This past Saturday night, I attended the '1st Annual Congolese Fundraising Event' for the Congolese Community of Southern California. I heard about the Benefit on KPFK and checked out the website (www.congola.org) for more information. This, I thought, was an opportunity to support those in need (specifically Women, HIV/AIDS sufferers and victims of war) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to mingle with Congolese (which I've never done), listen to music & taste the flavors from that country. It also beat the usual Saturday nite fare of going out dancing & dropping $30 or more on drinks, cover etc.......

After getting through a number of roadblocks downtown (b/c of a street festival to happen Sunday) I arrived around 10 pm. The event, that was to begin at 9 pm, actually began around 11:20 pm.

I ran into Fran, a former 'Dogeater' cast member who was working concessions for 'Shag with a Twist'. What a relief, because I may not have hung out so long if she wasn't there. We chatted, smoked & talked about the political struggle between the LA City council and the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

The event began with a short film by 'Women for Women Int'l' showing the positive work they've done with women who have been terrorized worldwide. Afterwards, the MC welcomed a husband & wife team who had gone to the Dem. Republic of Congo in February, 2005 and were compelled to do something about those suffering from numerous issues. The wife made an especially compelling case for girls/women (ranging in age from 3 to 70) who were raped by militants and as a result of the trauma of rape suffered from fistula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fistula).

I met 2 men (1 from Uganda, the other from the Dem. Rep. of Congo). We engaged each other on the state of Africa (especially, DR Congo, Uganda & Nigeria) & some thoughts on what can be done to bring those countries out of 3rd world status; it was stimulating & heartening to hear fellow brothers speak with concern of this often neglected part of the world.

For more information on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, go to: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo

Signing off for now.......

-VAlEBB