Young and old gathered last Sunday in Victoria Park as the Baha'is of Bermuda held their annual Race Unity Day and celebrated with a concert.

Master of ceremony and co-ordinator Derrick (CJ) Symonds said it was an important event which was intended to "unite the hearts" of people by fostering better relationships with the races and promote peace.

"Race Unity Day was started by the Baha'is of the United States in 1956 and then other organisations have more or less taken it on. It started out being called race amnesty and was changed in 1972 changed to race unity," he said.

When asked about the importance of bringing the community together with events like the Race Unity Day, Mr. Symonds said: "The Baha'is believe in the wonders of mankind so this would be a very important aspect of this."

Performers included dub poet Ras Mykkal, female rap/reggae singer Tiny T, pianist James Richardson, a mother and son gospel duet by Merlin and Brandon Morris, saxophonist Aaron Daniels, the Griffin Jazz Quartet and two dance routines performed by the Filipino Association of Bermuda.

Normally the event is held on the first Sunday of June but this year the Baha'is were unable to get the park and had to reschedule. Mr. Symonds said he was watching the local forecast very carefully because last year's event was rained out.

The programme was opened by the Baha'is Peace Of Art project which stemmed from a series of workshops in poetry writing, dance and musical theatre.

The project was created to provide a nurturing and creative environment for children and youth to celebrate, examine and promote peace through the arts.

Two groups from the projects entertained the audience under the theme of peace and unity. Their ages ranged from five to 16-years.

Cheryl Peek-Ball, co-ordinator of Peace Of Art, said the event was aimed to show children that there can be peace in the world.

The Baha'is faith is the world's youngest religion with about five to six million believers world wide. Bermuda has about 150 believers of the faith.

Commenting on the variety of musical talent, Mr. Symonds said music was the universal language of the world.

"I remember interviewing Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy said that many people think sports is the universal collaboration. In sports the countries and the people play against each other. There is competition. But in music they play together.

"The written music is a universal language. You can get a person from Russia, England, and France. They can all sit down and play music cause it is universal in its form of writing.

He added: "On the keyboard you got the black and white ivories, you tickle them right and they make harmony, they make beautiful music."