Global artists unite for a good cause in Malawi

Through Beating Heart, global artists Luke Vibert, Rudimental, Machinedrum, Kidnap Kid, Throwing Shade and more have teamed up with a Malawian farm and food processor Malawi Mangoes (MM), and local education NGO Love Support Unite (LSU) to roll out an initiative that enables communities to feed and finance themselves.

The artists are sampling previously unheard Malawian sounds (recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey in the 1950s) from the world’s largest archive of African recordings (ILAM) for the album, “Beating Heart Malawi”, to be released on May 27th 2016 and a concert scheduled for 16-17 April at Golden Sands, Lake Malawi National Park.

According to the organizers, Mizu Foundation chairman Dr. Peter Thompson, profits will be put to work in the communities where the music was originally created, using sounds of the past to address problems of the present.

“This unusual partnership between the music world, a commercial business and a local educational charity is a tactical rethinking of the expected approach to Aid to the Developing World. The trio have pulled together to roll out a model that provides nutrition and income which, once installed, will continue to develop over time.

“The model – Garden to Mouth – is a nutrition project that touches on more than just food. It recognizes that when people are faced with a choice of improved food or increased income – the economic question always wins. The reality of people’s existence in Malawi is one of extreme poverty and until the targets of ‘health’ and ‘wealth’ are joined up therefore, there will be little headway,” Dr. Thompson explained.

He added, “To provide both, rather than either or high value crops are identified for sale with the remaining majority going towards improved nutrition. Though education regarding improved health and food security is a critical component of the initiative, just as significant are the business skills and market mentorship that are run in tandem.”

Dr Thompson said the Garden itself is designed as an ecosystem that demands neither chemical fertilisers nor costly pesticides – all requirements for maintenance and growth are fulfilled by plants on site. By drip irrigating the entire Garden, the number of harvests increases by 400% when compared to rain fed agriculture.

In his remarks, Co-founder and Joint Managing Director at Malawi Mangoes Jonathan D. Jacobs said Malawi Mangoes was thrilled to be involved in this ground-breaking initiative with Beating Heart and Love Support Unite, which shows just what can be achieved if they act together.

“We passionately believe that the progress and development of people – socially, economically and environmentally and the success of a long-term sustainable business are not mutually exclusive, but interdependent, in the 21st century perhaps more than at any other time in our past.

He then stressed that there is no silver bullet, saying there was no one answer and no straight-forward solution.

“However, if we are really going to address urgent development needs in countries like Malawi it is going to be through the kinds of collaborations that this one represents – with committed people from across the sector spectrum coming together with local people, each bringing their core competencies to the table,” he pointed out.

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