World Music Benefit CD Raises Funds for West Papuan Refugees

01/17/2007 04:48AM

UK - Merdeka (freedom) is a compilation, made up of songs donated by artists from seventeen countries around the world. They have come together to show their solidarity and support for the West Papuan people in their ongoing struggle for freedom from Indonesian rule.

The CD includes bossa nova, Balkan gypsy beats, folk, west Pacific melodies, African roots, ethnic, ambient electronica, world fusion and Latin jazz.

There are exclusive, previously unreleased songs from the likes of Shukar Collective (Romania), The Lani Singers (West Papua), Modeste Hugues Randriamahitasoa (Madagascar), Dominic Kakolobango (Zambia), Tribali (Malta), Amycanbe (Italy), Vajas (Norway) and Ohayo Samba (Brazil /Japan). Merdeka also includes extremely rare recordings of tribal chanting from the remote central highland region of West Papua.

The west Pacific island of New Guinea is one the of the most remarkable places on earth, swathed in tropical rainforests and mangroves, and inhabited predominantly by tribal communities, whose way of life has remained largely unchanged since the Stone Age. Yet, this paradise, according to the producers "has descended into a scene reminiscent of hell, with over 400,000 native West Papuans having been ruthlessly slaughtered by Indonesian army and militia since Indonesia's illegal occupation in 1963."

All proceeds from the compilation are going directly to refugee support initiatives. The CD is sold exclusivelty at: www.dancingturtle.co.uk/shop/merdeka.php.

World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20070116184835924