FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RefugeeFEST 2010: Celebrating the New American Tapestry
On Saturday, June 19th from 5 to 9 p.m. at downtown’s El Presidio Park, everyone is invited to enjoy Tucson’s cultural richness, to learn about the refugee community and to celebrate the courage of millions worldwide who have been forced to flee their home and their country due to extreme violence and persecution.
This weekend’s festival is the place to be for cultural entertainment, delicious food and international arts and crafts. Volunteer Program Coordinator, Bria Dolnick explains, “There are few cities in the U.S. that have such a large refugee-specific event like this targeted to the general public. It’s really unique.”
Mayor Bob Walkup will kick-off this free family event by reading Tucson’s World Refugee Day Proclamation at 5 p.m on the main stage, located on the west side of El Presidio Park. Emcee Deanna Morgan from Fox 11 News will then host an ongoing show of international music, dance and poetry:
On the Main Stage
The performance schedule is unique. Dolnick says, “Everyone on the performance list is performing music and dance that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in Tucson.”
Bhutanese Dancing - Refugee women from Bhutan will dance to traditional Nepali and Hindi music.
Karen Music - Roe Paw (voice) and Tu Tu (guitar), who arrived as Burmese refugees three years ago, return to the stage at RefugeeFest once again to perform traditional Karen music.
The Finding Voice Project – High school students from the nationally recognized Finding Voice program at Catalina High will perform selections from their work.
Congolese Music - Shukuru Kalunga, who arrived as a Congolese refugee three years ago, shares his original African songs and his poetry, which was directed and acted in The Unexpected, a play about refugee life.
Iraqi Music - Life-long performer Nabil Bazel, who came to Tucson a year ago, will sing traditional Arabic and English songs, while accompanying himself on the tabla, a Middle Eastern drum.
Refugee Youth Poetry - Tucson refugee youth from The Owl & Panther Project, which is sponsored by the Hopi Foundation, share poetry.
Palestinian Drumming and Organ – Experienced performer, Mohammed Al Saeed, is a Palestinian refugee from Iraq who will play modern Middle Eastern music on electric keyboard and drums.
Nepalese Poetry and Songs - Purna Adhikari is a well-known poet in Nepal, who will share his famous poems and songs with Tucsonans.
African Dance – The Kilimanjaro Stars are an African dance group of refugee students from Rincon High School and Naylor Middle School. They were born in Tanzania to Burundian parents, arrived in Tucson two years ago and will have their first public performance on the RefugeeFEST stage.
African Christian Songs – The Light of Africa Choir directed by Jackson Ndayubaba and overseen by pastor of the Living World National Prayer Group, Safari Kalunga, will sing in Swahili, French, Lingala and English.
Cameroon Rap – African singer Rootman Kujah expresses his worldview through hip-hop and reggae.
African Choir – The Goshen Ministries Choir directed by Pastor Bigimba Ngabo will perform Christian songs in Swahili, Kirundi, French and English.
Nepali Music - Meg Dhimal arrived in Tucson as a refugee last September and was a well-known performer of classical Nepali music in the camps of Nepal.
African Drumming - Dambe Project with the renowned director Martin Klabunde will take RefugeeFEST visitors on a bedazzling African drumming journey.
Food and Fashion, Arts and Crafts
RefugeeFEST 2010 offers Afghani, Laotian, Somali and Turkish foods at the vendors on the east side of the park. The north side of the park will be transformed into an International Bazaar with African jewelry and fashion, Bhutanese knitting, Iraqi mosaic, Bhutanese art, African basket weaving and many other international arts, crafts and goods. When walking the streets of the International Bazaar, you can even get your own henna tattoo or a Burundian iced-coffee.
Refugees’ Stories
Festival visitors can also learn about Tucson’s refugee community by visiting the information tables throughout the park. Here, refugee communities will share cultural stories and provide information about refugee resettlement in the United States. RefugeeFEST will also host the Living Library, where visitors can talk to refugees one-on-one to learn about their experiences. In the meantime, children can enjoy the on-going kid’s games including an interactive ocean.
Since 2000, World Refugee Day is celebrated all over the world on June 20th to call attention to the situations of refugees, who were forced to flee persecution, conflict and terror in their home countries.
As Purnba Budathoki, President of Tucson’s Bhutanese Mutual Assistance Association, says World Refugee Day is about “celebrating the victory over atrocities and persecution that refugees faced in their country of origin through courage, endurance and forgiveness to live a dignified life.”
For more information about this artistic and culinary family festival that celebrates the unique American tapestry visit www.tucsonrefugeefest.com.
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