ABOUT US

Humanitarian Bazaar produces creative projects focused on how people survive war and disaster. We originally launched in New York in 2009 as a small seasonal media production company with an online magazine called, Humanitarian Bazaar Magazine (originally titled HELO, a slang term for helicopters in crisis zones). However, as our network grew rapidly to include not only filmmakers and war journalists but also emergency aid workers, human rights advocates, and artists all over Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, we pivoted to produce documentary media, humanitarian response consulting, civilian protection research, and work with musicians to promote peace in tough places. While running a very small organization with seasonal projects, we have had the fortune to partner with the U.N. Development Programme, U.S. Embassy in Kenya, Danish Refugee Council, Adeso Africa, Oxfam International, Fairplanet, Masterpeace, and Sound Central, Afghanistan’s first rock festival.

We have worked with icon musicians including Desiigner ft. Waayaha Cusub, K’naan, Aar Maanta, Alsarah, The Dresden Dolls, Kabul Dreams, Kombo Chokwe & Afro Simba, Opal Onyx, and Yula Be’eri. Film and story contributors included legendary photographers Tim Hetherington, Jake Simkin, and Eric Lafforgue; humanitarian innovators Fatima Jibrell, Suliman Giddo, and Lindsay Stark. Writer Nate Miller, comix artists Josh Neufeld and Manu, and designer Sam Saverance also helped mobilize us along the way. Our work has been covered by the BBC Newshour, CNN, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, The New Humanitarian, Matador Network, Aljazeera, Spotify, VICE, LA Times, The Guardian, WNYC Soundcheck, and Reuters.

We are currently focused on our War Survivors Advisory project responding to the Afghanistan emergency while keeping up with postproduction on Somali Sunrise, our feature documentary film. That said, we are open to new partnerships and contracts for the near future! Founded and registered in Brooklyn, New York 11206, soon to be registered in Berlin, Germany 13359. humanitarianbazaar@gmail.com  |  FACEBOOK PAGE  |  FACEBOOK DISCUSSION GROUP  |  TWITTER  |  YOUTUBE

“Last month saw the staging of the Mogadishu Music Festival in the war-torn capital city of Somalia. Despite…fear of reprisals from extremists, over 2,000 people attended the six concerts. Lead producer [and Humanitarian Bazaar founder] Daniel J. Gerstle explains that the festival was launched “not for music’s sake, but because we firmly believe Somalia’s war cannot be brought to an end purely through military and humanitarian means. Cultural forces must also play a role in persuading the country’s lost and troubled youth not to join extremists, not to destroy, not to kill…”  —Rolling Stone

“Armed with powerful songs and bold lyrics, a daring group of [Somali] hip-hop musicians has defied death threats and violent attacks from militant extremists to spread its message of peace in war-torn Mogadishu…” —CNN

“[Somali hiphop group Waayaha Cusub and its allies] hope to build an alliance of musicians, artists, and other cultural personalities to promote a message of peace and also to convince vulnerable young people to turn away from violence and extremism…” —VICE

“[Somali hiphop group Waayaha Cusub’s] performances will be featured in “Live from Mogadishu,” a documentary following the band’s death-defying journey to bring modern live music back to their homeland…” CNN

“Last Friday night marked the beginning of the first rock music festival in Afghanistan for more than thirty-five years. Sound Central. ‘When people’s phones light up it won’t say there was an explosion or a rebel attack; it will say ‘the concert is happening.’ ” —The New Yorker

“The artists on stage that night, from Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, helped us ponder an important musical question: What could be more rock and roll than a rock festival in a war zone?” —The Atlantic

“Afghanistan’s first rock music festival is being conducted like an urban guerrilla campaign. With the time and location of the main concert event kept undisclosed until 24 hours prior to showtime, the hope is that local extremists won’t see it coming…” —The Ethical Ear

“Afghans who witnessed the rock shows offered reactions ranging from “This is the greatest day of my life!” to “What is this and why is it so loud?” —Rolling Stone

“[HB founder Daniel J] Gerstle, who is quiet and carefully mannered in person but expands into extroversion onstage, has done some humanitarian work in conflict zones. He later became interested in finding ways to connect his creative community at home with those in places like Somalia, Sudan, and Chechnya…” —The Atlantic

“[Humanitarian Bazaar’s founder’s] work has taken [Gerstle] to countries like Afghanistan and Somalia, where he helped young musicians spread their message against violence and extremism through “secret” music festivals…” — Novo Vrijeme, Bosnia

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