Lupe Fiasco will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide. He won’t be alone, he’ll have Jessica Beil with him, Isabel Lucas and singer and producer Kenna. The organized expedition called Summit on the Summit is set for next January.

The Summit on the Summit Mount Kilimanjaro climb for awareness was organized by Kenna. In Ethiopia his father suffered from waterborne diseases as a child.

In fact as we all know water is a basic need for humans. One can live longer without water than one can live without water. Not just any water but clean water and many living in industrialized or western countries may be as “astonished” as Jessica Beil was to learn over a billion persons worldwide don’t have access to clean water.

Friends, Miriam Makeba is one of my favorite artists of all time and I was greatly saddened when she died. However she left so much good music for us that I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to select this for you. This is from a concert from her Live From Paris & Conakry album. I grew up listening to her as a little Madam with my parents but as adult when I listen her sing I hear what’s missing in so much of today’s music: genuine emotion, particularly joy. I don’t care what nobody says Alicia can’t make me feel a song the way Miriam can by far and “Pata Pata” eats “Crazy In Love” alive, no contest. Most of today’s singers don’t seem to be able to convey emotion, pride, joy or Blackness with a backbone the way she did. Some of that has to do with her story, being from South Africa and being Black with a backbone like Steve Biko.

More celeb participants will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime you can donate to Summit on the Summit or check out their website. According to http://www.summitonthesummit.com/ One dollar provides 100 liters of clean, safe drinking water for 50 days of healthy living.

You can donate directly to the cause at the Untied Nations Foundation website here

I would suggest that if you are interested in this cause that you should take the time to do some homework on this or any cause before you give your money. Celebrity endorsements are helpful in bringing awareness to causes and charities but there is no substitute for knowing as much as you can about where your money goes. summitonthesummit.com provides plenty of info for you on themselves and the Untied Nations Foundation.

Props to Lupe for putting and the others for putting themselves out there for a cause they believe in.

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