Twaya Sanudi’s ‘rescue’ campaign raises K460 000

A fundraising campaign to bring back home veteran actor ‘Baba’ Twaya Sanudi, reported to be living a miserable life in South Africa, has raised £495 (about K472 000) in a space of a week.

The campaign is being conducted on www.indiegogo.com.

As at 11:49am yesterday, the campaign had 18 backers who had raised the money, about 66 percent of the targeted £750 (about K716 000).

The campaign’s leader Kate Stafford—who is Bilimankhwe International Theatre artistic director—said in an interview that she was impressed with the response to the campaign.

“Just to update you, the international fundraising campaign to help Baba is taking off. I have raised £495 so far and hope for more,” she said.

With the motto Help Baba Get Back On His Feet appearing on the site, the campaign is raising money to support Sanudi, whom Stafford described as friend, mentor and fellow artist, out of the tough time he has fallen in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“We would like to raise enough to bring him home to his family and friends in Malawi and get him the help that he needs to re-start his life,” she said.

Nine years ago, Sanudi used to be an active actor back home and acted in African Macbeth, among others.

The actor is said to be struggling to cope with life as he is said to be sleeping rough in a park in Johannesburg and that he is in a fragile mental health.

Commenting on the initiative, actor Mphundu Mjumira said Sanudi needs both financial and emotional help.

“Personally, I would like to thank Kate for taking up the challenge to fundraise for Baba Twaya who is our mentor. But he also needs our prayers and emotional support because stories surrounding his life in South Africa have it that he is facing mental challenges,” he said.