Namibian musicians join global campaign to save wildlife

Endangered comprises music, art and film seeking to raise funds for organisations that protect endangered species and their habitats. The campaign produces media and goes on crowdfunding drives with prints of fine art featuring the animals that partner organisations protect.

“I grew up as a farm boy and it’s important that not only politicians but also artists speak about matters of how to educate our people on conservation,” Elemotho told Music In Africa. “I am very excited to be speaking up about our future and that of these beautiful ancient animals. Music for me has always been an important outlet and a direct link to people’s hearts and minds, when academia sometimes fails to reach the streets.”

The organisers of Endangered say only 7 000 cheetahs remain in the wild today. “Climate change is destroying our planet and the biodiversity essential to life,” they said. “If we address the climate but lose biodiversity, we’ve failed.

“Harnessing the power of media, fine art and crowdfunding can help protect and support the world’s most endangered species. The first content in the Endangered series is currently in production and will officially launch in January 2021. Campaigns for specific causes will roll out every couple of months from countries all over the world.”

Endangered was founded by Tom Eddington, a social entrepreneur, philanthropist and owner of the Untitled Editions art gallery in Taos, New Mexico. In his earlier business career, Eddington partnered with US artist Kimberly Webber, a passionate advocate for animals and the environment, who has dedicated 17 paintings to the initiative. Webber’s work has been displayed at galleries around the world. Her Pia Mater painting was presented to Pope Francis at the Vatican for his work on climate change. Her 4.5m painting Ocean’s Call is currently exhibited at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco.

Read more about the campaign here.