey]

In a friendslocked post earlier today, I posted to say that the wonderful group of singers and dancers 'Zulu Tradition' (currently in the UK and based in Huddersfield) just received the bed news that the brother of one of their number has died in South Africa. Mzwandile's brother leaves behind three children, and Mzwandile's mum is distraught and wants her boy home for the funeral.

That's Mzwandile Ngema top left in the picture with the blue background. Front is Bongi Gwala. The other three are l - r Thandanani Gumede, Buhle Mhlongo and Khethukuthula Kheswa.

These Zulus had a particularly hard time with a previous manager a couple of years ago. I can't say much about that because there's a court case ongoing to try and get recompense for them. Suffice it to say that raising the money to get Mzwandile home in time for the funeral is going to be almost impossible for them. I've secured him a ticket with my credit card, and he flies tomorrow morning, early, but the cost is £753 just for the air fare, not counting incidental expenses. They've promised to repay me, but it's going to be hard for them.

The wonderful la_marquise_de_ offered to make a contribution to a Zulu emergency fund to get Mzwandile home (and back again). While I heartily appreciate anyone offering to make a contribution, because the Zulu guys have had a very rough deal. I don't want to beg something for nothing, they wouldn't feel happy about that, and neither would I, however if any of you would like a very fine CD of Zulu singing in exchange for a contribution towards Mzwandile's trip, I would be delighted.

I won't set a price, (send as muich as you like or as little as you can afford), but if it were a commercial release it would not sell for less than £13.50 including postage. I'll pay for the postage and anything you send will all go to Mzwandile. Post me a cheque or pay me by paypal and without giving away who contributed what I'll keep you all informed as to how much we manage to raise. The target is £753, but anything we can raise towards that would be brilliant. My LJ flist is not large, so feel free to boost the signal if you wish.

Post your cheques payable to 'Zulu Tradition' to me, Jacey Bedford at 10 Park Head, Birdsedge, Huddersfield, HD8 8XW. Anyone not in the UK can pay me by paypal. email me on agency(at)jacey-bedford.com for details. Don't forget to include your postal address for a CD by return of post.

You will receive a CD recorded in BB's studio when the Zulus were with their previous manager. (And I hasten to add, it was made before BB and I knew how difficult that relationship was for the Zulus.)  I see no reason why the recording shouldn't be used to help them out now. It's a set of songs that never had commercial release, but here's Shosholoza.as a taster.

You can read more about the Zulus, now working as 'ZULU Tradition', here.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'd love a copy of the CD and to help your friends out-such awful news. I'll drop a cheque in the post to you today! As you know, I have an abiding soft spot for folks from that part of the world.

I'll signal boost.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

With singing that good, how can I possibly refuse. Money sent via Paypal and I'll repost what you wrote.

Zulu Tradition - death in the family, buy a CD (an excellent CD)

[pingback-bot.livejournal.com]

User watervole referenced to your post from Zulu Tradition - death in the family, buy a CD (an excellent CD) (http://watervole.livejournal.com/518996.html) saying: [...]  My friend <lj user=birdsedge> just posted this: Zulu Emergency Fund [...]

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Thanks watervole. Which address did you use for paypal? My paypal account is the artisan address. email me off list if you sent it anywhere else.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I've boosted, and will put a cheque in the post asap.

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

Saw a signal boost at sartorias's journal, and will be emailing you to get payment details as well as reposting in my own journal.

I've met you a few times (when Artisan was at the Ark in Ann Arbor), so I'm geeked to see you on LJ.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh! That seems like an age ago, but I can still remember playng the Ark. How amazing to 'bump' into each other agains in such a roundabout way. I've LJ friended you.

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

It's weird how often that happens, when you'd think LJ has such a big wodge of people in it!

But I've friended you too, even though my lj is boring on and on right now about an upcoming surgery and the occasional book logging.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

I do book logging too, and movie-of-the-week... which reminds me... in all the excitement I forgot to post about 'The Artist'.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I have added "Send cheque to birdsedge" to my To Do list. I'll also see what I can do to boost the signal. I love that African style of choral singing, so buying a CD is no hardship. :)