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On a Kenya mission
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20-02-2008
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The band has featured honourably on an African Union mission to Kenya.
A recording of the band was played when Kofi Annan conducted a morning prayer in Nairobi on February 19, before negotiotions about the serious situation in Kenya.
The tune featured was Kofi Annan's Prayer for Peace written by H.E. Ambassador Hans Corell and recorded by pipers of the 1st Royal Engineers, Sweden.
"Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation
H.E. Kofi Annan’s Prayer on 19 February 2008
As in the past, we should commence our meeting with a prayer. I believe it falls to me to say the prayer this morning. I will do so by playing a hymn, composed by Hans Corell, who joined my team here in Nairobi last week. When he left the position as United Nations Legal Counsel in March 2004, he presented me with this hymn as a farewell gift, explaining its title – Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Prayer for Peace – with these words:
'At one point, Mr. Secretary-General, when we were engaged in a difficult and politically perilous task, you said to me: It often helps to pray! I recalled that moment some time ago and thought: maybe I should give the Secretary-General a prayer! And so, I have written a prayer.
But this prayer has no words. It is a piece of music that hopefully can be understood by all. And those who listen would be free to add in their minds in any language words of their own. I know that the composition is a very humble contribution to music. But so should a prayer be humble.'
[Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Prayer for Peace – available at http://www.havc.se – is tuned in. When the music fades out:]
We read from the National Anthem of Kenya:
Natujenge taifa letu
Ee, ndio wajibu wetu
Kenya istahili heshima
Tuungane mikono
Let all with one accord
In common bond united
Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya
Lord, may you make the parties to this Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation realise the seriousness of the situation and see that they have an obligation to find, in the interest of all people of Kenya, this one accord. And may you lead them that they may unite in a common bond not only to build their nation together but now also to bring their nation together. Amen"
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