Nibakure Children’s Village presents Samputu and Ingeli at Coffman Theatre, University of Minnesota on June 10, 2006

Nibakure Children’s Village is pleased to announce that Samputu and Ingeli will be performing Drum, Dance, and Song of Rwanda on June 10, 2006 from 7:30-9:00 at the University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Theater. Tickets are $15 and proceeds will benefit the Nibakure Children's Village, a non-profit dedicated to building an orphanage in Rwanda. (For more information visit the Nibakure Children’s Village web site at: www.nibakure.org.)

(PRWEB) May 31, 2006 -- Nibakure Children’s Village is pleased to announce that Samputu and Ingeli will be performing Drum, Dance, and Song of Rwanda on June 10, 2006 from 7:30-9:00 at the University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Theater. Tickets are $15 and proceeds will benefit the Nibakure Children's Village, a non-profit dedicated to building an orphanage in Rwanda. (For more information visit the Nibakure Children’s Village Web site at: www.nibakure.org/.)

Jean Paul Samputu and the Ingeli Troupe are renowned African artists. They are cultural ambassadors bringing their singing, dancing, drumming and message of reconciliation for Rwanda. Jean-Paul Samputu and his Ingeli troupe portray Rwanda's rich cultural heritage through dance, drum and music, representing a broad range of traditions -- from reggae, pygmy and soukous to the signature Rwandan 5/8 rhythms and the contemporary Afrobeat sound. Accompanied by high-energy drumming, animal-horn trumpet and soulful guitar, the traditionally attired four-member ensemble spreads a message of peace and healing after the 1994 Rwanda genocide that claimed the lives of nearly a million people, including Samputu's parents and four siblings. Winner of the prestigious Kora Award (Africa's GRAMMY), Samputu's songs in six languages celebrate the beauty of Rwanda, its people, the return of refugees, while holding children up as the hope for humanity and a better world.

Samputu travels the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda, bringing to his audiences not only traditional African singing, dancing, and drumming, but also a message of peace and reconciliation. A survivor of the genocide in Rwanda, Samputu takes us to the most positive place of humanity through his spirit and graciousness. More than a talented and inspiring musician, Samputu is a model for anyone who wants to make a difference in this world today.

Nibakure Children's Village (NCV), based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities area, works to provide orphaned children of Rwanda with safe housing, a foster family, healthcare, education, and career training. Their mission to the children of Rwanda is to "let them grow, give them hope" (Nibakure).

The vision of NCV is to create/build a village (orphanage) of family-style homes in Rwanda that will be house to 150 children ages 8 to 18 years old by 2008. The goal of NCV is to nurture ten children per home with a mother and aunt figures. NCV will focus on the whole child's needs through the on-site education, healthcare, counseling, spiritual development and career planning. NCV's desire is to build bridges for a unified and globalized Rwanda.

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