Winnipeg concert aims to help Ebola orphans in Africa

Winnipeg's African communities are putting on a fundraising concert to support west African countries struggling with Ebola outbreaks.

The money raised will go to supporting children who have been orphaned because of the disease.

"What will happen to these kids?" worries Zita Somokoko, one of the organizers and a member of African Communities of Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI), which is putting on the concert.

"No one wants to take them in. They are left alone because of the stigma, and we want to protect those children."

There is currently no focus on the orphans of Ebola, Somokoko said, and the community here wants to try and prevent another orphan crisis like the one created by the AIDS epidemic on the continent.

Somokoko tells the story of one girl in Guinea who is now caring for a group of children: "She's 15 years old. She lost everybody. Her mom, her dad, her siblings. No relatives are willing to take her in. She was discharged from the Ebola treatment centre with just the clothes on her back. Her family's house was burned down by the villagers because of fear."

The teen is now living in the forest, trying to care for other orphans, with no shelter and no resources, Somokoko said.

Aid organizations have no idea how many orphans will be left behind, but funds will be needed to support them. That's why ACOMI decided to target the money toward orphans, Somokoko said.

The concert will include performances by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, R&B singer Flo, Nafro Dance, Casimiro Nhussi from Mozambique, Fresh IE, and Kelly Bado, who was born in Ivory Coast. 

It's a multicultural event aimed at bringing Manitobans together, she said, adding that more performers are being added.

A group of artists is collaborating to write and record a song about the Ebola crisis. All proceeds from its sale will go to charity and the song will debut at the concert.

The Tears of Ebola concert is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at Pantages Theatre. Tickets are $50 and go on sale Wednesday morning through Ticketmaster, the Pantages box office, and the WSO box office.

The Ebola outbreak has been the worst in world history. According to a recent WHO report, there have been more than 21,000 cases and 8,300 deaths.

The death toll in Liberia as of Sunday was 3,538, followed by Sierra Leone with 3,062 deaths and Guinea with 1,814. The number of new cases is on the decline.