13 February 2014, those touched by the lives of Mandela will gather for a celebratory memorial event at St. Paul The Apostle Roman Catholic Church in New York City. The tribute will include performances and appearances by world-renowned actor Morgan Freeman, the honorable Bill Clinton and the Grammy-winning Soweto Choir. These entertainment and political powerhouses are gathering to commemorate the life and legacy of Madiba as well as the 20th anniversary of democratic freedom in South Africa – an achievement in which he played an invaluable role.

Throughout the evening, Morgan Freeman will perform dramatic readings from the original transcripts of Mr. Mandela's letters, speeches, and personal writings. These readings will be followed by the Soweto Gospel Choir, who will fill the cathedral with songs that honor Mandela’s life and vision. Concluding the event, Bill Clinton will candidly discuss his admiration of Mandela, his work with the Mandela Foundation, and his visions for the future – a future inspired by Madiba himself. 

For ticket information and more on the event, CLICK HERE. 

The first Thursday of every month in Cape Town has gone not for the birds, but for the artists.

Simply deemed ‘First Thursdays’, the art-walk encourages Capetonians and passers-through alike to savor the crisp evening air of the Mother City while exploring and appreciating its ever-growing art scene. Consisting of anywhere from 15 to 20 permanent galleries and pop-up venues, the walk welcomes visitors to meander from venue to venue eating, drinking, shopping and enjoying the city’s creative culture.

During First Thursdays, participating galleries are open until 9pm as opposed to the usual 5pm and the contributing galleries and exhibitions rotate in order to keep the event fresh month after month. Many of the most relevant and current African artists have displayed their works during First Thursday including Dillon Marsh, Matthew Hindley and Sanell Aggenbach. Old and new, modern and classic, South African and international – there is something for everyone at First Thursday.

But do not think you have to be a studied art aficionado to attend, the buzz and energy of the crowd is alone enough to spark excitement in anyone. It is hoped that soon the art-walk will spill between the galleries’ walls and onto the streets, exuding a more festival-esque atmosphere with shops open after hours, gourmet food trucks and music in the streets.

Began in 2012, with a consort of only eight participating galleries, the event was the brainchild of Stellenbosch University graduate and culture-enthusiast Gareth Pearson. Beyond a love of art, Pearson wanted to attract the people of Cape Town onto the streets after dusk, something atypical in the city. His challenge was met with gusto by the people of Cape Town who eagerly flock to the art walk’s main strip, the creative hotbed that lies between Wale and Strand streets.

More than just a walk, Pearson is a firm believer that interacting on the streets and in a public space can lead to rich experiences and shared little moments that reveal all the things that we, as people, have in common.

So if you find yourself in Cape Town on a First Thursday, do not miss this chance to mingle with the locals and perhaps add a piece of South African art to your collection.

CLICK HERE for more information about First Thursday

CLICK HERE for more of ROAR AFRICA’s insider knowledge of Cape Town

ROAR AFRICA invites you to be our special guest at the screening of The Last Lions documentary film.

Come and meet National Geographic Award winning film makers Dereck and Beverly Joubert at the screening of their dramatic storytelling and breathtaking footage of a gripping real-life saga.

Lions are vanishing from the wild. In the last 50 years, lion populations have plummeted from 450,000 to as few as 20,000.

Where: Angelika Film Center
18 West Houston Street (between Broadway & Crosby St)
New York, NY 10012
When: Friday February 18, 2011 from 7:20 PM EST
Please click on the link below to register or RSVP.
Click to Register Now.

View the trailer here:

(Available on the original blog post.)
Derek, Beverley & I look forward to seeing you at The Last Lions.
Should you have any questions about the event or how to register please feel free to contact Deborah at ROAR AFRICA. email
Sincerely,
Deborah

Living in the USA? Got a great travel photo? Submit it to the shutterstock photo safari competition and win a 6-night African Photo Safari Adventure put together by ROAR AFRICA.

Deadline: May 12th, 2010

1) Submit your best travel-related photo.

2) Tell your friends to vote for your entry.

3) Win if your photo is chosen from the finalists.

One winner will enjoy a safari for 2 in South Africa, including 3 nights on safari at the Lions Sands River Lodge and 3 nights exploring Cape Town courtesy of ROAR AFRICA.

Click here to enter: shutterstock

Or just browse and vote for some of the amazing photographs already entered.Prize Eligibility:

Only persons residing in United States who are at least 18 years of age can enter.

Contest Ends:

May 12, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PDT)

Eco Africa Social Ventures is a U.S. based Non Profit corporation founded by Janice Ashby whose mission is to uplift the daily lives of artists, crafting artisans and their families in Zimbabwe who are struggling under extreme hardships owing to the economic catastrophe that has overtaken their country.

Roar Africa and partner lodges are donating a luxury safari to help families survive the food emergency. The safari includes 3 nights at Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe, 3 nights at Steenberg Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, and 4 nights at Londo Lodge, Pemba Island, Mozambique. The safari will be donated at an event held at the home of Leila Straus on Park Avenue West, New York on November 12th.

Peter Godwin, the acclaimed author of "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun", will be at the event for a special reading and book signing. A magnificent photograph "The Dancing Wildebeest" by Chris Dei will also be auctioned at the event.

If you would like to attend please email info@ecoafricasocialventures.org for an invitation. You can also email info@roarafrica.com for a copy of the luxury safari worth $14,000.

You can help by referring others to this posting/invitation or by a direct donation through Pay Pal to Eco Africa Social Ventures.

News Reports on the Zimbabwe Crisis: New York Times, BBC
Peter Godwin: NY Magazine, New York Times, Vanity Fair

At 7pm on Saturday, November 8, Roar Africa will host a private screening of the award-winning movie "The World Unseen".

"The World Unseen" is a moving and passionate love story set in 1950's South Africa just as Apartheid was beginning. The screening will be at Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, New York on Saturday November 8th 2008.

Following the movie will be a Q & A session with Writer/Director, Shamim Sarif, and Executive Producer, Katherine Priestley.
If you would like to attend please contact Virginia Haynes at vhaynes@montcom-ny.com

"The World Unseen" movie trailer:

On Saturday evening (August 9th) Roar Africa attended the Sunflowers After Hours fund raiser event for Henry Buhl's A.C.E. Foundation. The Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (A.C.E.), is a not-for-profit organization founded by Henry Buhl. Their mission is to enable New York City’s homeless men and women to re-enter the workforce and to achieve long term, economic self-sufficiency.

Sunflowers After Hours was hosted by Kirstin Cole of CBS 2 News at Henry's home in Southampton. Honorary Chairs Henry Buhl, Susan Sarandon and Larry Leeds. The elegant clam bake, auction and dancing was held in Henry's garden which was planted with thousands of sunflowers.

We are proud to share that the 15-day luxury Southern Africa safari donated by Roar Africa and partner lodges was the largest ticket item of the live auction which was conducted by Sotheby's Eliza Osborne. The trip will take the generous winners to some of the world's most luxurious Lodges and hotels from Kruger Park in South Africa, to Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and Mozambique. Business class flights were donated by Henry himself.

Henry Buhl with Deborah Calmeyer & Rob Breen of Roar Africa

Partner donors:
Lion Sands Safari Lodge, Singita Safari Lodge, Royal Malewane Safari Lodge, Cape Cadogan Hotel, La Residence, Londo Lodge