Movement through music
MUSICIANS: BRING CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT TO LIFE THROUGH SONG
Call for world leaders to take urgent action to make women shine.
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 on world leaders to put girls and women centre stage in 2015.
Seven musicians from seven countries will perform on the song: Victoria Kimani (Kenya), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), Waje (Nigeria), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Arielle T (Gabon), Gabriela (Mozambique) and Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe). They will be joined by Nollywood superstar actress Omotola Ekeinde and South African TV personality Stoan Seate in recording a video for the song.
The track will be 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 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. The summit is expected to make key decisions to enhance the socio-economic and political advancement of women on the continent.
The song was 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.
The findings show poverty and gender inequality go hand in hand, whether through 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.
Dr Sipho S 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 AU 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 the social return of investing in girls and women accrues universally to society.”
The song will be used to promote the Poverty is Sexist campaign globally and will be officially launched in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa during the World Economic Forum for Africa and the African Union heads of state summit.
For more information, visit