Tay Grin, British High Commissioner rap for girls in Malawi

A new song which encourages girls to keep going to school, done by Malawi’s hip-hop superstar Tay Grin featuring the outgoing British High Commissioner Michael Nevin and his wife Sawako as well as Lilongwe City Deputy Mayor Akwame Bandawe has been release.

Tay Grin, Sawako Nevin and Akwame Bandawe
Tay Grin, Sawako Nevin and Akwame Bandawe

The campaign song is titled “Reach Out (4 ur Dreams” and under a girl empowerment project which was conceived by Sawako, supported by the Nyau King who wrote the lyrics. The track was produced by Sonye.

This is the second song which Sawako has initiated for the promotion of the girl child education. The first track “MsugwanaShaina” came out in 2014 and she featured legendary Malawian musician Lucius Banda.

Explaining the background of the new song, Sawako said Malawian girls are facing a number of challenges to continue their education, revealing only 47 percent of girls finished primary school in 2012/13.

“The major reasons for such a high dropout rate include expectations by their family and society at large for them to unfairly bear the responsibility of family chores or looking after younger children.

“Early marriage and pregnancy is another issue. I wanted girls to get a message of support for continuing school in order to achieve much greater potential for themselves and Malawi,” explained Sawako.

She added: “If we have successful and very popular Malawi music icons like Tay Grin sending out such messages, particularly as a youthful male artist, it should start to give girls confidence whilst galvanizing boys and men to support them.”

Commenting on why he accepted to be part of the project, Tay Grin said he did it because he knows the situation is tough for girls in Malawi.

Said he: “I want to encourage them through my music not to give up their hopes and dreams. It would be great if this song can help them become proactive and proud of themselves.”

With a music video in the offing, the rapper also revealed that he will be incorporating the song in his live performances.

Bandawe, who also comes from a music background before he became Deputy Mayor, in his remarks, observed that education is the key to the country’s development.

“We all need to play our part to raise the number of girls finishing at least primary education. It’s not only for girls’ welfare but also for Malawi’s future,” said the Lilongwe City Deputy Mayor.

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Malawi, Michael Nevin, who is one of UN Women’s HeForShe campaigners, is hopeful that the song will give confidence to girls to demand their right to school no matter the obstacles.

“If someone like me can do a bit of rapping, I hope it can in some small way show that anything is possible if we dare try. It’s a song which I hope will get widespread airplay and become an anthem for Malawi’s girls and the African child,” he stated.

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isaac kaudzu
isaac kaudzu
7 years ago

big up

Nambewe
Nambewe
7 years ago

that is the spoirit girls! come on you educate a woman you educate a whole ntundu wa anthu!

Nambewe
Nambewe
7 years ago

Excellent! lets give Malawian girls all the chances they deserve!

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