Important News on Aisha and Bankole Irungu, exiles from the US

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday November 10, 2002 20:11 by Ryan James - International Support for Aisha and Bankole Irungu ryan_kj at yorku dot ca

Aisha and Bankole Irungu are Africans from the USA, who left that country in 2000 due to racism and political reasons. They are coming to Dublin soon and will need your support. Please contact them and offer what you and/or your organization can.

Peace everyone:

This is an update from Aisha and Bankole Irungu, US citizens who had to leave
the states in 2000 due to racism and political reasons. They're still trying to
settle down in Europe and they need some assistance. Please read on and forward
this around, post it, or help out in any other way you can.

One of the best ways to help out is by buying one of Aisha's CDs or one of
Bankole's books. Aisha is a soul musician. She has three beautiful releases
out: "The Soulful Expression of an African from America," "Hustler's
Revolution," and "I Dream." Bankole's book is a collection of really tight
political commentaries called "ExiledOne." The CDs go for $17 each, the books
go for $10 (in Canadian dollars). Everything is available through me, and all
the money goes to Aisha and Bankole. The funds help them a lot with the travel
expenses and frustrations that come with moving around Europe, trying to set up
legal status in a country.

If you're in Toronto I can get the goods to you in person, if you're elsewhere,
we can do it by mail-order. Those outside of Canada, we can talk to arrange the
best method of payment. Email me.

Thanks a lot,

Ryan
Toronto, Canada

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A MESSAGE FROM BANKOLE:

Peace Everyone:

We are in an emergency situation and need your help. There's a lot of stuff
listed, but if you can read through it and help us in any way you can, we would
be most appreciative!

Over the next month Aisha and I must prepare to leave Sweden and go to yet
another country.

We submitted a work permit application (for Aisha's music) for July and August,
2002 with the Migration Board in Sweden. As of yet, there has been no decision.
Although technically we can remain in the country until there is one it is in
our best interest to leave, as the time for the engagements has passed and any
decision would probably be negative anyway. Also, it is easier to get
permission to work if applying from outside of the country. So this is another
advantage to leaving at this time. We wish to leave safely and without any
problems.

The prospects are good for us to re-enter Sweden, with a teaching work permit
in the Spring or Autumn.

Close to US$4,000.00 or 38.000 kr worth of contracts for teaching and
performances in Stockholm and Jönköping was lost due to the indecision.

We thank all of you who called the Migration Board in support of my (Aisha)
work application. This made a huge difference and has helped us to accomplish
many things despite the obstacles. We thank you for using “the power of 10” to
help us! Bless your hearts!

As of this date we are still without a country and even after almost two years
in Europe unable to work legitimately in any country on the face of the earth.

Still we go on and are not discouraged! We are happy for the support of our
many friends and the things that we have been able to accomplish thus far.
Here’s the most important part: As usual, we need your help:

HOW TO HELP:

We are planning to depart Sweden no later than early December 2002 and of
course we need your assistance locally and globally with funds for travel and
to help us survive in our next country.

Currently, for security reasons, we ask that when contacting us you do so by e-
mail or text-messages. When you text us please don’t forget to leave your name!

Our intention is to travel to Uppsala, Jönköping, Malmö and Göteborg before
leaving by sea ferry (from Göteborg) to the UK where we will stay with friends,
then on to Ireland after some time. You may remember that I suffer
severe ear pain on planes, so flying is not an option. A Swedish activist has
helped us establish some ties in Dublin, Ireland.

We are in need of funds for the following:

1. Funds for travel on the ferry from Sweden to England and transportation
costs within England to our final destination.

2. Funds for luggage that we have picked out to carry enough supplies (CDs,
music and books), clothing and other necessities for 9 months or more. Our
current luggage is very worn and difficult to travel with. We have special,
very large hard case luggage picked out that we need your help with purchasing.

3. Aisha and I need your help with funds or a means to reproduce her CDs &
covers, and The ExiledOne booklet (such as a color copier or printer) so that
we can continue to have an income wherever we are. If you can assist, e-mail me
or bankole [email protected]. This is urgent.

4. Funds for a 1 month’s supply of contact lenses for Aisha. These are
difficult to get without new eye exams in other countries which are costly.

5. Funds for some health supplements (our natural medicines)

6. If you or someone you know can arrange a gig and talk in Göteborg or your
town in Sweden that would be great!

7. If you have not been contacted and are interested in helping with
transportation, lodging, etc, contact me (Bankole) at
[email protected]

8. Outside Sweden, we ask that you purchase on of Aisha CDs, one of my
ExiledOne books or that you simply make a donation to us through Ryan James in
Toronto. (North American contact is Ryan, at [email protected]).

9. For Europe, and the UK, contact us. Contribute!

As we again extend our thanks to you, we ask that you immediately assist us to
gather ourselves for yet another journey in exile.

Many Thanks,

For the Human Rights and Self Determination of African people in America,

And solidarity for the culture and the fight!

Bankole & Aisha.