When eight top female artists from across Africa, superstar music producer Cobhams Asuquo and a team of ONE staff got together in Johannesburg to create ‘Strong Girl’, the song didn’t exist.
We had a beat, a melodic hook, a concept, some very talented people and three days to make it happen.
Working together, the artists and Cobhams fired out loads of great ideas, but the simplicity of ‘Strong Girl’ seemed to capture the campaign message in a way everyone liked. From there, each artist wrote their own verse in their own language. Hearing it come together in the recording studio, with Cobhams working his magic to get the best out of each artist, was incredible.
So here’s the end result, with the full lyrics translated below. No excuse to not sing along now.
CHORUS
Waje (Pidgin English)
Yeah yeah
Owo, yeye
Anywhere you dey,
Let them know say you be strong girl
Wena ngu Strong girl
Wewe ni strong girl
Victoria Kimani
Wherever you are
Show the world that you’re a strong girl
You’re a strong girl
Waje
Let them know say you be strong girl
Strong girl
Waje
Omotola, Joyce Banda, Yvonne Chaka Chaka,
Winnie Mandela, Miriam Makeba, Mother Theresa
ohoho
VERSE 1
Waje
African baby, American lady
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, you’re a strong lady
Yemi Alade
Chai, Asian baby, Australian sisi
The time has come to take our place as strong ladies
Victoria Kimani
Coz we are strong, ayo
If we come together we can rule the world, yeah yeah
Judith Sephuma (translated from Setswana)
If you hit a woman, ayo
You hit a rock
Together we are stronger
CHORUS
Waje
Anyhere you dey,
Let them know say you be strong girl
Wena ngu strong girl
Wewe ni strong girl
Yemi Alade
Anywhere you are
Show the world that you’re a strong girl
Say you’re a strong girl
Strong girl
Waje
Brenda Fassie, Genevieve Nnaji,
Angelique Kidjo, Ngozi Okonjo
Beyonce, Malala Yousafzai,
Michelle Obama
Strong girl
VERSE 2
Vanessa Mdee (translated from Swahili)
We face different situations and different problems
But we are resilient, I refuse to give in
Selmor Mtukudzi (translated from Shona)
It’s now time to empower the woman, because when you empower a woman, you have empowered the nation.
Arielle T (translated from French)
We are the future
The hope of a blessed world
Here and everywhere
We are the bearers of life
Gabriela (translated from Portuguese)
Let’s say it out loud, it’s time to express ourselves
Let’s uplift women around the world.
CHORUS
Waje
Anyhere you dey,
Let them know say you be strong girl
Wena ngu strong girl
Wewe ni strong girl
Yemi Alade
Anywhere you dey eh
Show the world that you’re a strong girl
You’re a strong girl
Selmor Mtukudzi
We have had enough discussion about this, so now is the time to transform things.
Strong girl
Waje
Wangari Muthai, Indira Ghandi,
Funmilayo Kuti, Sirleaf Johnson, Oprah Winfrey,
Me sef I follow (I am one too)
Yu sef you follow (You are one too)
VERSE 3
Blessing
I’m a queen, I’m a star
Black African diva bizarre
Us women we shining like stars
Start from the bottom and rise to the top
You’re wonderful, loving and strong
Nothing is stronger than a woman’s worth
I’m the piece of the puzzle that’s missing baby
I completed the earth
Call me Sheba
Or just call me Miriam Makeba
See we run the world
Show some love to a strong girl
CHORUS
Vanessa Mdee (translated from Swahili)
We will fight for it together
Women of Africa,
Women of America
Whether you’re from Asia , Europe or Australia
Arielle T (translated from street French)
Yelele, women are golden
Together we beat all expectation
Yelele yelelelele
Strong girls
Let’s stand up with one voice
