“Africa Is Calling”: A Song For Education

On October 2, Nation Voice Foundation released the official video for “Africa Is Calling,“
completing a project that began in February and took eight months to finish. The song itself came
out on September 25. Both were created for one purpose: to help the foundation build its own
school in Rwanda.
“Africa Is Calling” was made with four aims: to raise awareness about Africa, to introduce its artists
to audiences who do not yet know them, to give something back to the community that shaped the
work, and, above all, to support the foundation’s plan to build a school.

Nation Voice Foundation’s team with Abaserukiramuco Shingiro Community, Musanze District, Rwanda.

The project began in February with Victoria Martino, founder of Nation Voice Foundation and the
project’s executive producer. She wanted music that could travel further than a traditional funding
appeal, so she approached producer Emery “Kodi” Cyabahire. He introduced her to the three artists
who would carry the song: Juuru, Mosée and Max Prodigy.

The lyrics were written by Bonheur Micomyiza, Moise Uwimana, Peter Johnson and Victoria Martino
herself. Over the next eight months, the team wrote, recorded and refined the track.

Once the music took shape, director Safari Dana Ombeni joined the project. He co-wrote the script
with Martino and also co-edited the film with Zyno. The crew included assistant director Hirwa
Aime Salvi Ocean, cinematographer Prince Bilir, and colorist Clement.

Filming took place on August 4 in Musanze, in northern Rwanda. The crew worked for two days,
starting around 6 a.m. and finishing near 11 p.m. on both days. They shot on a suspension bridge over a
gorge, in the surrounding fields and in the town. The video features the Abaserukiramuco Shingiro
Community, whose members appear throughout.

Watch the official video here