Celebrating the perky, diverse and entrepreneurial side of Africa is what we at 1Africa do on our Big Up Africa weekly feature but today,we’re looking into a matter which is not lovely at all and has terribly affected and ended many lives – young and old – in West Africa since early this year: Ebola.
Since the outbreak of the disease in February this year, individuals and organizations have turned to media and the arts to raise awareness about the virus and encourage people to get involved in fighting it in whichever way they can.
It is for this common cause that a group of African musicians has come together and written a song titled: Africa Stop Ebola, for the purpose of not only raising awareness but also giving advice and hope especially to those in the countries affected by this disease.
The song features contributions from the Malian musicians Amadou & Miriam, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré and Kandia Kouyaté, the Guinean singers Mory Kante and Sia Tolno, the Ivorian reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly, the Congolse vocalist Barbara Kanam and the Senegalese rapper Didier Awadi.
Whether we’re right there in West Africa where the disease is taking its toll or not, Ebola is a matter of concern to us and should be to everyone. On Big Up Africa today, we celebrate this group of artists who are not content to sit and shake their heads but have taken some action.