African Union Music Group Strives to Promote Panafrican Values and Popularise the Image of the Union

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January 28, 2018

NOTE TO EDITORS/30th AU SUMMIT

African Union Music Group Strives to Promote Panafrican Values and Popularise the Image of the Union

“I am African, I am the African Union” – AU slogan, for the Pride of being African

Addis Ababa, 27 January 2018 - The African Union Music Group (AUMG) was created in 2012 by the staffs of the AU Commission with the view to use songs and lyrics to convey the messages of the African Union Leadership as well as the vision and missions of the AU to the African Citizens. AU officials and staffs in general who are passionate of music, periodically come together with the sole purpose of entertaining the crowd using musical tunes that speaks to the commitment of the African Leaders and Decision Makers, to improve the living conditions of their population, by enhancing development in the continent.

The AUMG members also strives to touch the hearts and minds of the African populace, so that they can claim ownership of their Continental Organisation and actively take part in the implementation of the AU Summit Declarations and Decisions to make Africa a better place to live….” The Africa We Want”.

The messages of the African Union Music Group are aimed at promoting the image of the AU, attract the interest of the diverse stakeholders and push for the Africa Agenda 2063 and its First Ten Year Implementation Plan. It is immortalizing the panafrican ideals of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) created on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, whose 50th anniversary was celebrated on 25 May 2013 at the African Union Headquarters and observed all over the continent by AU Member States and the Diaspora.

The AUMG has gained continental recognition through its piercing blunt and touching songs during the organizations of major African Union events, including the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Their performance goes beyond mere entertainment to speaking loud and clear messages touching the souls of listeners so that they can identify themselves with the Union irrespective of their age, sex and class groups in the society.

The Group adapt their songs to feature the flagship projects of the African Union and the themes adopted every year by the AU Summit so as to sensitize the population and raise awareness on the need for all Africans to join hands in the efforts to help advance the development agenda of the Continent.

Worth noting that, the theme of the year 2018 is: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”. The AUMG is aware of the role music and songs play to get the African citizens fully concerned about the devastating effect of “Corruption” in the continent, so that together we can combat this flaw to increase opportunities for Africa to occupy its rightful position as a key player in the world arena.

Worth recalling that, the AUMG started off with 12 members and today it has about 30 staff members of the AU Commission, representing the five (5) regions of Africa. This music group has reproduced a vocal sound of the AU anthem, symbols, vision and mission popular and visible to all Africans.

AU Symbols and Anthem

Description of the AU Emblem

• The palm leaves shooting up on either side of the outer circle stand for peace.
• The gold circle again symbolizes Africa's wealth and bright future.
• The green circle again stands for African hopes and aspirations.
• The plain map of Africa without boundaries in the inner circle signifies African unity.
• The small interlocking red rings at base of the Emblem stand for African solidarity and the blood shed for Liberation of Africa.

AU Flag

AU Anthem

Let us all unite and celebrate together
The victories won for our liberation
Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together
To defend our liberty and unity

O chers fils et filles de l´Afrique
Chairs du soleil, chairs du ciel
Faisons de l´Afrique l´arbre de vie

Let us all unite and sing together
To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny
Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together
For lasting peace and justice on earth

Ó filhos e filhas de Africa
Essência do sol, essência do céu
Façamos de África árvore da vida

Let us all unite and toil together
To give the best we have to Africa
The cradle of mankind and fount of culture
Our pride and hope at break of dawn

Meanwhile, the AUMG operates through voluntary contributions from various Diplomatic Missions and/or International Organizations that request it when needed. It is led by four (4) of its members: Mr. Emanuel Shimbidi, Music Leader; assisted by Mr. Francis Kyalo, pianist; Ms. Hilina Fekadu, violinist; and Ms. Mbaidene Trinite, Head of the Secretariat.

When it was created, the AUMP rearranged AU's anthem, from the instrumental to vocal/SATB version by singing it in the AU four working languages, (French, English, Arabic and Portuguese). It then went ahead and composed the following songs for the African Union:

1. I am African, I am the African Union (initiated on the basis of the slogan of the fiftieth anniversary of the OAU/AU in 2013; in French and in English);
2. Africa arise (based on the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and various annual themes and key messages from the AU in the AU 4 working languages);
3. My motherland, Africa (based on Pan-Africanist ideals in English and French);
4. Mama Africa (written in homage of the First ever woman to have occupied the position of Chairperson of the AUC since its creation in 1963, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. This song was performed during the handing over ceremony of the outgoing AUC Chairperson to H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the current Chairperson of the AU Commission).

Currently, the group is planning to professionally record its real pan-African songs, on the one hand and be able to maintain the group in a sufficient capacity to carry out its task of conveying important messages from the AU leadership to all sons and daughters of Africa, among others.

Indeed it is often said about Africans: "When we mourn we sing, when we celebrate we sing and when we mobilize we sing”.

Media Contact:

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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