African artists unite in COVID-19 song

The campaign is courtesy of non-profit organisation One Campaign, MTV Base and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The song premiered on 18 July and is a powerful reminder that no one is safe from COVID-19 until everyone is protected from the disease. ‘Stand Together’ was produced by Nigeria’s Cobhams Asuquo. It features Nigerians TuBaba, Teni and Yemi Alade as well as Ben Pol (Tanzania), Amanda Black (South Africa), Stanley Enow (Cameroon), Gigi la Mayne (South Africa), Prodigio (Angola), Betty G (Ethiopia) and Ahmed Soultan (Morocco).

“One is delighted to collaborate with these ten fantastic artists, MTV Base and the Nelson Mandela Foundation to release ‘Stand Together’, a beautiful and powerful message to all Africans that we will overcome COVID-19 with a spirit of unity, resolve and shared responsibility,” One Campaign’s Africa executive director, Edwin Ikhuoria said. “We call on Africa leaders to follow the lead of these artists who are uniting the continent in line with the legacy of Nelson Mandela.”

Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive, Sello Hatang said: “We have been encouraged by solidarity at so many levels as the world has responded to the challenge of the pandemic. But much more needs to be done. We hope that the coming together of artists in the ONE Campaign will signal a call to such action.”

ViacomCBS Networks Africa senior vice president and general manager Monde Twala had this to say about the collaboration: “We are extremely proud and excited to partner with the One ‘Stand Together’ campaign uniting all Africans in the fight against COVID-19. As a youth culture platform, it is important to ensure that we reach out and inspire young Africans with a positive message of hope and resilience to help overcome the challenges we all face. We are not alone and stand together, unified, through music and culture.”

The release of ‘Stand Together’ coincided with the Nelson Mandela annual celebrations. This year's keynote address was delivered by the United Nations secretary-general António Guterres under the theme: Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A New Social Contract for a New Era.