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PHOTO BY MATT NAGLE

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. PLU student, and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, David Akuien (left) helped inspire community organizer Melannie Denise Cunningham (right) to show Tacomans why Africa matters and thus launch a movement to build mutually beneficial partnerships between the U. S. and Africa.

New community event to launch movement for Africa

By Matt Nagle

On Feb. 15, an inaugural event will happen at Rialto Theater that organizers are hoping catches on with as much success as the city’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at Tacoma Dome.

This new event is called “A Community Conversation – Why Africa Matters” and is being billed as an inspirational evening of dialogue and entertainment to raise consciousness about the need for unity among the people of Africa and America. The event will also serve as a fundraiser to support 12 orphan children in Nairobi, Kenya, whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS.

“The spirit behind this project is to launch a movement of unity,” said key organizer Melannie Denise Cunningham, who will also be emceeing.

Cunningham, an associate director of admissions at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) working toward a master’s degree, was presented with a Citizen’s Award by the City of Tacoma Jan. 21 in honor of her work as a founder of the hugely successful MLK Day event in the Dome that attracts thousands each year.

“I feel now like I did 20 years ago at the beginning of helping to create that event,” she said. “I feel like now this is the next level of that vision. I would say that ‘I have a dream’ has gone global.”

With “Why Africa Matters,” Cunningham said she is on a mission to change people’s concepts of the African continent and its 54 countries. She said she is passionate about linking economic development and entrepreneurship with trade with Africa.

She pointed out that Africa has a wealth of natural resources. “If Americans go there with a sense of humility, not arrogance, genuinely seeking a partnership, then we will have access to that wealth as well,” and open opportunities for reinvestment in Africa’s infrastructure.

Constant images in the media of starving African children and scenes of war have led Americans to get the “Africa needs help” message loud and clear. “But they haven’t gotten the piece that there are lots of opportunities for partnerships in trade, business and investments. If you see everyone as poor, your mind will never go there,” she said.

Cunningham illustrated her point by telling a story about her visit to Nairobi a couple of weeks ago. “I was sitting in a restaurant watching CNN about what was going on in Kenya. It looked like the whole country was war torn and falling apart and that everyone was running for cover about to die. I was there and I can say I didn’t witness any of that nor did I feel unsafe. I was sitting in a restaurant having a nice lunch and enjoying time with my friends.”

It is this skewered view of Africa that Cunningham and others want to change, and she has attracted the help of some talented people.

Headlining “Why Africa Matters” will be internationally renowned hip-hop poet, actor, author, humanitarian and spoken word artist Saul Williams, who has been praised as an inspiration to legions of youth for whom the artist has redefined poetry into an accessible, living art form.

The author of three collections of poetry, Williams was rewarded for his work as a writer and actor in the critically acclaimed film “Slam,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and also won awards at Cannes that same year. A recording artist, Williams’ debut album was produced by Rick Rubin and voted “album of the year” by The Times of London. Last year he released his third album, “The Inevitable Rise and Fall of Niggy Tardust,” produced by Trent Reznor.

Up and coming soul singer and songwriter Choklate will travel from Seattle to perform at the event. With her uplifting lyrics and gritty vocals, Choklate continues to attract fans of all nationalities.

Singer/songwriter Naomi Kimani will also take the stage. Voted 2007 Best New Teen Talent in Kenya, Kimani brings an interesting perspective to the program as the young artist and her family’s roots are in Kenya.

Also on the bill is positive hip-hop crew 2012, dance troupe and youth outreach organization Peacetime Armory, and dancers from D.A.S.H. Center on Hilltop.

PLU student David Akuien will speak about his experience as a “Lost Boy of Sudan” before coming to the United States about eight years ago. His father, five brothers and sisters and four uncles were among the 2 million killed during the Second Sudanese Civil War, which occurred between 1984-2005.

Akuien, his mom and a sister made it alive to Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. The young man said he remembers seeing two United States senators visiting the camp before he left to live with a foster family in Tacoma. He attended Foss High School. Today, at 20 years old, Akuien is a junior at PLU seeking a degree in higher education.

“People in this country don’t know a lot about Africa,” he said. “Sometimes Africa is known for HIV, wars and genocide. They have become the face of Africa, and this allows people to assume that Africa is the same across the board.” He said the continent’s most important asset is its people, who are warm, hospitable and welcoming.

“For me, this is why Africa matters,” Cunningham said as she reached out to place her hand on David’s arm.

Funds raised during “Why Africa Matters” will go directly to buying and maintaining a house in Nairobi for 12 orphans Cunningham met while there. A campaign titled “I’m Part of a Global Community-Africa Matters to Me” will be launched from “Why Africa Matters” with a fundraising goal of $50,000.

Above all, Cunningham wants Tacomans to “just show up” for “Why Africa Matters” like they did 20 years ago for the first MLK gathering at the Dome. “This isn’t just for black people, but for everyone – it comes back to that word ‘unity’ again. This is for all of Tacoma.”

“Why Africa Matters” begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 15. All seats are $35. For tickets, call (253) 591-5894 or visit www.broadwaycenter.org.

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