Namukasa Rose and Connie in Kampala, Uganda

Light & Shadow: A Storyteller’s Journey in Africa is Connie’s powerful tribute to the women she met in Uganda in 2007. It is a stunning blend of storytelling and visual imagery, elevating Power Point to a performance art. It brings together the voices, faces, music and stories of the tragic and triumphant lives of Ugandan women.

A compelling one hour performance for adults and teens, Light & Shadow is offered throughout the year at schools, universities, libraries, community groups and at special events exploring Women’s Studies, diversity, poverty and fair trade. 

To bring Light & Shadow: A Storyteller’s Journey in Africa to your community, contact us for information on fees and available dates.

The Journey

Namuwongo, on the outskirts of Kampala

Connie was invited to come to Africa – to Kampala, Uganda - by BeadforLife, a non-profit helping women lift themselves out of extreme poverty.  The African women have such a love and deep trust for everyone associated with BeadforLife, that Connie was welcomed into their lives as if she were family and she listened to their profound and transformative stories. Many of them are refugees from the horrors and atrocities of civil war in northern Uganda and are dealing with the ravages of AIDS.

 

"Hope is back on me." - Aduni Alice

Click to listen

But through BeadforLife, their lives have changed. Aduni Alice, one of the beaders, told Connie, "Hope is back on me." These women are now making gorgeous beaded jewelry out of recycled paper. They are supporting themselves, their families and extended families through the sale of the necklaces, bracelets and earrings. That circle includes over 2,000 people who have food, shelter and a future.  The jewelry is shipped to America where women are giving ‘bead parties’ to help their Ugandan sisters.  

 

Beaders welcoming Connie at Acholi Quarter

If you would like to be involved, see the beautiful web site www.beadforlife.org where you can purchase jewelry, learn about Fair Trade and host a bead party.  You can also read about the lives of the individual Ugandan beaders and their new Habitat for Humanity Village.

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