UNESCO - Jean Serge Essous Designated UNESCO Artist for Peace

10-10-2006 3:00 pm Congolese Musician Jean Serge Essous will be designated UNESCO Artist for Peace by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, at a ceremony at the Organization’s Headquarters on 11 October. The President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, on an official visit to UNESCO on the occasion of the 165th session of the Executive Board, will attend the ceremony (4.15 p.m., Foyer des Conference).

Congolese personalities, among them the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Jean-Claude Gakosso, will also attend the event, as will Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango, who is himself a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Saxophonist Jean Serge Essous is a cofounder of the band “Bantous de la Capital,” in Brazzaville, and of the Afrika Team in Paris. He was designated UNESCO Artist for Peace in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of the ideals of UNESCO through his artistic activities.

UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO’s message. Their ranks include: actress Patricia Velasquez (Venezuela) musician Gilberto Gil (who is currently Culture Minister of Brazil), composer Missa Johnouchi (Japan); soprano Sumi Jo (Republic of Korea), singer and Gypsy Kings founder Chico Bouchikhi (France), author Navarre Scott Momaday (USA), and conductor Valery Gergiev (Russia).

Internet Site

Source	Media Advisory N°2006-55
Author(s)	UNESCOPRESS