The Peace Album - Dr Nita Yawanarajah

A Personal Reflection

Music has always reached places that words alone cannot.

Throughout my career in international peacemaking, I have spent countless hours listening to stories of war, loss, injustice and fear. I have sat with presidents, generals, rebel leaders, diplomats and ordinary people whose lives had been torn apart by conflict. In those moments, I learned that while politics may divide us, our humanity rarely does.

This album was never intended to be a collection of songs about peace. It is a journey through the emotional landscape of peacemaking itself.

Peace does not begin with a signed agreement. It begins with an idea that a better future is possible. It asks us to confront uncomfortable truths, to accept responsibility for our own actions, to acknowledge suffering without turning away, and to find the courage to stand against injustice. Only then can hope return. And ultimately, peace becomes something quieter—not merely the absence of war, but the presence of reconciliation, dignity and grace.

Each of these songs has stayed with me over many years. They have accompanied different chapters of my own life and career. Some have given voice to the hope I have seen in divided societies. Others remind me of the terrible cost when dialogue fails. Together, they tell a story that mirrors the long and often difficult path towards peace.

Many years ago I imagined bringing these remarkable artists together to create a single album, with the proceeds supporting the quiet diplomacy that so often prevents conflict long before the world ever hears about it. That dream never became reality, but the idea never left me.

Perhaps that is fitting.

Peace itself is often unfinished. It is less a destination than a continual choice—made every day by ordinary people, courageous leaders and those who quietly work behind the scenes to keep dialogue alive.

If this collection encourages even one person to think differently, to listen more deeply, or to believe that peace is still possible, then these songs will have achieved something extraordinary.

— Dr Nita Yawanarajah

The album is arranged as a journey—from imagining peace, to accepting responsibility, confronting conflict and injustice, finding the courage to stand, rediscovering hope, and finally arriving at a place of quiet spiritual peace.

Part I – The Dream

These songs invite the listener to imagine a better world. The songs are a gentle, reflective opening.

• 1. Imagine – John Lennon — A timeless invitation to envision a world where humanity is united beyond the divisions that fuel conflict.

• 2. Peace Train – Cat Stevens — A hopeful call for people everywhere to join a growing movement toward peace and reconciliation.

• 3. Blowin' in the Wind – Bob Dylan — A series of timeless questions that challenge humanity to confront injustice, war and indifference.

• 4. Simple Song of Freedom – Bobby Darin — A joyful reminder that freedom, peace and human dignity are aspirations shared by all people.

Part II – The Choice

The songs shift from ideals to personal and collective responsibility. The tempo begins to rise.

• 5. Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson — Peace begins not with governments but with the courage to change ourselves.

• 6. Where Is the Love? – Black Eyed Peas — A powerful reflection on a world consumed by hatred, asking each of us to reclaim our shared humanity.

• 7. Don't Give Up – Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush — A deeply compassionate reminder that hope and resilience can sustain us through even the darkest moments.

Part III – The World We Live In

Here our dream for the world collides with reality: violence, suffering and injustice. This is the emotional heart of the album.

• 8. Sign O' the Times – Prince — A stark portrait of a troubled world, exposing the social injustices and human suffering that threaten our common future.

• 9. Zombie – The Cranberries — A haunting lament for the innocent lives destroyed by violence and the tragic cycle of conflict.

Part IV – The Courage to Stand Up to Injustice

These songs honour those who stood against oppression despite the cost. The songs are powerful, uplifting and inspiring.

• 10. Pride (In the Name of Love) – U2 — A tribute to the moral courage of those who chose love and justice over fear and hatred.

• 11. Biko – Peter Gabriel — A moving memorial to Steve Biko, reminding us that the human spirit can outlive oppression.

Part V – Hope Returns

These songs tell us there is still hope. One is about what we can do together; the other is about the freedom that begins within.

• 12. We Are the World – USA for Africa — A celebration of our shared responsibility to care for one another and act together in times of need.

• 13. Redemption Song – Bob Marley — A timeless call to free both mind and spirit, reminding us that lasting peace begins with inner liberation.

The Finale – Peace

A quiet, spiritual ending. Bringing us to our own spiritual belief of peace.

• 14. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley – Johnny Cash & The Carter Family — A gentle expression of faith that, beyond struggle and sorrow, enduring peace is ultimately possible.