One of the Sarakasi Drummers at the UNON commemoration
At least three hundred people participated in the United Nations Office in Nairobi's (UNON) commemoration of both the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nairobi organized the event which was held on 25 March 2009.
The event got underway with 6 drummers, from a community group called Sarakasi Drummers, beating the drums in the main lobby of UNON headquarters. With the area thronging with students and staff members, and pulsating with the sounds of the drumming, the Chief of the Information and Communication Technology Section explained the meaning of the drumming and what it represented on this solemn day. He was followed by United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Director of Communication and Public Information, who called for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of slavery and then read the Secretary-General’s message.
The audience cheered loudly when they were treated to the Model UN Secretary-General, Brenda Malowa, reading the UN Secretary General’s message for the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. She was followed by the Deputy Chief of Security at UNON who talked about the difficulties staff faced by working in hazardous places. He also called for the immediate release of all detained staff members so that they could rejoin their families and colleagues.
Throughout the programme, staff and students alike were visibly moved and delighted with the rhythmic sounds generated by the Sarakasi Drummers.