The first observance of women's day on a national level took place in New York on February 28, 1909. The first country to make the day an official holiday was the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1965.
Music is a powerful tool for celebrating and supporting women’s rights and African artists have been on the forefront of this.
Considering that; here are 5 songs by African artists which celebrate everything womanhood you should definitely put on your playing list.
Written and composed by Ghanaian singer, Wiyaala ‘She’s A Woman’ is a beautiful song released to commemorate this year's International Women’s Day.
“The song is intended to commend the lives of everyday African women,” said Wiyaala.
“I want the world to see we are as capable, strong, energetic and as joyous as our sisters around the world. We are also part of the conversation that aspires to peace, equality and the opportunity to live in a stable world where all women get a fair chance in life.”
Arguably one of the biggest African songs which took the continent and the world by storm.
It was composed and released in 2004 by Nigerian Artist 2face. The song is about glorification of African beauty and the video was released to commemorate his fourth wedding anniversary with his wife, Annie Idibia, who featured in the 2004 original video.
The lyrics were guaranteed to melt even the most hardened of persons and combined with 2face super vocals African women were powerless but love the song.
“Just like the sun, light up the earth, you light up my life.”
Those were the first lines of arguably Nigeria's biggest song ever - 2Face “African Queen.”
And in this 21st century where African dark skin is still looked down upon as not beautiful enough there is no better song to listen to than ‘African queen’ on this International Women’s day.
Malaika by Fadhili Wiliams
Who has not heard of the famous African love song ‘Malaika?’
Malaika song is perhaps the most renowned love ballad to have come out of East Africa, if not the whole continent.
It has been redone by over seventy African and international artists. They include Miriam Makeba, Angélique Kidjo, Safari Sound Band, Nana Mouskouri, Harry Belafonte and Boney M.
It was composed by one of Kenya’s greatest musical greats, Fadhili Wiliams, and remains one of the most popular and successful love ballad ever to come from Africa.
Fadhili first recorded the song in 1959 at Columbia East African Music Company studios and again recorded Malaika in 1960 with his famous Jambo Boys and re-did it a few times later in the latter years.
The song narrates a sad story of a young man whose love for his dream angel is doomed because he is poor.
This song is so beautiful it will move you to tears. It's about a woman (called Neria) who lost her husband.
The song was written for the soundtrack of a movie called ‘Neria‘. It is about the struggles of a woman in rural Zimbabwe who lost her husband through an accident. The late Oliver Mtukudzi’s very emotional song is about the strength of women and how they succeed in facing live challenges.
The lyrics are deep and well thought out.
“Don’t be disheartened Neria, God is with you (Mwari anewe). May your heart be strong, be strong, God is with you. Death is jealous, it separates those in love. Don’t be disheartened my sister, God is with you.”
It was written and sung in 1993 but remains one of the greatest song by the living legend from Zimbabwe.
Anyango ‘Pod Itin’ by Suzanna Owíyo
Composed by one of Kenya’s best female acts - Suzanna Owíyo - Anyango ‘Pod Itin’ is beautiful song which celebrates education of the African girl child.
Sang in Dholuo with a mixture of Swahili and accompanied by Nyatiti beats, Anyango ‘Pod Itin’ is about a young girl called Anyango who is being encouraged to go to school and get herself a good education so that she can better her life.
Who's got the power by Yvonne Chaka Chaka
The International Women's Day 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world and their no one better to remind women who's got the power to just do that than South Africa's legendary singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Meanwhile, on August 7, 2019. Kwale Woman Representative Zulekha Hassan was kicked out of Parliament after walking into the chambers with a baby. Hon Zulekha explained how she had an emergency and figured that she would only be in the August House for a short time.
Speaking to the media after her eviction, Zulehka lamented the lack of a nursey within the August House buildings leaving her with no choice but to enter the Chambers with her child.
A section of women legislators led by Kitui South MP Rachael Nyamai came to her defence demanding that a nursery be set up in Parliament Buildings threatening to come with their children if that is not implemented.
