Do you believe we can change the world through music?

In the United States our foreign-aid programs do not support our belief that we are a nation known for its good works around the world. The US public believes we spend a great deal more money helping other countries than we actually do. Polls suggest that most Americans think the federal government spends about 10 to 15 percent of its budget on foreign aid. (see this survey conducted by the Program for International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland)

The truth is that we spend less than 1%, the lowest of any industrialized nation.

All of sub-Saharan Africa receives just over $1 billion per year from the US in economic aid. If everyone in the United States gave up one soft drink a month we could double our current aid to Africa. If everyone gave up one movie a year we could double our current aid to Africa and Asia.

We have an even better idea:

If every American would buy 10 songs by African Artists -- We would DOUBLE the amount of money the US is currently sending to Africa. This is what we mean by 'Tune Your World'

Where does the money go?

At least 50% (in some cases 100%) of your purchase will go to African Artists, or an African relief NGO and stay in Africa. With this money, musicians will be able to buy new instruments, recording or performing equipment, complete their education, or put a new roof on their house. Together we can create a thriving music economy in places where the music industry has never worked very well. We are starting in Africa and we will be moving to other parts of the world as our work progresses.

How can you make this change happen?

1. Buy 10 songs by African Artists ($7.99). (Make sure you log in to your account before you use this link)

2. Forward the URL of this page - http://news.calabashmusic.com/world/tuneyourworld
to your friends and family. This is a critical step. This campaign will only work if you help convince others to buy music from African Artists.

3. If you are an Artist please forward this email to your fans. Let us know about good work that you are doing with your music and we'll feature it as part of our 'Tune Your World' campaign. And let us know about other great musicians or music projects.

It's that simple. Tune Your World!

We've designated the following African musicians whose good works stand out:

1. Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars
The Refugee All Stars (above in photo) were formed by singer Reuben Koroma and guitarist Francis "Franco" Langba who were living in the Kalia refugee camp in Guinea with other Sierra Leoneans who had fled civil war back home. "I had nothing to do," recalled Reuben. "In the morning, I would go to the center were all the refugees would just be talking. I saw that many people were not happy. I thought: If I start to play music here, people will really feel well." A Canadian NGO provided the band with PA gear so they could tour to other camps and raise spirits there. The music helps to build community in the camps, drawing people to meetings where they could discuss their circumstances and options.
Listen To The Refugee All Stars

2. Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project
ASAP is an all-star compilation of some the hottest mainstream and underground Afrobeat artists today, including Tony Allen (featuring Fela Kuti), Antibalas, and many others. 100% of the proceeds from this recording will benefit the people suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan.  We all hope that this project will also raise awareness about the dire situation in Darfur: by some estimates, over 400,000 people have died by dehydration, disease, and at the hands of the Janjaweed -- armed horsemen supported by the government of Sudan.
Listen To The Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project

3. Stop Excision Project
If you want to change the lives of women in Mali then buy all the songs from the remarkable Stop Excision collection. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of these downloads goes to the Stop Excision project helping to eliminate FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) in Mali. "We can't avoid lots of bad things," sings Kandia Kouyate in Bambara, "But we can avoid a lot of pain if we stop excising our daughters." Stop Excision is a recording of Malian artists singing anti-excision and pro-women's rights songs, and also features Neba Solo, Adama Fomba, and Fantani Toure.
Listen To Songs Against Excision

4. Zola
Zola has emerged as the superstar of the South African genre of music known as Kwaito. He grew up in area of Soweto called Zola. He currently produces a television program called 'the Ghetto Dream Maker', where he makes people's dreams come true every week. Recently, the show has moved across Africa, traveling to Botswana, Nigeria, Lesotho, Namibia to make the dreams of Africans come true! Zola comments, "Kwaito kids are made from hunger, abuse, no father, violence, guns. Now as adults we must change the game for the better. Now we must change everything we are made from."
Listen To Zola's Music

5. The Mutubambile Orphan Choir
Featuring Zimbawean singer/songwriter Oliver Mtukudzi, these beautiful songs of the choir call attention to the continent wide problem posed by the many orphans left by HIV & AIDS deaths every year. This 12-song collection will contribute to helping the orphans complete their education.
Listen To The Mutubambile Orphan Choir w/Oliver Mtukudzi