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Pulitzer
prize winner Yusef Komunyakaa led a delegation
of prominent African-American poets to Ghana at the
end of March 2004 to motivate a literary and artistic
response to the AIDS crisis in Africa. The other distinguished
poets include Willie Perdomo (poet and children's
book writer); and Thomas Glave (author of Whose
Song? And Other Stories and founding member of the
Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals, and Gays).
"I
realize poets will not find a cure for AIDS, but we
hope that we can motivate, educate, and raise funds
for organizations working in Africa," said Professor
Komunyakaa. "The lack of interest in Africa has caused
10-20% of the population being infected with AIDS in
some African countries."
"AIDS
is a leading killer in the African-American community,"
adds Yusef. "This trip is an attempt to connect the
crisis in Africa and in the United States."
The
delegation visited patients at the Korle-Bu hospital
fevers unit in Ghana and the Asantehini in Kumasi. They
traveled to several communities suffering the most from
HIV/AIDS in Komenda and Anomabo. The trip was organized
by the Ghana Education Project (GEP), which has been
sending college students to Ghana to build libraries,
and work with the International Red Cross to combat
the widespread medical ignorance that is facilitating
the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The other sponsor was
Rattapallax magazine.
GOALS:
1. Raise funds for GEP to build libraries and train
volunteers as International AIDS Instructors through
the International Red Cross. 2. Send a delegation to
Ghana* 3. Setup readings in the U.S. and Africa to motivate
people and develop dialogue. 4. Produce a literary/world
music CD on AIDS and donate ALL the proceeds to GEP.
5. Work with the UN on World AIDS Day programs. 6. Setup
international exchange program with African poets.
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Two
Benefits for GEP
Actor Danny Glover, Sonia Sanchez, Pulitzer prize
winner Yusef Komunyakaa, Willie Perdomo, Dr. Abena Busia,
Edward Kufuor, and Second2Last. February 7 (Sat.)
at 7pm. The New School, Tishman Auditorium at 66 West
12th St., New York City. $5 donation to the Ghana Education
Project. Advance
tickets: 212-229-5488.
Benefit
Reading/Dinner for Ghana Education Project. Yusef
Komunyakaa, Willie Perdomo, Lamont B. Steptoe &
Agya Boake-Boaten. Introduction by Herman Beavers.
Feb. 22 (Sunday) at 6:00 PM: White
Dog Cafe, 3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Reservations required 215- 386-9224.
Marathon
Reading on AIDS in Africa
September 2, 2003 starting at 5 PM. Bowery
Poetry Club, 308 Bowery St., between Houston & Bleecker.
212.614.0505, http://bowerypoetry.com
/ download flyer
/
$10 suggested donation and in return you will get to
stay as long as you like and get books from Rattapallax
Press valuing over $15. All proceeds will go to GEP.
Breyten
Breytenbach, Sapphire,
Glyn Maxwell, Grace Schulman, Vijay Seshadri,
Timothy Liu, Meena Alexander, Willie Perdomo,
Cecilia Vicuña, Bob Holman, Marie Ponsot,
Tory Dent, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Nicole Blackman,
Keith Roach, Karen Swenson, Regie Cabico,
Edwin Torres, F.D Reeve, Todd Colby, William
Pitt Root, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Anselm Berrigan,
Jackie
Sheeler, Bonnie Rose Marcus, Prageeta Sharma,
Yerra Sugarman, Nathalie Handal, Daniel Nester,
Emanuel Xavier, Elaine Schwager, Flávia Rocha,
Ron Price, Jeet Thayil, Kahlil Almustafa,
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, Bill Kushner, Isabelle
Balot, Aracelis Girmay, Claudia
Alick, Jesse Alick, Karma Mayet Johnson, Jane
Sprague, Kazim Ali, Carlos Gomez, Patricia
Carlin, Lynne Procope, Daniela
Gioseffi, Barbara
Jane Reyes, Jade Sharma, Travis Montez, Peter
Rojcewicz, Felice Belle, Karen Jaime, Eliane
Sexton, Brendan Lorber, Vincent Toro, Pat
Duffy,
Clara Sala, Douglas
Martin, and
Cole Rachel. With
performances by Kwaku
Kwaakye Obeng, Second2Last,
tyren (grfx), and Haale with
hip-hop poetry by Wordsworth,
Wiseguy & Gaston, Juggaknots, tyren (grfx), MANICexpressize,
Evolution, Anacaona, and Rocky.
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