“Voices for Darfur” UNHCR DVD released in UK
The new DVD, “Voices for Darfur”, was released by EMI today in the United Kingdom. It features artists who took part in the December 8 concert in London, including Yusuf Islam, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Hucknall, Nicole Russo of the Brand New Heavies, Moloko singer Roisin Murphy, Ruthie Henshall, Sir Willard White, and UNHCR’s longest-serving Goodwill Ambassador, Barbara Hendricks.
“I hope this will once again show that music has the power to make a difference and save lives,” said Antony Costa of Blue, who sang “Moondance” on the DVD.
Sade wrote and recorded her first new track in four years, “Mum”, especially for the DVD, accompanied by images from Darfur. David Gray, who had to pull out of the concert due to voice problems, recorded “Ain’t No Love” for the DVD.
British band Franz Ferdinand was also unable to attend the concert but provided a song for the evening and donated half of their Mercury Music prize money. Coldplay also contributed generously.
The DVD includes additional backstage footage of all artists expressing their views on the Darfur conflict and explaining their decision to perform for free.
“The crisis in Darfur is the worst I’ve seen,” said the concert’s patron, Robin Millar of Whitfield Street Studios. “This DVD continues our efforts for a global campaign to help as best as we can.”
Now in stores in the UK, the DVD will be released in the coming weeks in Europe, Australia, the United States and Japan. As with the concert, proceeds from the DVD will go towards helping the displaced people and refugees in Darfur and Chad.
The two-and-a-half-year conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan has displaced close to 2 million people within Darfur and driven more than 200,000 into neighbouring Chad, where UNHCR has 12 camps to care for the refugees.
The “Voices for Darfur” DVD cover.