By Samuel Onyekwere
As part of its support towards raising funds to help tackle the rampaging Corona Virus in Africa, music artistes across Africa and in the Diaspora, in partnership with the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), recently held a virtual live solidarity concert for the African Union in commemoration of the 2020 Africa Day.
The event witnessed live performances by artistes from their various locations. The artistes include: Paul Okoye -Rudeboy (Nigeria); Pape Diouf (Senegal); Becca (Ghana); Salatiel (Cameroon); Nikita Kering (Kenya); Toofan (Togo); Salif Keita (Mali); Aminux (Morocco); Hiro (DRC); DJ Moh Green (Algeria); Kanvee Adams (Liberia); Daphne (Cameroon); Lizha James (Mozambique): Nadya Shanab (Egypt); Busiswa (South Africa); DJ Spinall (Nigeria); Naiboi (Kenya); Sarkodie
(Ghana); 2Baba (Nigeria); Betty G (Ethiopia); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco) and Master KG (South Africa) who closed the Solidarity Concert with his hit single ‘Jerusalema’.
The live broadcast was on multiple electronic and digital media channels in Africa. The theme of the concert is “Health Security in the Context of COVID-19”. Apart from the electrifying performances by these artistes from more than 20 African countries, they also conveyed motivating messages to viewers using the tag #StrongerTogether #StrongerthanCovid.
The Concert opened with the official anthem of the African Union, followed by addresses from the African Union Chairperson, His Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat and Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Her Excellency, Mrs. Amira El Fadil.
They both used the occasion to appeal for donations in cash or in kind, to the Africa COVID-19 Response Fund to aid the AU’s fight against the Corona Virus. Other speakers included the Director, Africa Centre for Disease Control, Dr. John Nkengasong; the President & Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada and the African Union Youth Envoy, Ms. Aya Chebbi who respectively reiterated the importance of collective action and donations to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.
The International Advisor for AFRIMA, Mr. Rikki Stein, who watched the live stream from London, United Kingdom, commended the artistes for their performances.
His words: “That was a beautiful show. I salute all concerned. Whether or not money was raised, the message was, more importantly, strongly and eloquently presented urging viewers to do everything possible and necessary to avoid another Corona Virus related disaster or huge loss of lives anywhere on the continent.”
The show was hosted by three of Africa’s finest entertainment personalities; Eddie Kadi (Democratic Republic of Congo DRC); Chidinma Ekile (Nigeria) and Pamela ‘Miss P’ Happi (Cameroon). The main broadcast partners for the event were Trace TV Africa and African Independent Television (AIT). Other media partners included: HipTV, Nigezie, WAPTV, Goldmyne TV and Facebook.
The 2020 Africa Day #StrongerTogether Solidarity Concert was aimed at
inspiring action with key messages on the prevention, protection and
response measures to contain Corona Virus.