The African Humanitarian Aid Festival Melbourne, Australia

On the 27th of December 2009, the Eritrean community in Melbourne, Australia organised a musical festival that brought together members of the Eritrean, Ethiopian and Sudanese communities. The festival was the initiative of the Eritrean Australian Humanitarian Aid Inc (EAHA) in conjunction with the Eritrean Community in Australia Inc (ECA) which acted as the sponsor of the occasion. The objective of EAHA and the purpose of the festival is to publicise the plight of as well as offer tangible material support to Eritrean refugees stranded in refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

In this festival, many artists from the African communities performed live music. Hussein Mohamed Ali who is one of Eritrea’s renowned singers flew from London, UK especially for the event. He thrilled the audience with his messages of hope and brilliant creativity. Both TeKhlay Mesfin and Anbessa of Ethiopia excelled in traditional Ethiopian culture whilst the due of Samawal and Angelo played rhythms from their native Sudan to the receptive ears of the majority of the audience. Likewise, William from Brundi and his multi-cultural reggae band introduced the crowd to the styles of Bob Marley’s Afro-Caribbean music. The more than three hundred attendees enjoyed a memorable night of entertainment that bespoke across national boundaries.

The organisers wish to promote the festival as an annual event. Not only is it a responsibility and duty for Eritreans in the diaspora to assist their brothers and sisters going through bleak refugee experience, but it is also beneficial to the Horn of Africa peoples to foster positive relationships as they are bound to live together in the region.

EAHA thanks all the artists and audience who supported the event. We wish every one a happy New Year and a peaceful future