42 songstresses come together for peace
Some of the members of 42+ women for peace, is an interfaith organization that has at least one woman from every community found in all the 47 counties. Founded by Ms. Jannete Njeri, the group also empowers women and youth to be agents of peace in the society by encouraging and nurturing an entrepreneurship spirit among women and youth. PHOTO/HUGHOLIN KIMARO
What you need to know:
- Njeri, a gospel artiste leads a group of other artists who were provoked by the events and aftermath of the post-election violence of 2007/8 is now the national chairperson of the group that was formed just before last general elections.
- As mothers they felt they had the power within them to preach peace right from their own homes to the national level.
- Although they sing patriotic songs their music is universally accepted by the society as their vocals and beat are very impressive. Masses were moved and remained quite informed throughout the exercise.
A group of 42 women musicians have come together to spread their message peace across the country.
42+ women for peace, is an interfaith organization that has at least one woman from every community found in all the 47 counties.
Founded by Ms. Jannete Njeri, the group also empowers women and youth to be agents of peace in the society by encouraging and nurturing an entrepreneurship spirit among women and youth.
Njeri, a gospel artiste leads a group of other artistes who were provoked by the events and aftermath of the post-election violence of 2007/8 is the national chairperson of the group that was formed just before last general elections.
At first, their aim was narrowed to preaching peace amongst all the 42 tribes in Kenya but later expanded their agenda and started embarking on a mission to mobilize Kenyans together from all communities to live in peace and inter-community harmony and cohesion, to educate communities on their rights through peace campaigns, seminars, caravans, the importance of peace love and unity.
As mothers they felt they had the power within them to preach peace right from their own homes to the national level.
WARM RECEPTION
They have been warmly received by Kenyans who keep can’t get enough of their music.
Although they sing patriotic songs their music is universally accepted by the society as their vocals and beat are very impressive. Masses were moved and remained quite informed throughout the exercise.
“We went round the whole country, under the sponsorship of IEBC to conduct voter education,” Jannete says.
They have performed numerous national functions culminating in their performance at the Kenya@50 celebrations. Wher they performed their song ‘Happy Birthday Kenya’.
It was in this same year that the group recorded their two albums 'Twataka Peace' (2012), five songs and 'Wakenya Tupendane' (2013) which has six songs though they have recorded three only due to financial constraints they were experiencing then.
The group hopes that a good Samaritan will soon come up and assist them in finishing recording the rest of their songs and also their VCDs. In the meantime the group remains committed to singing their peace message.
“We shall continue preaching peace and discourage cheap politics and tribalism which are vices that for a long time divided us instead of uniting us,” Jannete says
