Academy for Educational Development

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO PERFORMS
IN DC JULY 24 AT AED BENEFIT CONCERT

Grammy Award-Winning Entertainers to Raise Funds
to Support Quality Education for Ghana’s Children
and Raise Curtains on new AED Theater

Washington, D.C., July 16, 2009 —Three-time Grammy Award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at a benefit concert on Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. in Washington, DC, at the brand new AED Theater at 1927 Florida Avenue, NW.   The benefit concert, sponsored by AED, a nonprofit social change organization which works globally to improve education, health, social and economic development, will help raise funds to support Ghana CEDEM. Ghana CEDEM is a local Ghanaian non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of education for Ghana’s children.

The South African-based Ladysmith Black Mambazo, known for their dynamic stage presence and lush harmonies, also will be inaugurating AED’s new state-of-the art theater.  The theater, which seats 200, will continue to serve the DC area with international talent and community engagements after this performance.

“Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s presence at the AED Theater, offers Washingtonians a chance to see superb performers in an intimate setting, “said Stephen F. Moseley, President of AED.  “These talented musicians will be celebrating our new theater and AED’s place in the community and world,“ Moseley added.  “We invite the public to enjoy this benefit concert.”

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, now on a nationwide tour, has sold more records than any group of African musicians in history.  The male choral group rose to worldwide prominence when they sang with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland.  Since then, they have provided the soundtrack material for Disney’s “The Lion King, Part II” and recorded with such famed artists as Stevie Wonder and The Corrs.

Tickets for the July 24th event are $75 for the concert or $100 for the VIP reception and concert.  The VIP reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a silent auction featuring the works of African artists.  To purchase tickets, visit www.africainterestgroup.org.

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Editors: Media interviews with Albert Mazibuko, one of the original Ladysmith Black Mambazo group members, are available July 16, and 17 and 23.  To schedule interviews, contact Kelly Johanns-DiCillo at 216-464-2313 or at kjohanns@headsup.com.

AED:  Founded in 1961, AED is a preeminent, nonprofit social change organization working globally to improve education, health, social and economic development-the backbone of flourishing societies.  For more than 30 years, AED has worked to support African development in health, education, leadership development, civil society, and the environment.  For details, visit www.aed.org.

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