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The United Nations Day Concert 2009: "A Tribute to Peacekeeping"
On October 23rd, 2009, the United Nations celebrated its 64th anniversary with the United Nations Day 2009: “A Tribute to Peacekeeping” concert. The Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations organized the event in partnership with the Culture Project, a
New York City based non-profit that promotes artistic work focused on social justice and civic engagement.
World Music Stars Angelique Kidjo, Lang Lang, John Mclaughlin, Aterciopelados, Emmanuel Jal, Sister Fa, Roberta Flack and others joined together to perform and celebrate the U.N.’s peacekeeping actions. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and President of the 64th UN General Assembly Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki opened with speeches, followed by CNN Anchor Isha Sesay who was the M.C for the event. In between talk and music segments, the event featured extracts from Fisher Stevens’ documentary The War Against War. The film selections offered insight into the demanding challenges that peacekeepers constantly face when they approach populations that were recently victims of armed conflicts.
Roberta Flack started as the first musical act with her intimate, solo piano rendition of Michael Jackson’s “You are Not Alone.” Emmanuel Jal followed with a spoken word piece encapsulating his raw experience as a child soldier. He countered the serious mood with an upbeat tribute to Emma McCune, the volunteer who rescued him from the child military.
Harry Belafonte gave a heartfelt account of the importance of UN’s role on peacekeeping, and then he introduced piano prodigy Lang Lang, who played a classical and popular medley, which demonstrated his technical mastery. The concert continued with a colorful dance performance by Xian Song and Dance Troupe, a tabla and acoustic guitar duo by Salman Ahmad, and guitar virtuoso John Mchlaughlin with a stacked ensemble of Indian musicians.
After more film, guitar legend Nile Rogers took the stage to accompany both Senegalese rap sensation, Sister Fa, and Angelique Kidjo who instantly made a warm connection with the audience. The final band, Aterciopelados from Colombia, delivered a high energy song called Baracunatana, and then invited all of the previous performers to join them onstage to perform “Cancion Protesta”. The song was the perfect end to the evening by uniting some of the world’s best artistic talent with a song with whose lyrics discuss sensitive global issues. The artists together on stage presented a powerful image of global cooperation and harmony, and demonstrated the dignified work of a group of people who have dedicated their lives to the noblest of all causes: world peace.
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