Benefit for Lora Chiorah

February 20, Humanist Hall, Oakland

  • Benefit for Lora Chiorah
Card Design by C Ric Mose

MAESTRA BENEFIT CONCERT AND COMMUNITY GATHERING FOR LORA CHIORAH

Sunday FEB. 20TH, Humanist Hall, 390 27th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Thanks to all who attended, performed, and worked on the benefit.

Together we raised over $4100 for Lora and that has been deposited in the Lora
Chiorah Benefit Fund bank account at Wells Fargo Bank.

Sheree just posted on her Face Book: “Lora Chiorah played marimba in my classes tonight-what a blessing!!!”

Thanking you for all you do, for your families, and thanking Creator for
giving us all this Blessed life and the recovery of our dear
sister/friend/auntie/mama Lora.

We welcome your comments on the benefit and your wishes for Lora. You can enter them below.

HERE IS THE FABULOUS LINE-UP:

4:00 – 6:00
Carolyn Brandy w/Regina Wells and Odilia Galván Rodríguez
Ava Square LeVias and friends
Sistahs of the Drum
Kelly Tacunda
Sheree Seretse and Anzanga Marimba Ensemble (from Seattle)

6:00 – 8:00
Jeni Swerdlow w/ Violet Angell & Mahsa Modarres
N’Lolo Ba Tumbu
Debbie Fier w/Sharon Page Ritchie
Las Bomberas
Susu Pampanin and TerriAnne Gutierrez and friends

8:00 – 10:00
Rita Lackey and Friends featuring Suki
Mabiba Baegne and friends
Michaelle Goerlitz and friends
Mary Watkins and Melanie DeMore
Julia Chigamba and Chinyakare

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About Lora Chiorah

This event is a fundraiser for Lora Chiorah, a drummer, dancer, singer, storyteller from Zimbawbe. Lora now lives in Seattle. She is on the faculty of Born to Drum. Lora experienced two brain aneurysms and a stroke last August and is now in rehab. She does not have health insurance. The event raises funds to help her with the many expenses resulting from this. The event is produced by Carolyn Brandy and Haley. Lora’s Bio for Born to Drum is below.

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Lora Chiorah-Dye

Lora Chiorah-Dye was raised in Zimbabwe and came to the United States in the 1970′s. She created the Sukutai Marimba and Dance Ensemble, one of the region’s oldest African music ensembles, to celebrate the heritage of Zimbabwe’s Shona people and to provide an opportunity for teaching music and dance to Americans.

Lora is an internationally respected dancer, singer, and Mbira player. She is a professional storyteller and conveys the values of the Shona culture with stories, songs, games, dances and crafts projects.

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Donations to Lora Chiorah

If you are unable to attend this wonderful program and would like to make a donation, here are ways to do that

1. Send a check to Women Drummers International. In the Memo portion of your check note that this is a donation for Lora Chiorah.

2. Donate online here.


Women Drummers International is a 501 (C) (3) tax exempt organization. Your donation is fully tax deductible.

There is a box where you can indicate the purpose of your donation.  Put ‘Lora Chiorah’ in that box.

3. Donate through the Sukutai website.
Your donation here will also be tax deductible.

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Thank You to the Following Merchants

We are grateful to the following merchants who made in-kind donations of food or donated gift certificates for this event.  Several donors have a policy to remain anonymous and we also want to recognize their generosity.

These donations  made it possible to provide the delicious homemade meal that is part of our gathering for Lora.  Every dollar we saved through these donations goes directly to Lora’s fund.

  • Andronico’s 1550 Cedar St. Berkeley
  • Berkeley Bowl, 2020 Oregon Street Berkeley
  • Just Desserts 550 85th Ave Oakland
  • Pinkies. 1196 Folsom St.. in San Francisco
  • Save-More Meat, 74 W. Manor Drive, Pacifica
  • Starbucks. 20th & Harrison, Oakland
  • Whole Foods, 3000 Telegraph Ave,  Berkeley

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