United Nations Radio

Photo Slideshow: A Tribute to Peacekeeping 2009

View our photo gallery of peacekeepers and the UN Day concert

This is United Nations Radio in New York. Hello, I am Diane Bailey with a special programme today devoted to peacekeeping. At our United Nations Day celebration here in New York, a concert to honour peacekeepers took place, and the General Assembly hall echoed with music and inspiration from artists and musicians from around the world. UN Radio's Beng Poblete-Enriquez prepared these excerpts from that concert. Master of ceremonies was Isha Sesay, anchor and reporter for CNN International. Let's start with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Enjoy:

MUSIC: UP, Hold under

SG: Happy United Nations Day!

SFX Applause

SG: At this very minute, more than 115,000 men and women are serving in the world's most troubled areas doing their part for peace, stability and security. Tonight is their night.

SFX Applause

Hello, we have an incredible line of gifted artists from all around the globe in tribute to UN peacekeeping. Our next musical guest was drafted into the chaos and horror of war as a child soldier in Africa. Ladies and gentlemen, Emmanuel Jal:

MUSIC: Emmanuel Jal

JAL: I was a bitter young man. I hated Muslims and I wanted to kill as many Muslims as possible because I didn't know what was the cause of the war but what education has done for me now is I am able to discover the truth, that when I discover the truth, I was able to forgive and now I am trying to be a peacemaker. So...

MUSIC: Emmanuel Jal cross fade with music by Harry Belafonte

MC: Now, this singer brought the rhythms and the sounds of the Caribbean to the United States and he is now serving as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Mr. Harry Belafonte everyone.

BELAFONTE: A truly remarkable job that the United Nations has done through all these years. If you speak to millions of people around the world who are starving, who are dying, you'd understand that nowhere is that work more exemplified than the work that is done by the men and women we celebrate here tonight - United Nations peacekeepers.

Applause

Some of you may ask, why am I not singing. Unfortunately, that is no longer in my menu. But just so that the evening will not be a total loss, let me end by saying... DEO, DEO, Here I come and I want to go home....

Applause

MUSIC: LANG-LANG

BELAFONTE: Let me now fulfill a task that gives me enormous pleasure. He serves not only the world of culture but he serves the cause for which we all work here at the United Nations and in particular in UNICEF. Ladies and gentlemen, LANG-LANG

MUSIC: LANG-LANG

LANG-LANG: It's such a great honor for me to be here. As a musician, we are trying to communicate and to bring music to a different level which is understanding and I hope that music's power can cross the barriers and as a UNICEF ambassador for me it's probably the best experience happened in my life to see wonderful kids but whose having lots of problems in their native country and to bring music and to see how happy they are after hearing music:

MUSIC: LANG-LANG UP

MC: And now I'd like you to welcome two musicians and activists Pakistani guitarist Salman Ahmad who's also a goodwill ambassador for UNAIDS and acclaimed Indian tabla player Samir Chatterjee. Enjoy.

MUSIC: Salman Ahmad

AHMAD: Jalal ad-Din Rumi said if you follow the music, it will show you the way, show you the way to co-existence. There's a road which connects from Calcutta, threads its way through India into my country Pakistan going all the way to Kabul in Afghanistan. It's called the Grand Trunk Road. And many wandering spirits have traveled back and forth over the centuries. They've been following the music and those who follow the music, the way is shown to them. So I am hoping that what Samir Jee and I present tonight will connect you through the heart and you will see the way as well to coexistence.

MUSIC: Salman Ahmad cross fade with tabla music

MC: Tonight, legendary British jazz musician guitarist John McLaughlin will play with his long time collaborator and friend Grammy award winning tabla master Zahir Hussain. Together, they represent one of the most influential and ground breaking east-west musical fusions. They bridge musical cultures and traditions. Playing with them from India - Selvaganesh on percussion, Shrinivas on electric mandolin, and vocalist Shankhar Mahadevan - known collectively as Shakti, I give you Shakti.

MUSIC: SHAKTI

MCLAUGHLIN: We're very honoured and privileged to be here this evening with you all for this wonderful event and just to say that from a musician's point of view I think I can speak for all of us. Without inspiration, we are pretty much dead and inspiration can be found in a number of places, beautiful moonlight on the sea or mountain or nature, but the deepest and most profound inspiration comes from seeing human beings who really inspire us and I think this is the reason why we're here tonight that the Blue Helmets embody these qualities of giving that are truly inspiring. I'm very proud and honoured to do them what honor I can. And that said, let me invite the greatest singer I know - Shankhar Mahadevan.

MUSIC: Shankhar Mahadevan

MC: Now, it is an honour to welcome this music industry legend. He's written hit songs, he's produced mega hits, he's worked with the likes of Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Madonna, Ladies and gentlemen, our UN Day concert music director, Mr. Nile Rogers.

MUSIC: ANGELIQUE KIDJO

ROGERS: Beninese vocalist and Grammy award winning Angelique Kidjo

MUSIC: up

ROGERS: Yes, (laughter) I know, she's fantastic. She's like my little sister with a big voice. Anyway, she uses soulful vocals and blends them with an infectious beat to create a sound that is all her own. As the spokesperson for Give the Gift of life campaign, she has made great strides to improve the health and well being of women and children all over Africa. We are proud to have her with us tonight. Please give it up for the incomparable - Angelique Kidjo!

MUSIC: ANGELIQUE KIDJO

KIDJO: When it comes to save lives and to keep some peace for the children and the women in countries where there are war we need peacekeepers. I was in Haiti in May with UNICEF with a campaign where we're trying to eliminate tetanus and I can tell you, that those peacekeepers make me feel very safe. Once you've been to a war zone, you understand the importance of the peacekeepers. Without peacekeepers there's no education, there's no health programme, there's no development, there's nothing. So today I am so honoured to be able to give back a little bit for what they've done in Haiti by keeping me safe.

MUSIC: ANGELIQUE KIDJO

NARRATOR: Our special programme for Christmas Day by UN Radio's Beng Poblete-Enriquez. We hope you've enjoyed today's offering. Happy holidays!
From all of us here at United Nations Radio, a wish for peace in the New Year.

duration: 14'00"