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Belafonte gets UNICEF award

Monday, 12 May 1997: The United Nations today honoured veteran entertainer Harry Belafonte for his humanitarian work on behalf of children around the world. UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy presented the performer, who popularized calypso more than 40 years ago, with the UNICEF Silver Statuette to commemorate his 10 years as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said of Mr. Belafonte, "I have been personally gratified by the many visits that you have made to the children of Africa -- from Mozambique to Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Zaire and Zimbabwe. On behalf of our United Nations, I thank you for your noble service and tireless work."

Mr. Belafonte has long drawn on his musical talent and background to spotlight the plight of the needy children of the world. He has held benefit concerts and sung with top artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Manu Dibango, Johnny Clegg and Maxi Priest. His humanitarian efforts abroad have focused on Africa, as seen in his support for the first Day of the African Child. Memorably, in 1985, he brought together 45 top performers to raise money for the Ethiopian famine and other African emergencies by recording "We Are the World".

In October 1994 Mr. Belafonte was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, one of the highest United States honours. It was presented at the White House by President Bill Clinton after Mr. Belafonte and his wife, Julie, visited Rwanda and Zaire in the wake of the massacres in Rwanda. Mr. Belafonte orchestrated a media campaign to raise awareness of the extensive and urgent needs of Rwandan children who had fled their homes and, in many cases, become separated from their parents.

"Mr. Belafonte has clearly shown what a well-known and well-respected personality can accomplish for children in need all over the world. His achievements have been countless. It is now my pleasure to add one more award to that crowded mantle," said Ms. Bellamy, who presented the statuette at an award luncheon at the United Nations.

During his distinguished career Mr. Belafonte has won a Tony and an Emmy and was a leading force behind the civil rights movement. The UNICEF Silver Statuette has only been presented four times previously in 50 years. The other recipients have been UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Sir Peter Ustinov, Danny Kaye, Liv Ullmann and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi.

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