COTE D’IVOIRE / MUSIC FESTIVAL

The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI) recently launched a Music Festival for Peace and Reconciliation in the Abidjan neighborhood of Abobo, which was attended by 5000 people. The event aimed to promote social cohesion and national reconciliation. ONUCI

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:04:40
• Production Date: 6 August 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OPERATIONS IN COTE D'IVOIRE - UNOCI
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS; LAW; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: COTE D'IVOIRE
• MAMS Id: U110806a

Description

STORY: COTE D’IVOIRE / MUSIC FESTIVAL
TRT: 4:40
SOURCE: ONUCI
RESTRICTIONS: UNOCI
LANGUAGES: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 30 JULY 2011, ABOBO, ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE

1. Wide shot, music group of Abobo
2. Med shot, arrival UN Special Representative Y.J. Choi
3. Med shot, population of Abobo
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Y.J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cote d'Ivoire, United Nations:
"I came here to thank you, citizens of Abobo because without you, without your fight, without your suffering, there would be no peace here today in Cote d'Ivoire. You have led the fight and have suffered for four months until we get peace and uphold the people's will."
5. Med shot, traditional chiefs
6. Med shot, UN Police
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Y.J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cote d'Ivoire, United Nations:
"We must exercise tolerance and forgiveness and learn to live together. The event brings us together today is an expression of solidarity and a sign of communion and peace regained. It is also an opportunity to invite you to the tolerance and self-transcendence, provided real national reconciliation."
8. SOUNDEBITE (French) Y.J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cote d'Ivoire, United Nations:
"We must exercise tolerance and forgiveness and learn to live together. The event brings us together today is an expression of solidarity and a sign of communion and peace regained. It is also an opportunity to invite you to the tolerance and self-transcendence, provided real national reconciliation. You agree with me that this country will become what you make of it. You are the example of the entire Cote d'Ivoire together."
9. Wide shot, population
10. SOUNDEBITE (French) Kandia Camara, Minister of Education, Cote d'Ivoire: "Yes! If today we are here in peace, if today we are here in freedom, if now we can go about our business, freely to Abobo, it is thanks to you Mr. Choi, and UNOCI. Mr Choi, you know, we have searched in the dictionary to find a term to find a word to express the deepest part of ourselves, what we think about you, we sought and one little word that we have found it thank you. Mr. Choi, a thousand times thank you.
11. Med shot, delegates
12. Med shot, population
13. SOUNDEBITE (French) Zanga Lou:
“Here in Abobo, we mostly lived in hard times, so today we women we thank Mr Choi lot, because we paid the heaviest price of barbarism that you know."
14. SOUNDEBITE (French) Kane Macouba:
"Reconciliation will be fine, first in home, between neighbor and neighbor, also in the market, but it will be a bit long, because it is not easy to forget the evil we have suffered. But we must be fair play, we must reconcile with oneself.”
15. SOUNDBITE (French) Prisca Hahou, Bassist, Bella Mondo Group:
"I think tonight we are gathered here in order to have peace we are looking for peace is a positive, so we agree with that can bring peace back in Cote d’Ivoire and Africa."
16. SOUNDEBITE (French) Tosiane Aby, Bella Mondo Group:
"I think for peace, every Ivorian must practice it, because without peace, nothing can be done in this country. My brothers and I give together to move forward."
17. Wide shot, Bella Mondo Group performing

Storyline

Last week the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) launched a Music Festival for Peace and Reconciliation in the Abidjan’s Abobo neighbourhood which was affected by the country’s post-election violence earlier this year.

Launching the festival, head of UNOCI Y.J. Choi called the festival “an expression of solidarity and a sign of communion and peace regained” adding that “we must exercise tolerance and forgiveness and learn to live together.”

Abobo, which was President Alassane Ouattara’s stronghold during the country’s political impasse after Presidential elections, was attacked by former President Laurent Gbagbo loyalists.

According to UNOCI, a market in Abobo was attacked killing 25 to 30 people and wounding dozens more in March.

The festival is a part of the UNOCI’s sensitization activities to promote social cohesion and national reconciliation. It was hosted by Choi and Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Education Kandia Camara.

A number of personalities from civil society, traditional leaders and local authorities from Abobo also attended the festival.