Featuring:
Coco Mbassi, Celloman, Thabani, Anna Mudeka, Claudia Massera, London City Groove, Dudu Saar, Begotten Sun, DKR, The Wells, Thatha Ensemble, DJ Dece, Boogie Brothers.

Kultural Fusion presents African Drumming and story telling workshops for kids.

THE BACKGROUND
Seven years ago, one of Africa’s most developed countries began a fateful journey. One that would lead to an economic spiral that now sees it having the world’s highest inflation rate, human rights abuses and poignant levels of poverty. The Zimbabwean catastrophe is no secret. Ill-conceived land reforms and economic mismanagement have created an urgent humanitarian crisis.

In 2005 a campaign to ‘clean up cities and fight the black market across Zimbabwe’ resulted in controversial evictions and demolitions leaving half a million people homeless and facing serious economic hardship. Exacerbated by a long running drought, the crisis continues.

The humanitarian inferno rages on. Poverty is rampant and access to education and basic health is only for those who can afford it. A fifth of all Zimbabwean children have lost a parent. 1 in 8 children dies before they are five years old. More than a quarter of children suffer stunted growth due to poor nutrition. Half the population do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities. Life expectancy is just 34 years and half of children do not go to school.

The Get Up Stand Up concert is an event conceived by London based record company, Fourth World Music, who have brought together award winning and internationally renowned artists to perform live on stage at the prestigious Union Chapel in North London’s Islington. All proceeds from the event are being donated to Plan International and World Vision and an unnamed Zimbabwean charity who are working on the ground in Zimbabwe to help to create a better life for affected children and affected communities.

Dennis Tapfuma, founder of Fourth World Music says, “We were motivated to do this event by the fact that there are nearly a million Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom. Most of whom will have been emotionally affected by the crisis, and are in a position to do something to help charities working with vulnerable people in Zimbabwe.” He adds, “Putting together an event like this seemed like the best possible way for people to get actively involved, by supporting charities who are making a difference back in Zimbabwe.”