SA: BASA partners with Automobile Association on song of hope

The song is sung in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho, Xhosa and English. Composed by Lynne Holmes from Desert Rose, the track was sung by Seren, Fancy Galada, Mohau Moahlali, Thandeka Dladla and Purity Mkhize. It was produced by Jonny Blundell and Rob Walsh.

The ‘Rise South Africa’ project was initiated by BASA chairperson Charmaine Soobramoney and seeks to spread a message of hope and unity among South Africans through music.

“Economic empowerment, financial inclusion and social cohesion are Business and Arts South Africa’s core objectives,” Soobramoney said. “Aligned to the AA’s drive to unite our nation and to ignite the movement for positivity, courage and change, the intention behind the song is to ignite hope within each of us and to fuel an awareness that everyone has a role to play in mending our country’s social fabric and the recovery of our economy.”

AA CEO Willem Groenewald spoke about the role of music in instilling hope and bringing change in societies. “Music is such a beautiful medium of communication, uniting voices and evoking emotion over vast spectrums,” he said. “We remind every South African that we have a voice, that we are never alone, that there truly are no winners in war. We are proud to be part of the movement to spread hope, care and encouragement and to be the change we all seek.

“We have seen time and again throughout our history that South Africans unite in the face of adversity. For us, this song symbolises the collective spirit of South Africans to rise up together. This is the type of social cohesion we embrace because it inspires positive change and creates a sense of hope. United we stand in building a better and bright future for all in this great nation.”

Rootspring director Yusuf Ganief said: “Music is one of the most powerful mediums to change the hearts of people, and it is with great joy that we can serve our country. Our purpose is to actively create and seek out performance and training opportunities for both emerging and established artists.”