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Imagine being in a heavy metal band, struggling and laboring through your passion, completely limited by your surroundings. A world where heavy metal is your passion, yet you live surrounded by derelict and squalor and your resources dictate your ambitions. Imagine the largest barrier you have to overcome is your geography as well as the misconceptions of your home continent.  This is the life of many who live the reality of heavy metal in Africa. 

It is through music that the world unites. The heavy metal genre understands this well, being a truly global, yet misunderstood phenomenon.  Drawn from those who are unfamiliar, the misunderstood and misjudged consistently deal with the negative associations cast upon them. Metal fans are often accused of Satanism, anarchy, drug use as well as overall knavery. The African continent falls into the same trap of poor judgement. Often seen as dark, and violent, Africa struggles with an identity outside of the continent that is difficult to move on from. Most our ideas of Africa are of the 18th Century explorers who termed Africa the Dark Continent, thus our imaginations of savagery and brutality have perpetuated anything and everything most imagine of the continent. Both heavy metal and Africa have fallen victim to negative stereotypes thus, leading many to not only stay away, but to judge. 

Heavy metal as misunderstood as it may be unites so much of the global population. Under this banner of unity, musicians use metal in Africa to cure the wounds of war as well as to erase the lines of ethnicity and to bring many toward the awareness of fighting diseases. In Kenya, Mozambique and Angola the scars of war and violence are still fresh and greatly impact the lives of many musicians throughout those countries. A generation growing in peace for the first time in these countries using metal as path towards a better future. Heavy metal bands in Botswana have united to promote the prevention of HIV/AIDS through heavy metal music by organizing a metal/rock festival every year on Word AIDS Day to remind all that ignorance is not how this disease will be conquered.  The past in South Africa has been pushed aside through music as a new generation of heavy metal musicians are witnessing the passion of heavy metal sweeping through the veins of many, regardless of color. It is war, disease, famine and race that have caused many in the world to judge as well as fight, but the phenomenal component to heavy metal music in Africa is the realization of the opposite. Heavy metal unites, more than any politician or religions seems to be able to do. The fascinating stories dictated by many in the continent show exactly how this genre acts as a force of positive change.

From the South African Cape Town suburbs, to pirate radio in Madagascar, the deserts of Botswana, as well as the underground outlets of North Africa, heavy metal is proudly listened to and performed by many throughout the 'dark continent'. It is the voice of those who wish for far greater things in Africa, as well as the only outlet for speech shared by many in that part of the world that is divided by war and revolution.  It is the one link that many in the developing world have to the industrialized world. A link that is closer than many may think. 

The money that I would raise will be used to return, not to fund a vacation, but conduct interviews, to observe and to take in first hand the local heavy metal community. While I am writing about 10-15 different countries, my funds will only cover a trip to about 3 so that I may write an adequate chapter or two to submit to prospective publishers, hopefully assisting in further funding. If you do not know much about heavy metal or Africa, Heavy Metal Africa: Life, Passion and Heavy Metal in the Dark Continent is a book that I'm sure you will find entertaining as well as educational. As a passionate metal fan and Africanist, I feel that I must write this book. The stories of those who have an unbelievable talent, yet are restricted by geography, social factors, economic factors and political factors. To tell the stories of the many bands and fans whose life is Heavy Metal Africa. Perhaps, breaking some stereotypes while I'm at it!