2023-11-15 21:23:40
Pacifique Akilimali/Maryam Abu Hassan
Pacific poet Akilimali from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigerian poet and peace activist Maryam Abu Hassan.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping operations, young poets Pacifique Akilimali and Maryam Bukar Hassan collaborated on a poignant poem titled “Peace Begins with Me.”
This poem testifies to the resilience of communities damaged by conflict and the people who strive to help them rebuild.
The video presentation of the poem took place on September 14 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as a prelude to the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated each year on September 21.
Born in the turmoil of the war in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Pacifique today works for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC. For him, peace is only a distant dream, as he grew up in a region that has seen unabated violence for decades.
Maryam, who hails from Nigeria’s conflict-ridden state of Borno, expresses the same sentiment as Pacific, adding that peace encompasses justice, equality and human dignity. His state was the scene of the tragic kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls, the Chibok Girls, by Boko Haram. We still have no news of a large number of them.
The poem they composed resonates around the world, with figures such as actor Michael Douglas and Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram declaiming their verses. The message of the poem is clear: peace is both a collective and individual responsibility.
For Michael Douglas, “peace begins with each of us and, together, we can build a better future for all”.
Climate activist Xiye Bastida captures the essence of this sentiment, emphasizing that our actions today shape our future.
The global commemoration also brought together influential figures such as DJ Cuppy (Nigeria) and the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus who participated in the commemoration ceremony.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN assistant secretary-general for peace operations, praised peacekeepers as ordinary individuals achieving extraordinary results. Their impact is evident in countries moving from conflict to peace, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and East Timor.
As part of a year-long campaign, “Peace Starts with Me” illustrates the transformative power of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Pacific’s personal journey allows us to better understand the importance of maintaining peace. The 1994 Rwandan genocide destabilized the DRC, leading to one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts.
As a child, Pacifique experienced moments of pure terror, such as when the rebels captured him and his father. Fortunately, they were released unharmed. “I remember the arrival of the United Nations Mission in my country,” he recalls, seeing them as harbingers of peace.
Maryam, meanwhile, celebrates the resilience and cultural richness of Borno, a state synonymous with violent extremism. Beyond the dominant narrative of conflict, she sees a community that, against all odds, has found ways to thrive.
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Par:
Kingsley Ighobor
Africa Renewal
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