Johannesburg,
South Africa (May 04, 2015) – A selection of some of the most beautiful female voices of Africa was recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, to
record a song calling for world leaders to put women empowerment at the heart
of the new development goals, in order to put the world on track to end extreme
poverty. The young divas participated in the audio session and the video shoot which
took place from April 27 to May 1, 2015.
The song is part of the “Poverty is Sexist”
campaign launched by ONE and will
feature seven musicians from seven countries, namely Judith Sephuma (South
Africa), Victoria Kimani (Kenya),
Vanessa MDEE (Tanzania), Waje (Nigeria), Arielle T (Gabon), Selmor Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe)
and Gabriela (Mozambique). The
ladies will be joined in the video by Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
and South African TV personality Stoan Seete.
The
song was produced by Cobhams Asuquo
(who has worked with the likes of Asa,
Chidinma, and Banky W to name a few). The
video was directed by Godfather Productions, who has produced and directed some
of Africa’s biggest music videos.
“We believe
that we can’t fight the injustice that is extreme poverty without fighting the
immense gender inequality that persists around the world. Therefore,
through this song, ONE is calling for smart policies and targeted investments
in health, education and the economic empowerment of women and girls for them
to unleash their human, social, political and economic potential,” Dr. Sipho Moyo, ONE Africa’s Executive Director
said.
Arielle T said she was happy to be in South Africa.
“In Gabon
like in many parts of Africa, girls and women are hit hardest by extreme
poverty across every area of life. When the call from ONE came to join other
female musicians on this project, I was honored and delighted. If the situation
of women is to improve, then it has to start with us as women. We have to come
together. We need equal opportunities so that we can play our part in reducing
poverty in the world.”
The Gabonese
singer was the only artist
from Central and francophone Africa chosen to participate in this project.
Speaking
about her new role as ambassador for the campaign, Omotola said, “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.”
ONE does it again in this new
collaboration, which comes a year after the
release of the famous hit 'Cocoa na Chocolate'
that featured artists such as D'Banj,
Fally Ipupa, Wax
Dey, Tiken Jah Fakolly
among others, and which won an AFRIMA award in December
2014.
The song will
be used to promote the "Poverty is Sexist” campaign across the world and will be officially launched in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique and South Africa during the World Economic Forum on Africa and the African Union Heads of
State Summit in June 2015.
On March 8 (International
Women’s Day), Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Angélique Kidjo and businesswomen and artists from countries around the world wrote an open letter titled “Poverty is Sexist” to German Chancellor Angela Merkel
and African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, asking them not to forget the women who live in poverty.
“Poverty is sexist,
and we won’t end it unless we face up to the fact that girls and women get a raw deal, and until leaders and citizens around the world work
together for real change. Because when we deliver for girls and women, we deliver for everyone… If
we get this right, we could help lift every girl and woman out of poverty by
2030…” the letter said.
The
campaign has a petition which is calling on world leaders to fast-track the
fight against inequality and injustice by investing more in women and girls if
the world is to end extreme poverty by 2030. Over 100,000 people have signed it
already.
About ONE
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 programmes. ONE
is not a grant-making organization and does not solicit funding from the public
or receive government funding. ONE is funded almost entirely by foundations,
individual philanthropists and corporations. We achieve change through advocacy
– our teams in Washington, D.C., New York, London, Johannesburg, Brussels,
Berlin and Paris educate and lobby governments to shape policy solutions that
save and improve millions of lives.
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Arielle t, Gabriela, Judith Sephuma & Selmor Mtukudzi |
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Arielle t |
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Dr. Sipho Moyo, Judith Sephuma, Omotola Jalade & Waje |
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Arielle t, Victoria Kimani,Waje, Gabriela, Selmor, Vanessa Mdee |
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Waje, Selmor, Arielle t, Judith Sephuma, Victoria Kimani, Vanessa Mdee, Gabriela |
Sign the ‘Poverty
is Sexist’ petition: http://www.one.org/sexist
Twitter: @ONEcampaign
/ @ONEinAfrica
Facebook:
ONE