贝宁着名歌手基德约获人权奖

Singer Angelique Kidjo Wins Award for Human Rights Work 贝宁着名歌手基德约获人权奖

Benin-born musician Angelique Kidjo has won a major human rights award, along with three African youth activist¹ movements.

Kidjo and the groups were honored for their work to defend freedom of expression and peaceful protest. The groups are Y'en a marre (Fed Up), le Balai Citoyen (The Citizen's Broom), and Lutte pour Changement (LUCHA).

The organization Amnesty International announced the winners Wednesday. It praised Kidjo and the groups for their work in Africa and around the world. Amnesty says the award honors those who have shown exceptional courage in standing² up to injustice³. It says winners also influence others to act the same.

The Amnesty International honor is called the Ambassador of Conscience Award. Past winners include leaders Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi. Artists who have been honored including U2 band leader Bono, singer Joan Baez, and Chinese dissident Ai Wei Wei.

Spreading ideas through music

Angelique Kidjo fled Benin in the 1980s after being pressured to perform for the country's repressive government. She has since gained worldwide fame both for her music and her activism. 

She has worked to support free expression, education for young women and birth certificates for children.

She has lived in New York City for many years. 

The singer has also won a Grammy award for her music.

Kidjo spoke⁴ last year with VOA's French to Africa service. She said music helps her spread her messages of freedom and human dignity.

She said, "I can't be in everyone's home physically⁵ -- my music will be there. And that's the power of an artist, compared to a politician. Because no one can give a speech as brilliant as what we can put on a CD."

The Grammy winner said she has hope that African nations struggling with corruption⁶ can solve their problems through democratic methods. 

Kidjo said, "The day when the people -- the people of Africa get up and say 'we're tired of this stupidity,' it will be everyone together who will decide, not me."

Kidjo said the honor will help her stay active in human rights issues.

Grassroots activism

A group of Senegalese rappers and reporters won the award for their effort to get young people to register to vote. The group known as Y'en a marre, or Fed Up, has been active in teaching peaceful protest methods. They also pressure Senegal’s government to carry out land reforms, an issue important to the rural poor.

Burkina Faso's le Balai Citoyen, or the Citizen's Broom, is a movement co-founded by reggae artist Sams'K Le Jah and rapper Smockey (Serge Bambara). It has been active in voter education. It also teaches young people to speak against political corruption.

In a public comment about the award, Smockey said, “We want to reaffirm that our convictions remain as strong and safe as our dreams, which underlie⁷ them."

Lutte pour Changement, or LUCHA, is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The community-based activist group works on social issues, human rights, and the protection of civilians⁸ from armed groups. DRC officials have jailed nine activists⁹ linked to the group. Amnesty International called on the DRC government in February to release the LUCHA activists.

Amnesty International will hold the awards ceremony on May 28 in Dakar, Senegal.

Words in This Story

courage –n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

injustice –n. unfair treatment, a situation where a person’s rights are ignored

dignity –n. the quality of being worthy¹⁰ of honor or respect

brilliant – adj. very impressive or successful

convictions –n. a strong belief or opinion

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 underlie   

v.位于...之下，成为...的基础

参考例句：

• Technology improvements underlie these trends.科技进步将成为此发展趋势的基础。
• Many facts underlie my decision.我的决定是以许多事实为依据的。

8 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。