We are the Drums

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Region

Africa, South Asia

Programme Summary

We are the Drums is a song composed by 18 top African musicians in response to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s appeal to combat poverty and promote a HIV/AIDS-free generation. The musicians joined forces to create and perform the song to spark action against poverty and HIV/AIDS in their region as part of the Africa 2015 initiative to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development (MDGs).

Communication Strategies

The lyrics of the song invite people to stop being "victims of war, victims of poverty, victims of hunger", and to take individual responsibility to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS so that the disease will not affect the 2015-generation. 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 song will be followed by an album that-in addition to a rap version of We are the Drums in both English and French and will include about a dozen individual songs from world-renowned artists. The titles will be inspired by the MDGs themselves. The album will include both experienced performers and new talent.

The original music was composed by Manu Dibango and Ndjock, and arranged by Maiga and Dibango. Work on the project was coordinated by Africa Fête, a music production label, under the guidance of Mamadou Konté.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS

Key Points

Africa 2015 was launched by UNDP and several other United Nations agencies two years ago. It focuses poverty and HIV/AIDS. It seeks to mobilise 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.

In the song’s US debut, UNDP Youth Emissary Baaba Maal, a Senegalese musician, presented We are the Drums during UNDP's Annual Poverty Eradication Awards ceremony on October 22 2004.

Under the leadership of Boncana Maiga (Mali), the singers Achien'g Abura (Kenya), Mahmoud Ahmed (Ethiopia), Didier Awadi (Senegal), Chiwoniso (Zimbabwe), Jaojoby Eusebe (Madagascar), Coumba Gawlo Seck (Senegal), Salif Keita (Mali), Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Habib Koité (Mali), Ismaël Lô (Senegal), Cheb Mami (Algeria), Malouma (Mauritania), Meiway (Ivory Coast), Koffi Olomidé (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Saintrick (Congo) and Youssou N'Dour (Senegal) and Maal recorded the song in Dakar and Paris with Manu Dibango (Cameroon) on saxophone and Yves Ndjock (Cameroon) on guitar.