UMGAMI WAMI is the NDEBELE word for FRIENDSHIP
A Night of Entertainment and Fun to help raise money for a good cause
The second annual Umgami Wami benefit returns to Eugene on May 10th at 7.30 at Diva.
As generous Eugenians continue to make a difference in the lives of AIDS orphans in Bulawayo, Zimbawe; children who are unable to go to school because of lack of funds for tuition or uniforms.
The event is a collaboration between Lola Broomberg, a Counselor and long time teacher and performer in Eugene who grew up in Bulawayo and her father, Dave Broomberg, a psychologist practicing in Bulawayo who is the founder of the Matabeleland Aids Council, trustee of the Bulawayo Mayor's Orphans Fund and the chairman of the Bulawayo Terminally Ill Committee, And ANCIENT WAYS, an Oregon Based Non-profit which supports educational and cultural development programs in Zimbabwe.
With every $35 raised being enough to put a child through school for a year, we’ve discovered that its fairly easy for local folks to make a difference in the lives of children far away.
The Umgami Wami Bulawayo Education Benefit has become a father-daughter, cross-cultural, resource-sharing, development-supporting fundraiser.
Not to mention the fact that the evening is a total blast because it is filled with a range of extraordinary and unexpected performatory treasures and treats.
The Event!
The Umgami Wami! benefit will offer a host of different entertainments:
1. Wine and cake tasting
2. 12 x 5 minutes on a box
3. The silent auction of fabulous local services and goodies.
4. Ancient ways will open shop and sell hand-made items from Zimbabwe.
5. Audience participation and Open-mic – for wanna –be box performers…
(they only get a minute each)
6. Loveness Wesa, dancer, choreographer, actress and singer from Bulawayo!
Loveness Wesa
Loveness founded Kgotso (Peace) African Cultural Arts as a vehicle for bringing works by women artists to Zimbabwe's stage. Building on that original vision, Kgotso African Cultural Arts based in Portland aims to revive and promote African culture and traditions, provide opportunities for cultural exchange and humanitarian projects, and to strengthen cultural relationships with communities we live in and throughout the world.
Loveness has performed for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward of the United Kingdom and Presidents Mbeki of South Africa and Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
12 x 5 minutes on a Box
12 performers will perform
uninterrupted for five minutes on a box. Each Perfomer may choose to
sing, dance, rail against the establishment, recite poetry, whatever
floats their boat. The opportunity to perform will cost them $35
– the amount of money it costs to put a child in Bulawayo through
school for a year.
Silent Auction
Haircuts. Massages. Art, Gardening Supplies, Theater tickets. Catered meals and more. The auction items last year blew people’s minds. We expect to get more and do more this year…. So if you got a shopping buzz going… you might want to check this out
All Donations will be handled through the
auspices of Ancient Ways, an Oregon 501(c)3 organization.
