In a bid to celebrate the health workers fighting against coronavirus, artistes from 11 African countries came together and recorded a song.
In a bid to celebrate the health workers fighting against coronavirus, artistes from 11 African countries came together and recorded a song. The song, carefully executed in three different languages, is a project by Dr. Rasha Kelej, the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the pharmaceutical giant, Merck.
It is a melodious reggae tune featuring the talents of APass from Uganda, Cwezi from Ghana, Kambua from Kenya, Mahmoud Al Leithy from Egypt, Nikki from Nigeria, Rozzy from Siera Leone, Salatiel from Cameroon, Sean K from Namibia, Sunita from The Gambia, Tom close from Rwanda, and Wezi from Zambia.
Dr. Kelej explained that the song is a salutation of the great sacrifice the health workers are making during these trying times. She further said that the song, done in Arabic, English, and French, is a project woven under her personal initiative, Separated but Connected. “I am very proud that I have been able to coordinate, direct, and produce this gesture of support across 11 African countries through these 11 talented singers in three languages,” she said.
While famous Cameroonian singer Salatiel (who sang with Beyoncé and Pharrell in the latest Lion King movie) sung his part in French, Mahmoud Al Leithy, also a famous singer and actor from Egypt, sang his in Arabic to represent African Arabic speaking countries. The rest of the group, also very famous in their countries, sang in English.
Although many would know her from her role with Merck, Dr. Kelej maintains that she has experience in production and presenting TV programs from her time at Abu Dhabi TV. “I have also produced and directed many documentaries with the aim to break the stigma around infertile women and to empower women and girls in education in Africa and Asia as part of Merck foundation programs,” she explained.
By CivSource Team