January 25, 2005
Bob Marley the symposium
I have just had a briefing on Ethiopia's celebrations of Bob Marley's 60th birthday next week. The briefing included details which, as far as I can tell, have not been made public up to now.
In case you don't know, about 300,000 people from across the world are expected to cram into the capital on Sunday, February 6, for a huge, free concert. Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour are all performing. Very appropriately for this blog, the event is due to take place in Meskel Square.
In the days running up to the concert, there will be a symposium on subjects inspired by Bob Marley's songs in the United Nations base in the centre of Addis. Here are the highlights.
The overall theme 'Africa Unite' is based on Bob Marley's line "Africa Unite, unite for the benefit of your people, unite for it's later than you think".
Day one - Tuesday February 2, will relate to the lyrics of the songs 'War' and 'Exodus' particularly "Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is…abolished, there will be war."
According to the briefing:
Bob Marley's musical rendition of the legendary speech to the United Nations by H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I allows us to focus on Africa's contemporary challenges including tribalism, gender discrimination and disenfranchisement of youth. Additionally, international issues that are clear barriers to African growth and development, such as unfair trade agreements, inadequate debt relief and in some instances, continued support for non-democratic leaders, are all manifestations of colonialisation and the vestiges of slavery and racialised policies. As prophesied, the outcome is war.
The programme, chaired by US actor Danny Glover, includes greetings from: Nana Afua Adobea 1 (Mrs Rita Marley); K.Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the UN's Economic Commission for Africa and President Alpha Oumar Konare, chair of the African Union Commission.
Day two - Wednesday February 3, is based on the songs 'No Woman No Cry' and 'Get Up Stand Up'.
No Woman No Cry, unsurprisingly, will focus on the situation of women in Africa, covering areas ranging from poverty, AIDS and domestic abuse to "the need for girl child education" and "the negative effects of genital mutilation".
According to the briefing:
The complementary song 'Get Up Stand Up' emphasizes the driving force of African women on the front line who refused to accept a fait accompli…The lyrics of the song provide absolute defiance and determination in the face of systematic problems, "sick and tired of the ism schism, you can fool some people some time but you can't fool all the people all the time…get up stand up stand up for your rights…".
The programme is made up of a number of as yet untitled addresses, panels and sessions involving, among others: Professor Michelle Jacobs from the University of Florida; Marie Angelique Savané, chair of the African Peer Review Mechanism (of NEPAD); Dr Debrework Zewdie, director of the World Bank's Global AIDS programme and the writer Maya Angelou.
Day three - Thursday, February 4, is focused on 'Redemption Song' and 'One Love'.
The main theme taken from these songs is youth.
[Redemption Song] emphasises the call for youth to liberate themselves, in spite of all the technological challenges, while encouraging them to reach out and reach forward to their history and their ancestors as a source of strength and guidance. Africa's greatest victory will be its ability to work for and with the youth for her advancement.Ziggy Marley and Angelique Kidjo will give some closing remarks ahead of a mass chant of 'One Love'.
Posted by aheavens at January 25, 2005 4:47 AM