The One Campaign—an advocacy organisation taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases—has brought together some of Africa’s leading female musicians to record a song and video as part of the Poverty is Sexist Campaign.
The new campaign is calling for world leaders to put girls and women at the centre in 2015, a year when the new development goals will be set by world leaders at the United Nations.
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 production is inspired by a recently released report by One African titled, Poverty is Sexist: Why Girls and Women Must Be At The Heart of The Fight to End Extreme Poverty, which shows how unlocking women’s economic potential could improve the lives of everyone in society.
“It 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.
“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,” reads a statement from One Africa.
Seven musicians from seven countries who will perform the song are Kenya’s Victoria Kimani, Judith Sephuma from South Africa, Nigeria’s Waje, Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania, Arielle T from Gabon, Mozambique’s Gabriela and Selmor Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe.
The musicians will be joined by Nollywood superstar actress Omotola Jolade Ekeinde and South African TV personality Stoan Seete in recording a video for the song.
One Africa’s executive director Sipho Moyo is quoted in the statement as saying: “One has been consistent in advocating for 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 to www.one.org to sign up to the Poverty is Sexist campaign and be the first to hear the song.”
