The plight of child soldiers in Africa was highlighted last night as Boston University students jammed for a cause, stirring awareness through music and poetry during an annual benefit concert.
The BU chapter of Amnesty International hosted its fifth annual Jamnesty benefit concert in BU Central in front of about 80 students, who were treated to performances by BU a cappella group the Dear Abbeys, reggae band Spiritual Rez and other performance groups.
The night began with a screening of Invisible Children’s Black is for Sunday and a talk by their roadies. Attendees were given the opportunity to sign petitions to adopt an international arms trade treaty and buy bracelets made by struggling African children.
“Jamnesty has been going on for many years but this year we got a little more ambitious and expanded the event by collaborating with Invisible Children,” Amnesty International President Golsa Mirhosseini, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, said. “I think events like this are very important to encourage people to get out of their own situations and help people who are in worse situations.”
Invisible Children was founded in 2003 to raise awareness about child soldiers affected by the war in Uganda, Invisible Children representative Katie Rystrom said.
“The combined power of a few people can make a huge difference to the world, so people should rise up and join the cause,” Rystrom said.
Amnesty Treasurer Sarah Tosh said Amnesty had been working on Jamnesty for a year, because it’s the club’s biggest event.
“We chose these performers because we wanted to create a fun atmosphere where students can enjoy and dance and have a good time, and at the same time, learn about important international human rights,” Tosh, a CAS junior, said.
“Music can portray positive messages and they are universally understandable,” Spiritual Rez guitarist Van Martin said. “That’s why we are trying to spread a peaceful happiness tonight by sharing a part of ourselves.
Speak for Yourself: BU Slam Poetry also performed at Jamnesty.
“Poetry is very expressive, and it speaks your mind as well as provides insight into other minds,” Speak for Yourself President Samer Saliba said. “We try to promote positive change through events like this, although some of our poetry is just really funny and entertaining and doesn’t have any deep meaning.”
Attendee Elise Iruhiriye, a CAS freshman, said she thought this was a great event, and the movie made her realize the importance of education, because so many people in Africa are deprived of it.
“People are way too comfortable in their own world and don’t have the compassion to help other people and that’s why events like Jamnesty are very important to encourage people to work towards social change,” attendee Shahrzad Noorbaloochi, a CAS freshman, said.