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| Shiko Mawatu Shiko Mawatu is the voice of the Congo, combining African, sensual, dance music with politically, powerful lyrics. A percentage of the sales from his new album, Kimbanda Nzila will go toward the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital from the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation and help with the construction of new, water wells for the people in the Congo. Shiko Mawatu's, Kimbanda Nzila is his first album after many years of writing and composing for others. His first album comes out at a very difficult time, his country Congo has known nothing but tragedy since 1996. He decided to make the album not only to uplift broken spirits of Congolese and those who love them, but to help raise money to build water wells for the forgotten ones and to give some proceeds to the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation on its wonderful project of building a hospital in Kinshasa Congo. Shiko Mawatu's music is created to primarily bring attention to a country and its people devastated by war. A statement from Tabilulu Productions and iMak Entertainment explains the deep emotions behind the project, 'We are tired of standing by and watching others talk about us as if we do not exist or do not know how to express ourselves. Shiko Mawatu's Kimbanda Nzila although it's not in English language, it is however a testimony of a humanitarian effort from an African trying to help Africa the best way he can. Americans can help by buying Kimbanda Nzila, which is a small step toward reconstructing people's lives.' If these factors (water wells, proceeds to DMF) come together, they accomplish the goal of every humanitarian response, saving lives. The Congo is among countries that have gone through tragic wars in African history. An eight-year war hasn't ended properly despite an election that took place this year, 2007. The country is still suffering from spasms of violence and little is known about it. Thus the question, has the scale of the tragedy engulfing the Congolese people received proper attention? The answer, sadly, is no. Ignorance of the calamity occurring in the Congo remains almost universal, even though the statistics reflect excess mortality, the number of deaths are staggering. It is said that in Congo over six years war is the equivalent of 9/11 happening every two to three days for six years straight. The International Rescue Committee, which has been providing humanitarian assistance in Congo since 1996, conducted four mortality surveys in the country between 2000 and 2004, it has found the mortality rate exceeded the "normal" rate for sub-Saharan Africa by nearly 4 million people. This makes the crisis in Congo the deadliest anywhere since the end of World War II, dwarfing Bosnia, Kosovo, Darfur and even the South Asian tsunami. Yet for the most part, these deaths have gone all but unnoticed. Shiko Mawatu's Kimbanda Nzila is a sound from a war torn country, we people need to listen to it. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |