SAVE AFRICA CONCERTS (SAC)
SAC-AIDS PROJECT INITIATIVE
ENDORSED BY AFRICAN AMBASSADORS & UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS
The SAVE AFRICA CONCERTS (SAC) FOUNDATION announced the launching of its SAC-AIDS Project during a historical press conference held March 28, 2001, at the New York Helmsley Hotel. Ambassadors from Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and representatives from the United Nations Secretary Generals Office, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Organization of African Unity, and the Organization of Islamic Councils (GIG), expressed the need for a comprehensive continental HIV/Aids Educational and Prevention Program and commended the dedication of organizations such as the SAVE AFRICA CONCERTS (SAC) FOUNDATION for its commitment to eradicating the HIV/AIDS Pandemic raging throughout Africa.
Hardy Jimbes, President of the SAC FOUNDATION, has spearheaded the SAC-AIDS Project, an intensive educational, public awareness and prevention campaign, incorporating education, music and entertainment. A Nigerian artist, producer and promoter presently living in the United States, Mr. Jimbes has seen first-hand the devastating toll the HIV-Aids pandemic has taken on the continent of Africa, especially on the youth population between the ages of 13 and 30. Speaking before a diverse audience of organizational representatives, activists, and artists, Hardy Jimbes stated that “The SAC FOUNDATION utilizes music and entertainment as a health education vehicle for communicating to the target population between the ages of 13 and 30 years. Recording artists in the United States have a strong influence on this ‘at risk’ target group in Africa as well as with young people throughout the world. With the assistance of these artists, the Foundation’s primary focus will be to affect African youth within this age range, with a particular focus on sub-Sahara youth. The SAC-AIDS Project intends to launch its satellite project in Nigeria, November 2001 with subsequent project site openings in targeted sub-Sahara countries.
In his address HE. Chief Arthur C. I. Mbanefo, Ambassador/Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations extended greetings and best wishes from the government and people of Nigeria to the SAC FOUNDATION as it prepares to launch the SAC-AIDS Project in Nigeria. Referring to the African Development Forum in Addis Ababa, December 2000, in which a collective commitment was made to confront HIV/Aids as the continent’s biggest development challenge, Ambassador Mbanefo indicated that “the coming together of African leaders for a concerted African effort to fight the disease is the realization that the leadership for this struggle must be provided by Africans themselves.” Ambassador Mbanefo further stressed that “the fight against Aids cannot be won by governments alone, and that Organizations such as the SAC Foundation, carrying out such projects as SAC-AIDS in Africa will provide the necessary impetus in assisting governments achieve the desired objectives.
Honorable Patrick Hayford of the United Nations Secretary Generals Office spoke of H.E. Kofi A. Annan’s, Secretary General of the United Nations, strong commitment “to all the efforts that are on the way now to tackle this terrible epidemic affecting the whole world, but particularly affecting Africa.” He indicated that the Office of the Secretary General is particularly grateful to see that the SAC-AIDS initiative is going to focus on a combination of entertainment and education strategies to raise consciousness, and make people more aware of the scale of the problem and the need to tackle it.” Referring to a similar strategy incorporated by the Ugandan government, Hon. Hayford emphasized the media, entertainment and music industry’s impact as a major mechanism through which consciousness can be raised.
Honorable Dr. Achola Bala Okeyo of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) commended the SAC FOUNDATION for its focus on targeting ages 13-30, citing that this age group is “the single largest most affected group in the region.” Referring to the large number of young people that are dying in the region, Hon. Okeyo stressed that the disease and the infection have to be stopped and that such “a major effort is going to be necessary to make development happen.”
Professor Ilo Olaniyan of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) stressed that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is affecting Africa’s working population and is threatening the development of the continent and its future. Speaking of the OAU’s emphasis for collaborative efforts with international organizations, Professor Olaniyan indicated that the OAU is investigating ways to collaborate with governments to help those affected with HIV/AIDS, and to improve Africa’s health sector.
HE. Daudi Nwakawago, Ambassador/Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations pointed out that “today when the struggle is so acute there is a schism between the Diaspora and the motherland.” Imploring that “we need to solve this contradiction,” Ambassador Nwakawago applauded the SAC FOUNDATION for moving in the right direction in having an impact in solving this contradiction. He further stressed that “today’s challenge is to link up with a new crop of entertainment people so that the message that goes across to the African people who love music, who love poetry should be very clear against this particular enemy - HIV/AIDS.” He encouraged musicians to do the necessary “research on how best to entertain as well as educate.
HE. Mutabola, Ambassador/Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations stressed the need to dispel the myths and misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and the reality of incorporating prevention measures into African culture, and applauded the efforts of the SAC-AlDS Project to address such issues.
HE. Nokbtar Lanani, Ambassador/Representative of Organization of Islamic Councils (OIC) to the United Nations questioned the International Community’s perception of “the problem of AIDS as an African problem,” stressing that “it is a Mankind Problem.” Ambassador Lanani further implored that all Secretary General’s within the regions, sub-regions and inter-regional organizations with NATO, the Arab League, OIC and the OAU, expand its coordination of pragmatic strategies concerning peace keeping issues to include HIV/AIDS as an integral part of the discussion.
The SAC-AIDS Project will spearhead its program of coordinated action, education and advocacy through its “EDU-TAINMENT Component” Mobilizing a Brigade of Artists, Poets, Musicians and Entertainers (SAC-AIDS Brigade), a series of EDU-TAINMENT Concerts and Events will take place during the summer of 2001 in the United States and in Nigeria during August. The SAC FOUNDATION is honored to have as members of the SAC-AIDS Brigade, Reggae Recording Artist, Sister Carol (Black Cinderella), South African South Premier Acappella Group, the Mtaba Thulisa Brothers, Musician and Poet, Kahil-Iksihr Murray, Poetess, Latasha Diggs, and Sirius Satellite Radio Media Personality, Pat McKay. SAC-AIDS Brigade members also include community activists, educators, health care practitioners, organizations, public relations and media specialists. It is expected that SAC-AIDS Brigades will be established throughout Africa and the United States.
