Press Release Time: The Mighty Zulu Nation

The MZN Theatre Company Announces the Launch of Their New Crowdfunding Campaign to Support Celebrating Our Common Humanity

Providing a powerful cultural experience and promoting positive cultural perceptions without prejudice to the world

MZN Theatre Company, a diverse company providing dynamic education and cultural experiences to schools and communities, is pleased to announce the launch of their crowd-funding campaign on IndieGogo.com.

I genuinely have no idea what I think about crowd-funding. On the one hand, it short-circuits the usual processes of cultural funding - the arts councils, the secret funds set up by philanthropists - and allows audiences to support the work they want to see. On the other, Amanda Palmer used it to make an album that was inferior to her earlier work, and made such a bloody meal of it, I wonder whether it isn't merely a version of X-Factor with money in place of votes.

The campaign went live September 19, 2013, and will continue through November 3, 2013. The company has set a goal of £250,000. Funders are filling the gap between performance fees and expenditures for MZN’s 12-month tour starting in 2014. The funds will help sustain the company’s multi-talented African performers as they visit schools and communities throughout the United Kingdom and share a diverse cultural and educational experience.

But I like to put this sort of initiative on the blog. It might provoke discussion about crowd-funding, thereby saving me the bother of working out what I think. And for all my doubts about the process, I rather like this company.

For over 14 years MZN Theatre Company has been able to widen the perception of students’ minds and take them to worlds far beyond their own. This vibrant show features the dynamic Zulu Culture. Through powerful acting, splendid dance and spellbinding performances, families and students alike receive a truly memorable experience. 

It is the goal of the Celebrating Our Common Humanity campaign to create positive perceptions and understandings about other cultures. They want to teach students how to respect ethnic values while sharing the creative aspects of their background. MZN’s successful track record has led them to perform for Queen Elizabeth II; the inauguration of Lord Mayor of London; and at the Red Cross Association in London’s humanitarian lecture hosted by Nelson Mandela.

Just to make it worse, I don't have much patience for humanity at the moment: in my darker moments, I consider the commonality between people as residing in the ability to do really nasty stuff to each other. On a lighter note, I worry that presenting a culture as cheerful and creative refuses the complexities of every social or political or racial (although I don't believe in race...) grouping. 

Then again, these guys are called The Mighty Zulu Nation. That gets cool points. It's enough to encourage me to put up their press release, and hope that they get the cash to do their educating. 

“Our performers often come from challenged backgrounds and have left their native homes to help us teach the world about culture and diversity,” said Artistic Director Iain Storey. “By contributing we can ensure employment for our unique performers and help contribute to a positive quality of life while still teaching the world how to widen their perception of other cultures.

Contributions from funders, no matter their size, help unlock opportunities for performers and increase the number of children and schools the company can enlighten this year. All contributors are sharing in the dream of creating a diverse, understanding society. There are different contributor levels available ranging from £5 to £250,000. Contributors will receive recognition for their kindness on the company’s website as well as their name on a brick that will go toward building the wall of support.

About the MZN Theatre Company

The Mighty Zulu Nation Theatre Company has been providing services in partnership with Storey Productions for over 13 years. This acclaimed theatre company features dance, music and song, and strives to positively promote racial equality, community cohesion and citizenship to the world. They grow positive perceptions and teach their audience to respect the values of other cultures so that everyone can share a common humanity. Learn more about the MZN Theatre Company by visiting their website at MightyZuluNation.com or by visiting the crowd- funding campaign featured on IndieGogo.com.

The more I think about it, the more questions I have. I really like the idea of MZN going into schools and teaching pupils about the Zulu culture, and getting them into music and dance that isn't more MTV blather (showing my age there - MTV doesn't even have music on it any more, yet Miley and all that carry-on get called MTV culture). I also think that, in the age of the Super Information Highway, a pupil who decided to get into it could really access plenty of additional material. 

The MZN might just plant a seed. Plus, I am keen on their vision to 'positively promote racial equality.' I don't believe in race - in so far as I think it is an artificial categorisation of the human species, based on outmoded concepts of superiority and Aristotlean obsessive-compulsive disorder. But racial equality is one of the few phrases that can be translated as 'why don't we all just get along' and doesn't give me hives.  

I guess 'citizenship to the world' is a similar idea, but it is too vague. Where racial equality insists that it's not cool to be prejudiced on the grounds of skin colour, global citizenship sounds like waffle. 

That said, more performance in schools is all right by me. And they have a show called Napoleon Noir that looks amazing.