Reviving memories

Mary Wilson may not have gone into the fields with the sweeper herself, but she definitely knows a thing or two about clearing landmines. In her new role as the Mine Action spokesperson for the Humpty Dumpty Institute, the ex-Supreme has been travelling to war torn areas, intent on wielding her celebrity status on behalf of the millions of innocent civilians threatened by dangerous landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) world over.

Her benefit concert in Colombo last week - ‘The Black & White Evening with Mary Wilson of the Supremes’ – succeeded in raising not only awareness and funds, but also revived in many minds pleasurable memories of Motown’s glory days and the incredible appeal of three dewy eyed young American music idols.

Mary Wilson in concert sounded little like Diana Ross and The Supremes. Mary’s seductive purr was a marked contrast to Ross’ light, plaintive sound; fortunately, it detracted little from the potency of the Supreme hits the artist favoured in her lineup. With the ease of long experience, Mary turned her voice into an instrument of wonderful eloquence and over the course of an hour and a half sang old favourites like “Can’t Hurry love”, “Reflections”, “You Keep Me Hangin' On”, “Stop in the Name of Love”, and the iconic “Someday we’ll be together”. An entertainer to the last note, Mary had all the “old teenagers,” in her audience dancing in the aisles by the time her third song was sung.

Guests, who had arrived in tuxedos and pearls, happily shrugged off stifling jackets and starched bows to do exuberant jigs to signature Motown numbers like “Dancing in the Street”. In between tracks, her warm humour, and light banter inspired much laughter.

The evening was organized by The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) in association with ‘One Sri Lanka Foundation’. In the last 18 months HDI has channelled over $4 million dollars into a demining effort in the Jaffna region. Supported by two other organisations – The HALO Trust and Land O’ Lakes – HDI is putting the cleared land to good use by encouraging locals to try their hand at dairy farming.

The NGO has reached out to over 1300 farmers and their families with new, modern techniques intended to increase both the quantity and quality of dairy products produced in the region. The entire proceeds from the concert are to be divided between two organizations - Disabled War Veterans, many of whom have lost limbs to landmines and The Jaffna-Jaipur Centre for Rehabilitation which provides prosthetic limbs to those in need.