In 1993 I was given a call by Chris Smallwood, a man who has ‘endured’ as one of my greatest friends. Chris would refer to himself as 'an amateur' saxophone player who had the grand idea of touring through East Africa, playing music with a band, and learning from the locals all about their needs in regard to water and sanitation. 

Chris showed me the World Health Organization's report on human waste that made it clear that, without access to clean water and sanitation, people are trapped in a downward spiral of disease and poverty. Lack of access to this most basic of human needs is the biggest cause of death in the human world. Although we read around the subject of eco-loos and wells, we wanted to gain real insights into the social and geographical issues surrounding this taboo subject... 

We became increasingly aware that the subject of human waste was problematic, even on the fundamental level of being able to talk about it. Chris thought that playing music wherever we went might open doors, hearts and minds in Africa so that the subject could be discussed more easily.

He was right – he just lacked a band – that’s where I came in. 

I had always wanted to travel to Africa but I needed a good reason. My great musician friends, Oren Marshall (tuba) and Steve Noble (drums), did not need much persuading to make the trip of a lifetime.

Under the banner of Water-Aid we drove two vehicles donated by Landrover from Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town.

Over a period of 10 weeks we visited 9 East African countries, setting up our concerts each day and meeting the people of rural and urban areas to talk about their water and sanitation needs. We learned a lot and made many friends. 

Back in UK we created the company Poo-Productions (and later Poop-Creative in 2009) to use Music, Comedy, Theatre and Animation to raise awareness and funds for the groups we had now made strong links with.

During that trip we met the Moçambiquan NGO Estamos, whose work was the building of hundreds of water and sanitation projects up and down the country, from Lichinga to Maputu. 

Estamos also functioned as a band of musicians called 'Massukos', the country's most beloved band.

Our band ‘Empty Boat’ organized for 'Massukos' to come to UK to record and produce an album, ‘Bumping’, do various concerts (including Womad and the G8) and make appearances on radio and TV.

We returned to Moçambique in 2005 to make a documentary about 'Massukos', accompanying them on their nationwide tour entitled 'Lave As Mãos' ('Wash Your Hands').

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We continue to work with Estamos and Massukos on creative and social projects.

In 2015, out of the blue, I went to Kenya – probably because one of my absolute favourite vinyl records was the traditional Kenyan music album ‘Luo Roots’.

I had one contact – a woman called Martina Lordan who was helping to raise funds for a school in a slum area of Nairobi called Mukuru.

After meeting Enoch and Edith, the directors of the school, I began raising funds and forging links with students through concerts and events to support their growing school.

I have been back to Kenya four more times since 2015 and travelled around the country visiting and making connections with several other schools, both primary and secondary, an orphanage, many churches and families and a youth football team. I was able to take with me musical instruments (flutes and clarinets donated by individuals and music schools I work with in the UK) to give to the various schools and football jerseys for the youth team. 
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My friends and I have also been able to support one particular family, the Nyamamu's, who I witnessed fall into destitution over my several visits to Kenya.

Our personal financial intervention enabled, not only that the children Daisy and Darrell were able to return to school, but also that the family were able to pay food and medical bills whilst setting up a sustainable business to help lift themselves out of poverty.
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