Aljazeera’s Peter Greste interviews rapper Lihle Muhudin about the Mogadishu Music Festival produced by Humanitarian Bazaar in Somalia. [Image: HB]

PRESS COVERAGE 

Our work as Humanitarian Bazaar (and under the name of our first project, HELO Magazine), has been covered by CNN, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, WNYC Soundcheck, NBC, CBS, Aljazeera, LA Times, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, and many others. That included live interviews on BBC Newshour, WNYC Soundcheck, Universal TV, Horn Cable TV. We also livestreamed the premiere of our short film, Music Too Powerful, alongside a concert ft. Somali hip hop group Waayaha Cusub, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Filmmakers David Bolen, Priscila Zaghini, and Sabrina Beram each produced documentary focused on Humanitarian Bazaar and its founder.

“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

“This is awesome! I remember hearing about these folks before I went home last summer secretly wishing I could’ve met them! :).  Kudos to you all + the work you do, keep it up! Change is possible – music heals!” —K.A., comment on Youtube

“The smile and happiness these great Wayaha cusub team and their international friends put to all Mogadishu-ians is priceless and historic, thanks guys!!!” —A0, comment, Youtube

“Big respect Waayaha Cusub. Watching from Canada. Thank u guys. Never give up doing this beautiful job.” —M.S. comment Youtube

“Thank you for your hard work guys. watching from Norway. We really admire what you guys just did.” —F.A., comment on Youtube

“I can’t express with words how happy I am peace coming back in Somalia…” —A.S.Y., comment on Youtube

“You guys are awesome. I like what you do. My favorite piece…is “Somalia’s Greatest Hits: The Positive, Peaceful Side of the African horn Nation.” All people talk about is how bad Somalia is and never how good and beautiful it was (will be). I don’t remember much about my home country, but it was nice to read and be reminded that there is good about Somalia!” ––S.A., reader, Minneapolis, USA

“I’ve just started reading through the first issue of [Humanitarian Bazaar, formerly HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine] and it’s excellent. Anyone interested in the gritty side of how life – aid life – happens overseas should definitely take a look…It includes everything from a first-hand glimpse of last year’s rebel attack on Khartoum to a description of what it’s like to be in a plane crash.” ––HumanitarianRelief.Change.org

“I’m thrilled for you…and I’m thrilled for me! I’m going to love this magazine….You’re doing something huge…Mabrouk!” —Officer at UNHCR, Amman, Jordan

“It’s very good. I especially appreciate the roundtable on truth, political manipulation, and the truth seekers in Darfur. So thanks and good continuation.” —PhD, International Humanitarian Law Researcher, The TMC Asser Institute, The Hague, Netherlands

“I am impressed with your writing and your determination to give these people a better life. You have risked your own so that they may live a better, more fulfilling life.” —911 Responder, Cincinnati, USA

“Your first edition of HELO is awesome… I loved the diversity of stories, the high-quality photos and the emphasis on “neglected” tragedies. I will continue to forward it far and wide.” —PhD candidate in maternal health, University of California, Berkeley, USA

“I really like your editor’s section “Why We Created Helo” because everybody can relate to how important getting information to the public was in getting us out of that interminable war, right?” —PhD candidate, Florida State, Tallahassee, USA

“Congratulations! You got it off the ground and it looks very good.” —Lawyer, New York

“Great mag and brilliant title.” —Aid coordinator, IFRC, Geneva, Switzerland

“Dude! It looks great! Am super excited for you…” —Officer at UNOCHA, New York, USA