Yasus Afari comes with Africa Redemption tours

BY BASIL WALTERS Observer staff reporter

Saturday, July 16, 2011

DUB poet Yasus Afari has embarked on his latest project which is coordinating tours within the six regions of Africa.

Slated for participation in the series of musical excursions (inclusive of lectures) dubbed African Redemption Tours, is a slew of artistes from home and aboard.

The Jamaican cast will comprise Black Uhuru, Jah Mason, Freddie McGregor, and Ernie Smith. The overseas-based acts include British-based performance poets Moqapi Selassie and Kokumo. From the African continent comes the Zimbabwian reggae outfit Transit Crew and the Azania Band.

The African Redemption Tours, is the musical component of Yasus Afari's African Redemption Initiative (ARI) which he said is a response from the African Diaspora that is aimed at providing an answer to the challenges of Africa, with a view of re-uniting the African family.

If everything goes according to plan, Yasus Afari's African Redemption Initiative, should at least begin to bloom by the time Black History/Reggae Month comes around in 2012.

"We hope to achieve this objective by coordinating our efforts with individuals, organisations and nation states who have demonstrated genuine interest in African unity and development. Accordingly, we intend to establish African Redemption Tours, the African Redemption Foundation/Fund and a network of African Redemption Centres as pillars and mechanisms of our initiative," Yasus Afari noted

"Several artistes and other cultural practitioners from all around the world have already pledged their support for The African Redemption Tours. We will coordinate tours within the six regions of Africa, as mandated by the African Union (AU) which includes the African Diaspora. The proceeds of these ventures will help to finance the activities of the ARI and the funds generated will not be repatriated from the African continent," he explained.

"This foundation will be sustained by funds generated by the tours and merchandising as well as other cultural products, goods and services that are consistent with our efforts," added the noted Rastafari spoken word performer.

In addition, when what is now a work-in-progress should have been completed, this wholistic vision for the development and reconstruction of the Motherland, will include as well, African Redemption Centres.

"Initially, a centre will be set up in each of the five regions within Africa and one in the African Diaspora which is now the sixth region of Africa. Eventually we hope to have centres in each African nation, all across the African Diaspora and ultimately wherever necessary. These centres will be designed to be self-sustaining and shall be operated as social intervention and renewal centres with a specific youth focus. They will have facilities, projects and programmes to meet the objectives of the ARI as well as generate self-sustaining income," said Yasus Afari.

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Yasus Afari comes with Africa Redemption tours