Kenya

"WE ARE THE DRUMS -Africa 2015 news"

'We are the Drums'
.Above left:, UNDP Deputy Representative, Nardos Bekele-Thomas and UNDP goodwill ambassador, and KORA award winner Achieng Abura, presenting "We are the Drums" at Maison Francaise, Nairobi.

In Kenya, UNDP goodwill ambassador, and KORA award winner Achieng Abura, presented "We are the Drums" . She premiered it in the country's capital Nairobi during a concert organized by French Cultural centre.The centre was also launching a FM station Radio France International as part of their communication strategy. Also at the event was UNDP Deputy Representative, Nardos Bekele-Thomas.

Eighteen top African musicians joined forces to compose and perform a song to spark action against poverty and HIV/AIDS in their region. The song was then launched in Kenya and several in African countries is entitled "We are the Drums", is part of Africa 2015 , an initiative to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The lyrics, sung by Achieng in Swahili, invite people to stop being "victims of war, victims of poverty, victims of hunger", and to take individual responsibility to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS so that the 2015 generation will not be affected by the disease. The artists call on each person in Africa to "act as a tam-tam drum", passing the message on to those who have not yet heard it.

The MDGs were adopted in 2000 by all the governments. They cover eight major commitments to be achieved by 2015, including halving poverty and hunger and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, and ensuring that all children have access to full primary education.

"For once we're doing something together, to make our work as artists much more noble,"explained Achieng. "We decided that after the song, over the next 13 years, we want to make use of every possibility available to us to pass on these messages: record the songs together first, then, if necessary, go to primary schools, secondary schools and barracks, to meet young people, parents, the authorities …"

Nowhere else in the world is attainment of the Goals so important and so urgent as it is in Africa. Life expectancy, per capita income and the level of education have plummeted in many African countries, and a number of fatal diseases are far from being under control. Every other person in the sub-Saharan region of Africa lives on less than one US dollar a day. Of the world's 40 million HIV-positive people, about 30 million are African. Communities in Africa are already struggling to cope with the 11 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. By 2015, that number will have risen to 40 million.

Africa 2015, launched by UNDP and several other United Nations agencies two years ago, focuses first on poverty and HIV/AIDS. It is a wide-ranging, movement that seeks to mobilize Africans to intensify on-going efforts to achieve the MDGs and to give rise to new initiatives. The musical artists involved in "We are the drums" are adding their voices to the continuing efforts of sports figures, youth and writers to support Africa 2015.

The Africa 2015 pledge

The fact that every individual - every man, woman or child, no matter what their place in society - as well as companies, municipalities and other entities can help achieve the HIV/AIDS goal is backed up by the "Africa 2015 pledge". Through the pledge, individuals promise "to protect themselves and to protect others from HIV/AIDS under all circumstances". The pledge will also represent a way to help eliminate silence, shame, stigma and superstition, all of which conspire to promote the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Though essentially of symbolic value, signing the pledge provides an opportunity for everyone to think about their own behaviour, to learn about HIV-AIDS, and to express a will to take responsibility for themselves and for Africa's future.