S.O.U.L drops “Year Of Return” EP & Documentary – presented by One Vibe Africa

The “Year Of Return” EP presented by S.O.U.L. Purpose & One Vibe Africa is premiering this Friday February 28th at noon PST. This is a joint project featuring Mazzi who founded S.O.U.L. Purpose and some of Kenya’s most talented artists! Songs include collaborations with Nazizi, Bensoul, Karun, Kanyeria, Nafsi Huru, King Kanja, The CBK Music, Janabii, Deb, & Apesi!

ALL profits from sales/streams will be going to benefit the One Vibe Africa Creative Space in Kisumu, Kenya… “YEAR OF RETURN” EP link: COMING SOON! 

As a Creative Space, One Vibe Africa in Kisumu, Kenya serves the community by providing a creative outlet & sanctuary for the youth. Children of all ages are able to participate in learning experiences through the arts… Classes & workshops include writing, dance, singing, musical instruments, film, production, studio engineering, editing, & acting… In addition, One Vibe Africa serves the African communities in the diaspora by architecting innovative events & content which showcase African culture, empower African leaders, & artists. One Vibe heavily encourages cross-cultural exchanges between the diaspora and Africa. 

To learn more, visit http://www.onevibeafrica.org/ 

The “Year Of Return” EP presented by S.O.U.L. Purpose & One Vibe Africa was made possible by artists who performed at Madaraka Festival 2019 in Kisumu, Kenya.

Madaraka Festival brings Africa’s finest musicians and creatives together with world renowned artists and innovators for a celebration of music & civic purpose. In 2019, this international cultural extravaganza was the culmination of an entire week of activities happening in Africa for the first time! It featured live music, storytelling, poetry, exhibitions, workshops, & a film festival.

Proceeds went to help renovate & improve the One Vibe Africa Creative Space in Kisumu, Kenya. Over the past four years, Madaraka Festival has helped One Vibe to serve over 1,500 youth through an Education Music & Art Program (EMAP) in Kisumu, build a recording & film production studio, pilot programs such as Miti Ni Dawa (a tree planting & vegetable farming initiative for environmental protection & vegetable farming in Kisumu), & reach over 10,000 people through in-person events annually… In addition, our hope is to make Madaraka Festival an annual pilgrimage for African- Americans and other Africans in the diaspora that have a deep desire to consistently connect with the motherland!

To learn more, visit http://madarakafestival.com/ 

ALSO, CHECK OUT The Year Of Return Documentary (Official Trailer) on YouTube today! 

Don’t miss the premier of the full length documentary this Friday February 28th at noon PST on One Vibe TV on YouTube!

The Year Of Return Documentary is a story about how a music festival moved from Seattle, Washington where it was held at The Museum of Pop Culture since 2014 to Kisumu, Kenya where it will be held for the foreseeable future to create awareness on the degradation of Lake Victoria and reverse the impact of pollution using music, culture, and media as the tools for driving change.

With the current alarming rate of climate change it’s only power built from the grassroots that can make lasting change. 2019 was a historic year in the calendar of black people globally since it marked 400 years since the first slaves were taken from Africa to North America.

Moving Madaraka Festival from Seattle back to Kenya signified the importance of not only arranging for individuals to travel back to Africa as it was with the case of Ghana’s year of return initiative, but getting significant events back to Africa and keeping them in Africa as a way to build a sustainable bridge allowing people of all backgrounds to travel to Africa to enjoy a festival of a lifetime, immerse themselves in the African culture, and inspire global change and collaboration towards mitigating climate change, which does not only threaten the climate but is an existential threat to our music, culture, and livelihood.

(Source: One Vibe Africa)