Dervish and Lunasa to perform in support of Sudan

While the people of the newly autonomous region of South Sudan work toward a peaceful future, a little luck of the Irish can’t hurt.

Dervish and Lunasa, two internationally admired traditional Irish music groups, will team up tonight at the Jefferson Theater for a benefit concert to help Hope for Ariang, an organization that promotes education as a way to achieve lasting stability in the war-weary region.

And Charlottesville music fans who turned out in droves for two previous Stand Up Charlottesville concerts can hear in-demand bands while catching up on the developments since South Sudan’s separation vote became official in January.

“I would love for the community to be more enlightened,” concert organizer Maggie Murphy said. “There are so many issues.

“For me, the planet has become a smaller place for those of us who live in more privileged countries. It’s our big family, basically.

“If the big global family isn’t doing well, we’re not doing well.”

So why is Irish music an appropriate choice?

Murphy sees parallels between the stressors faced by the Sudanese during Africa’s longest-running civil war and those felt by the Irish at different times in their own history. The complicated legacy of colonization, periods of armed strife and hunger can create memories of hardship, anger and determination that can last for generations.

“These Irish musicians come from a place where they know what suffering is about,” Murphy said.

But don’t forget that entertainment is another important part of the evening.

“I would pay twice the $35 just to hear the bands,” Murphy said.

Audience members can expect spirited music from both Dervish and Lunasa, as well as some authentic Irish dancing.

“The dancers will be absolutely amazing,” Murphy said. “They come out on stage, and it really adds a rush of adrenaline.”

Former Congressman Tom Perriello will be the event’s guest speaker. He recently returned from Qatar, where he helped a coalition of groups during peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel representatives.

It can be easy to lose sight of the struggles of the Sudanese in the midst of a chaotic world scene, where the issues can get pushed aside by the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan and the revolutions for democracy in the Middle East.

Proceeds from tonight’s concert will benefit Hope for Ariang, which promotes primary education in South Sudan.

Ariang, a village in South Sudan, is the hometown of organization founder Gabriel Bol Deng. He’d been one of the so-called “Lost Boys” — young, displaced symbols of the civilians’ plight.

As a terrified 10-year-old separated from his family, he escaped as militiamen from the north attacked his village. Deng undertook a harrowing journey to Ethiopia, learned English in a refugee camp and eventually came to the United States.

When Deng returned to his village in 2007 in hopes of finding his family, a film crew for the documentary “Rebuilding Hope” followed his quest and those of two fellow Lost Boys as they tried to make sense of what happened and launch their own grown-up efforts to improve conditions for today’s children.

Murphy said the two previous Stand Up Charlottesville shows stirred enthusiasm to help the people of the Darfur region in Sudan, and she’s confident that people haven’t forgotten how much the Sudanese have endured on their way to a chance at peace and normalcy.

“It’s very moving to see how much people in Charlottesville care,” she said.