Concert to raise awareness for conflict in Congo
The hip-hop duo Zion I is one of the acts for Mighty Mic, a benefit concert aiming to educate the audience about conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
By Naz Papen
April 13, 2010 9:23 p.m.
It’s where music with a message collides with the power of education ““ the fourth annual Mighty Mic benefit concert will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in Ackerman Grand Ballroom.
Mighty Mic 2010 aims to both raise funds and educate the student body regarding the diverse conflicts barraging the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Acting as mouthpieces on behalf of the cause, the event will feature musical performances by Blue Scholars, thatwasthen and Zion I.
Musically cultivated in Seattle, Blue Scholars is a hip-hop duo that intends to serve as a platform for pro-humanity. Predominately fostered in the Pacific Northwest, Mighty Mic will be the group’s first performance here at UCLA, yet their attitude toward the event is far from foreign.
“We hope to play some part (in the cause),” said Blue Scholars DJ/producer Sabzi. “But everyone is a player ““ the people who organize this event, the attendees and the performers ““ no one is in the front and no one is in the back. The fact is that we’re all students and we’re all teachers and we are all working together ““ all facilitating this process.”
Though the hip-hop pair wouldn’t necessarily be the first to label their music as rooted heavily in insight, their loyal fans most definitely would. Despite their reticence, Blue Scholars will undoubtedly contribute a great deal to Mighty Mic through their unrestrained live energy and thought-provoking lyrics.
“We hope to make good, quality, honest music and share the little that we know with other people,” Sabzi said. “We like to engage in an art and a craft that facilitates unity amongst people.”
This closed-campus event ““ which will only be open to UCLA students who present a BruinCard ““ promises a diverse mix of live music by opening the floor to not only forerunners in hip-hop, but also a rock “˜n’ roll band that has been described as a four-way tie between Led Zeppelin, the Foo Fighters, Incubus and The Who.
Constructed almost entirely of Southern California natives, thatwasthen will rouse and entertain the congregation in Ackerman without any lack of experience. After performing at Dance Marathon 2010, the group intends to bring the same amount of unrestrained stage presence in hopes of benefiting an entirely different cause.
“We will not stop playing music, that’s for sure,” said lead singer Brenton Sinay. “We’re going to try to get people to dance. I just want it to be the most profitable event possible and the fact that we’re going to perform for something greater and contribute to a cause through our music ““ I would love to be involved with that.”
A group born and bred on the Bruin tradition, with two alumni and one current UCLA undergraduate contributing to the group’s musical mission, the band feels extremely positive about their role in Mighty Mic.
“We want to help as much as we can,” said Nick Papageorge, lead guitarist. “We’re going to try to pump as much pure music into that as possible. It’s a cause that we feel very good about contributing to.”
Mighty Mic veterans Zion I will also return to the stage, in light of the events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The hip-hop duo was a major force in 2008 Save Darfur, during which time they freestyled specifically about the events affecting Darfur.
“We’re always willing to rap for community events to support greater movements that we believe in,” said group MC Zumbi. “It’s always an honor to come through and be a part of anything like that.”
Though the group is currently on tour and simultaneously working on its next album, they are scheduled to return to Ackerman to help this year’s cause, and they promise to do so in an anything-but-dull fashion.
“We bring a lot of energy; we are really passionate about what we do,” Zumbi said. “We bring as much energy as we can to every show. We like to give something to the audience ““ information, allow them to catch a feeling, catch a vibe, feel better, feel greater.”
When asked if there was one idea or experience that they’d want audience members to take away from their performance, Zumbi responded with the word “uplifted.”
Zion I’s intent is a general one amongst both musical performers and event organizers.
“In addition to a diverse mix of live music, guest speakers and interactive educational material, the audience can also expect free giveaways, an art gallery exhibition of Congolese photos, an educational display on various topics related to the DRC as well as a full student, non-profit tabling fair,” said event co-director Jennifer Lai.
The benefit concert is open to UCLA students, and donations are highly encouraged. All proceeds will go to HEAL Africa and Women for Women International ““ two organizations that will have representatives speaking at the concert.
“Come celebrate; live in the moment,” Zumbi said. “I think that the world is changing quickly and it’s time for human beings to accept one another more, accept ourselves and only then can we move forward.”
