Events

THULI DUMAKUDE PERFORMED LIVE

AT THE LEGENDARY MADIBA RESTAURANT!

December 20, 2012 – New York, NY –Obie & Sir Lawrence Olivier award winning actress, and singer Thuli Dumakude performed live at Madiba Restaurant with special guest artist Bakithi Kumalo in Brooklyn, New York.

Thuli Dumakude performed two sets to a packed house at the popular South African restaurant Madiba, located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.  Madiba, which opened in 1999, offers a unique South African experience paying homage to Nelson Mandela and is dedicated to the future of South Africa.  Ms. Dumakude a native South African performed alongside the legendary South African bassist Bakithi Kumalo along with keyboardist Richard Cummings and Liberty Mata on percussion.  This performance supported the Thembalethu Beaders campaign, a global human rights campaign in support of women’s rights, health awareness and the fight against HIV/AIDS in South African and the world.

Thembalethu Beaders focus is to provide assistance to women; training them to understand how to create and prepare products for marketing to overseas markets, stressing the importance of quality control and packaging, making it possible for the village to provide employment for its citizens with a special emphasis on the story of these women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on their families and communities.

In 2010 the community center Bumbanani Crèche where the Thembalethu Beaders worked out of was destroyed by a natural hurricane.  This facility provided a safe haven, work center and day care facility, which oversaw the education of the young children in the community.  Our goals are to acquire the necessary funds to re-build the center and provide economic freedom to the rural women and families in this community.  Proceeds from the campaign benefit the Thembalethu Beaders.  www.thembalethubeaders.org

Ms. Dumakude was an influential force in Disney’s decision to change the role of Rafiki from male to female in the Broadway hit Lion King.  As the founder of the Thembalethu Beaders Ms. Dumakude will be utilizing her “voice” in several U.S. promotional appearances throughout the New Year 2013 to promote this cause.   In addition, Ms. Dumakude will be recording a new album slated for Summer 2013 release.   Ms. Dumakude is scheduled for several guest appearances at Madiba for 2013.