African musicians come together for women empowerment song

The ONE Campaign has brought together some of Africa’s leading female musicians to record a song and video, as part of the Poverty is Sexist campaign, which is calling for world leaders to put girls and women centre stage in 2015, a year when the new development goals will be set by world leaders at the United Nations.

Women empowerment through song
Women empowerment through song

The 7 musicians from 7 countries will perform on the song: Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), Waje (Nigeria) Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Arielle T (Gabon), Gabriela (Mozambique) and Selomor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe).

The musicians will be joined by Nollywood superstar actress Omotola and South African TV personality Stoan Seete in recording a video for the song.

The song is produced by Nigerian producer Cobhams Asuquo, who won critical world acclaim with his production of Asa’s chart-topping hits, “Jailer” and “Fire on the Mountain”.

The video is being directed by Godfather Productions, who has produced and directed some of Africa’s biggest music videos.

The song and video collaboration—part of ONE Campaign’s focus on the African Union Year of Women Empowerment—is scheduled for release on May 13, in the run-up to the AU Heads of State Summit in June, 2015.

The Summit is expected to make key decisions to enhance the socio-economic and political advancement of women on the continent.

The song is inspired by a recently released report by ONE titled, “Poverty is Sexist: Why girls and women must be at the heart of the fight to end extreme poverty”.

The report shows how unlocking women’s economic potential could improve the lives of everyone in society. It also illustrates the structural nature of the social, economic, political and cultural barriers that militate against women and girls.

The findings show that poverty and gender inequality go hand in hand, whether you are looking at health, education or work.

Not only are girls and women worse off than their male counterparts, but the gender gap between males and females is greatest in the poorest countries.

The female musicians are lending their voices to bring world attention to the fact that girls and women are disproportionately affected by gender inequality and that:

  • A woman in Africa is 100 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman in Europe
  • Working women in the least developed countries are three times more likely to be in vulnerable employment than women elsewhere
  • In the poorest countries, literacy levels are a third lower for women than men

Dr Sipho Moyo, ONE Africa’s Executive Director said: “Africa, and indeed the world, needs to refocus the development agenda on gender equity as a smart means of unleashing the potential for human, social, political and economic development everywhere. This being the African Union Year of Women Empowerment, it is our opportunity to seize and promote the advancement of humankind by insisting on policy interventions by our governments that promote and ensure equal opportunities for women and girls. The evidence shows that the social return of investing in girls and women accrues universally to society.

“ONE has been consistent in advocatingfor women’s empowerment, but 2015 is a critical year for action. This brilliant collaboration of female artists are using their voices and their social media platforms to demand that our leaders do more—and quickly—to put girls and women at the heart of the fight to end extreme poverty. People can go towww.one.org to sign up to the Poverty is Sexist campaign and be the first to hear the song.”

Top Nollywood actress and activist, named in Time Magazine’s top 100 influential people in the world, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, will star in the video of the song.

“I am fortunate to be a young woman living her dreams, a trailblazer of my generation. But I also recognize that many women and girls are not so fortunate; women and girls are disproportionately affected by the injustice of poverty and inequality.

“But when we invest in women and girls, we increase and accelerate the chances of overcoming extreme poverty. That’s why I have joined the ONE Campaign’s Poverty is Sexist Campaign and I call on the public to join me in signing the petition on www.one.org/sexist,” Omotola said.

The song will be used to promote the Poverty is Sexist Campaign globally, and will be officially launched in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and in South Africa during the World Economic Forum for Africa and the African Union Heads of State Summit.

The campaign has a petition which is calling on world leaders to fast-trackthe fight against inequality and injustice by investing more in women and girls if the world is to end extreme poverty by 2030.

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 6 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs. To learn more, go to ONE.org.

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MIKE
MIKE
8 years ago

we have lots of good femail artists who can join these other fellow. kodi exposure bwanji kulibe kuno? where is the china love star? cant she join?

Imraan Sadick
8 years ago

Ndinayiwara kuti paja azimai apa Malawi sadziwa kuyimba
ndimadabwa kuti bwanji Mmalawi palibe
Malawi sadzatheka basi,kutsalira pazonse

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