Press Release / Art & Entertainment / Sweet Honey in the Rock Set for US Embassy Tour in Swaziland with Performance

Sweet Honey in the Rock Set for US Embassy Tour in Swaziland with Performance

New York, NY, May 21, 2015 - SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and Grammy-nominated a cappella ensemble who’ve built a legacy for merging an inimitable and distinct harmonic vocal blend with a veracious commitment to activism, social justice, equality and freedom has been invited by the United States Embassy in Swaziland and the Arts Envoy Program to perform at the internationally acclaimed 9th Annual MTN Bushfire Music Festival (May 30th) and to contribute to several cultural and community outreach programs and high school workshops sponsored by Embassy. The Sweet Honey tour dates and activities are scheduled May 27- 30, 2015.

The Swaziland tour marks the ensemble’s fourth international US Embassy tour this year. They were invited in by the US Embassies in Ethiopia, Peru and Jamaica in February to help them honor and celebrate Black History Month. They performed several major concerts and contributed to community programs sponsored by the Embassy in each respective country.

One of the major highlights of their visit to Swaziland will be their debut performance at the MTN Bushfire Festival (May 29-31) which will feature a special collaboration on two songs (one by each artist) with noted songwriter/singer Floewe (real name Fikile Dhladhla) a native of Swaziland.. CNN recently noted the Festival is one of the top seven "must attend music festivals" in Africa. Each year the Festival attracts a diversified mix of globally renowned artists and performersthat "Bring Their Fire" for a multi-cultural and international audience that reaches 20,000 people strong.

"We’re truly honored and excited to be invited to visit Swaziland by the US Embassy" says Carol Maillard, one of Sweet Honey’s founding members. "We’ve enjoyed serving as cultural ambassadors and artists for all the Embassies and countries we’ve visited.We’re deeply grateful to be given another opportunity to share our music and messages with the people in Swaziland," she added.

In addition to their headlining performance at Bushfire, Sweet Honey will also host a workshop and deliver an abbreviated performance for the Bushfire School Festival, which facilitates workshops for over 750 students from 40 schools and youth groups, led by over 60 teachers throughout the music festival.

Sweet Honey will host a workshop and performfor 500 high school students (15-18) from all over Swaziland. The School Festival is designed to motivate and foster social behavioral change, especially related to HIV. They will host a workshop and perform for 350 students at Elangeni High School during their visit as well.

Sweet Honey will also serve as guest performers at a special welcoming reception by Makila James, the US Ambassador to Swaziland at her private residence. The reception will be attended by local VIP’s, dignitaries, artists, musicians and poets who will be performing at the Bushfire Music Festival.

Last year, Sweet Honey made their premiere US Embassy tour (August 27- 31) as part of the longstanding Arts Envoy program to Belize. The Arts Envoy Program is a longstanding outreach program and initiative by the US State Department.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, which celebrated their 40th Anniversary last year is comprised of vocalists Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, Shirley Childress (American Sign Language Interpreter) and special guest acoustic upright/electric bass player Romeir Mendez.

For further information about SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK go to:
www.sweethoneyintherock.org

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com