12636: News about Boukman Eksperyans (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: lmarks@stjohnjobs.com

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Stephanie Levine or Shirley Menard
Converge Entertainment, Inc.
212-931-9442

LEAD SINGERS OF INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED HAITIAN WORLD MUSIC GROUP, BOUKMAN
EKSPERYANS TAPPED BY WAFUNIF TO BE UNITED NATIONS GOODWILL AMBASSADORS FOR
PEACE

July 29th, 2002 - Lead singers Theodore "Lolo" Beaubrun, Jr. and his wife,
Mimerose "Manze" Pierre Beaubrun, of Haitian World Music group, Boukman
Eksperyans have been named official United Nations Ambassadors for Peace and
Goodwill by the World Association of Former United Nations Internes and
Fellows (WAFUNIF).

This distinguished title of United Nations Goodwill Ambassador is being
bestowed on Lolo and Manze in recognition of their tireless efforts to
promote Love, Peace, Respect and Unity through their music, which has
transcended all cultural barriers.  They have also been asked to spearhead
the creation of WAFUNIF's Culture of Peace Learning Center in Haiti, which
will be a school designed to introduce modern technology to poor countries
around the world.  The school will provide poor, underprivileged children
with computers, books, music and dance programs, and other digitally
enhanced approaches to learning.  The schools are created as part of a
mandate for a Culture of Peace established in the UN General Assembly
resolution 53/25 on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and
Non-Violence for the Children of the World 2001-2010.

WAFUNIF honorees include such eminent personalities as current UN
Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General Dr.
Boutrous-Ghali, His Excellency Mr. Martii Ahtissari, Former President of the
Republic of Finland, The Rt. Honourable Dr. Hage Geingob, Prime Minister of
the Republic of Namibia, The Honourable Dr. Theo-Ben Guriab, Foreign
Minister of the Republic of Namibia and former President of the UN General
Assembly.

Current Goodwill Ambassadors but not limited to WAFUNIF and the entire
United Nations system, among them are:  Harry Belafonte (USA),U2's Bono
(Ireland), Liv Ulmann (Norway,Sweden), Julio Iglesias (Spain), Mercedes Sosa
(Argentinia), Philip Kirkorov (Russia), Dan Storper (USA), President/Founder
Putumayo World Music, Akiyoshi Tanaks (Japan), Russell Watson (UK), Makinto
(Liberia), Awaiting confirmation: Enrique Iglesias (Spain), Carlos Santana
(USA).

Lolo and Manze will be officially named Goodwill Ambassadors in a
distinguished ceremony prior to their performance at the United Nations for
United Nations Day and United Nations Staff day on Oct. 24th and 25th 2002.
The group, Boukman Eksperyans will perform at the event in front of 7000 UN
Ambassadors, diplomats, and staff members.  Boukman Eksperyans has released
seven albums on various labels including Island Records, Tuff Gong
International and most recently Converge Records. They have toured worldwide
throughout their 20-year career in music.

For additional information regarding Lolo, Manze and Boukman Eksperyans,
please contact management at Converge Entertainment, 368 Broadway, Suite
206, New York, NY, 10013, 212-931-9442 or  www.convergerecords.com.