New & Noteworthy

1. Giving Voice to Hope: Music of Liberian Refugees - CD Launch

Thursday September 24, 2009 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta Campus

The University of Alberta is pleased to invite you to the launch of the musical and educational CD Giving Voice to Hope: Music of Liberian Refugees. Production of this CD has been a cooperative multi-year initiative involving Liberian refugees in Ghana, a Liberian NGO (The Centre for Youth Empowerment), and University of Alberta faculty, staff, and students. The CD launch will feature live music and refreshments and will be held as part of the Design Celebrating Hope exhibition being hosted September 1-26 at the FAB Gallery.

Background: Buduburam is a Liberian refugee camp located west of Ghana’s capital, Accra. The first refugees arrived in 1990 fleeing from Liberian civil wars. Although the camp was once home to over 40,000 inhabitants, population numbers are diminishing as Buduburam’s residents make their way back to Liberia. Giving Voice to Hope: Music of Liberian Refugees is a compilation CD featuring 16 Liberian musical groups who have resided as refugees in Buduburam, some even since their birth. Musical recordings represent life in Buduburam through several genres: hip hop, R&B, traditional, gospel, and reggae. CDs will be on sale at the CD launch and are also available for $15 +GST at the University of Alberta Bookstore and Blackbyrd Myoozik (10442 82 Avenue).

You can listen to music samples and view information on the project at: www.international.ualberta.ca/buducd.cfm

For more information contact Melanie Grell at (780) 492-6040.