Lupus awareness concert on the cards
Local songstress Gaone ‘Gee’ Ditirafalo will join the world in commemorating and raising awareness about Lupus on May 22, 2022 at Lemepe Lodge in Molepolole. The annual concert, which is on its second anniversary, will begin at 2pm.
The event will be edutainment filled with poetry, drama, music and education on Lupus. In an interview with Arts & Culture, Gaone Gee as Ditifalo is known in the music industry, said she is a Lupus survivor. Lupus is a chronic (longterm) disease that causes inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It is a rare chronic condition, which affects any part of the body be it the brain, joints, kidneys or the skin called Lupus. She explained that she was diagnosed with the disease in 2018 when her joints were affected. “I was bound to a wheel chair for six months and later used a walking frame, two crutches and now I am using one crutch. This condition never stopped me from achieving my goals even as a performer. I have been releasing music, performing at big events like Taste of Mokwena, Molepolole Market Day and International Women Day at the main kgotla in Molepolole,” she said.
She added that it was her passion to raise awareness about the disease because a lot of people did not know about it. She explained that she too did not know about it until she was diagnosed with it. Gaone Gee also pointed out that Lupus was a very challenging disease, which could affect emotions and lead to depression or even suicide therefore her decision to use her life experience to motivate those struggling to live through it. She said she had her first Annual Lupus awareness concert at the same venue last year May. As a way of marketing the event, she has been going to radio and television stations to try and spread the information. Gaone Gee is the winner of the Mulher Forte African Literature awards 2021 under the category of Best Traditional Contemporary.
Local artistes that will perform at the event are Mmurubele Traditional group, Naomi Tes, Mc Theo, Kitso Selato, House of the Uncommon and Gaone Gee.
Tickets cost P100 and there is no VIP.