My name is Jesse Bernstein and I’m the director of the MOFAYA documentary. The contributions from this Indiegogo campaign will allow us and a small production crew to visit the Congo, where Mermans' story both begins, and (spoiler alert) comes full circle: Mermans would like to return to the Congo to build a music school for children. 

For the two week shoot, I have budgeted for Mermans, myself, and three crew members.  Round trip transportation to Africa, accommodations in Kinshasa and Luanda, and three meals a day totals $7k per person. I have added an additional $15k to our budget for reimbursing locals for allowing us to film in their neighborhoods.  If we are only able to raise a fraction of this money through this Indiegogo campaign, Mermans and I would still be able to make the trip to the Congo – but it would only be he and I.  However, if we exceed our fundraising goal, the additional funds will be used to purchase musical instruments for the school.

Mermans' story is awe-inspiring. After his father and brother were killed by corrupt armed forces, Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo left his home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with nothing more than a guitar and a small bag. Traveling through war-torn Africa without papers or a passport, the odds were stacked against him.  

Mermans successfully smuggled himself across African borders, with music as his guide and his ammunition.  He was eventually discovered by a music producer from Los Angeles while performing at the world-renown Mama Africa in Cape Town. The music producer was none other than Mark Johnson, the founder of Playing for Change – a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. 

As the lead singer of the Playing for Change band, Mermans has traveled the world and performed in over 25 countries on an O-1 Visa. An O-1 Visa is reserved for people who display an extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business or athletics. 

I met Mermans in 2013 when I moved to Venice Beach. Fortunately, my next door neighbor was Mark Johnson. Over the years, I have become like family with Mark, Mermans and the entire Playing for Change organization. When Mermans received the news he was granted a Green Card into the United States, Mermans and I, and my dog, Scout, were returning from a beach workout. With the bright, California sun shining down on us, we stood in silence. It was as if, for that moment, the world had stopped spinning on its axis.  This was when I realized we needed to share Mermans’ story with the world. 

After I drafted a treatment and filmed a video teaser, Playing for Change provided the initial seed money for me to visit South Africa with Mermans to begin shooting a documentary on his life. Cape Town is where Mermans lived with his three daughters, his son and his wife. The initial plan was to focus on Cape Town, and film Mermans’ family as they packed their belongings and moved to America.    

But the documentary quickly evolved into something much more powerful and far-reaching: In addition to the extraordinary story of African Immigrants into America, now that Mermans has achieved international musical acclaim, he would like to give back to the country that has given him so much by building a music school in the Congo. 

But please know, if you can’t contribute, that doesn’t mean you can’t help. Let’s get the word out and make some noise about the MOFAYA documentary. Please share the link to our fundraising campaign with your friends and family. Also, don’t forget to use the Indiegogo share tools. Thank you so much for your support!

It means the world to us.