Guinea Land Project
The Guinea Land Project is a large, on-going project who's goal is to purchase land in Guinea, West Africa for the future home of an international arts center. This arts center will provide a space for Guinean cultural performance artists to interface with and teach western students traveling to Guinea about West African culture through the arts. Additionally, the arts center will provide a space for the much sought after cultural exchange that broadens worldviews, creates powerful artistic and socio-economic alliances, fosters future humanitarian projects, strengthens communities and raises consciousness while providing an opportunity for African artists to earn a living wage.
In Guinea the average person lives on less than one dollar a day which means that most Guineans suffer the hardships of high malnutrition rates, minimal access to proper medical care, lack of formal education or vocational training and inability to save for the future. Additionally, over blown unemployment rates create a family system in which one or two "bread winners" are responsible for providing for as many as twenty people.
Guinean performance artists train rigorously and work very hard to not only preserve their cultural heritage, but to also help provide for their large families. Western students who visit Guinea to study the cultural arts with these artists encounter a glaring difficulty finding adequate class and rehearsal facilities. Since artists make up at least 20% of Guinea's population they have the potential to really contribute to the local economy if given the proper opportunity. It was out of this need that the mission for The Guinea Land Project was created.
WTN Productions has been doing grass roots projects in Guinea since February 2007 (scroll down to view projects) and is currently looking into the process of obtaining a 501 (c)(3) non-profit status. During "We Are One", an interactive, collaborative performance featuring Guinean artists Alseny Yansane, Fana Bangoura and Ibrahim Sylla and their serious American students, Won Tan Nara Productions raised $1,034 for the Guinea Land Project, another $235 was raised at "Africa at your Doorstep" Slideshow & Dance Benefit. An account named Guinea Land Project has been open at Oregon Community Credit Union if you would like to donate directly to this fund. Thanks so much for your support!
"We Are One" Benefit
Gi Be Instrument Fund
In January 2009 Won Tan Nara Productions was able to purchase a complete set of percussion instruments for a fledgling Guinean performance group named Gi Be with funds they had raised in December 2008. Four djembes and a set of four dundun base drums complete with bells were gifted to Gi Be which enabled 25-30 artists ages twelve to forty years old to rehearse on a regular basis with their very own instruments.
Gi Be's group representatives
