Ethical Weddings Fairtrade Fortnight Challenge – Day 9: Music
Mar 6th, 2007 by Alex
I had imagined today’s challenge would start and end with fair trade musical instruments. However, on entering ‘fair trade music’ into the search engine I’ve just found:
Calabash ‘the worlds first fair trade music company.’
According to Andy Morgan at the Independent ”Calabash is the online equivalent of your favourite backstreet music store’’.
There’s certainly a wide selection of music from all around the world – Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, N. America, Oceania and S. America. You can even listen to a ‘random selection’ from each region, or download a free song from their showcase. I like this week’s by Malavoi called ‘Bona’ (perhaps a good one to get wedding guests onto the dance floor?)
To find out more about Calabash and fair trade music go to the archives at Here on Earth where you can listen to Jean Feraca talking with Brad Powell, Calabash President and Creative Director. The programme is about an hour long (I’m listening to it now as I’m writing this!) but there are sound bites available too.
Other sites of interest include: Fair-Trade-Music-Network, Fair Trade Recordings and The Fair Trade Tour
I’ve also found fair trade Musical CDs available fromTraidcraft, the Ethical Superstore, and the Global Exchange.
Next to this ‘Origins’ Music CD Traidcraft write: ”Fair Trade Music is about: Collaboration: artists and music lovers from all corners of the world helping one another cultivate works that inspire; Circular Rewards: original artists getting paid fairly; listeners rewarded with their work; and Campaigning for Justice: music as an instrument for getting involved in the movement for a better world for one and all”
And finally…
Fair trade musical instruments for making your own music:
Perhaps if you have a musically talented relative or friend, you could buy them one of the many musical instruments to perform something special during your ceremony. Alternatively, could you encourage the band to add one of the instruments to their repertoire as a special request? Failing this what about a musical corner – perhaps near to the toys from yesterday?
Here’s a few places to look:
Starbeck have a wide selection of instruments from S. America, Africa, India, Asia. While Natural Flow Direct calls itself the“home of Fair Trade Percussion Instruments & Djembe Drums.” Or try eshop Africa; One world is not Enough; Orchard Trading: Siesta Crafts; and Sunlover
See you for tomorrow’s challenge: Wine
Alex
