Africans use music to raise awareness

As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues across the African continent, musicians and politicians have turned to music to spread awareness and sensitize the people about the virus.

Fally Ipupa, a Congolese music star who is famous globally, posted a song on Twitter in which he urges the public to maintain social distancing and avoid exchanging greetings by way of kisses.

"Fally in isolation. Stop kisses. Stop braces. Wash your hands with soap, very important," Ipupa sings. The musician was forced to cancel a concert scheduled in Kinshasa this month due to the coronavirus outbreak, which prompted the Democratic Republic of the Congo to declare a lockdown on March 24.

In the one-minute video clip, Ipupa encouraged people to stay home and follow the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the government.

George Weah, Liberia's president, has also released a coronavirus awareness song to encourage his countrymen to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

In the song titled Let Us Stand Together and Fight Coronavirus, Weah partners with both gospel musicians and local secular singers to explain how the virus is transmitted. The song calls on Liberians to take the necessary preventive measures announced by health officials to defeat the disease.

Liberia has declared a state of public health emergency following the confirmation of a third case of the coronavirus.

In Uganda, Robert Kyangulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, a musician turned politician, released a song on Wednesday to raise awareness about the virus.

"In this struggle against the coronavirus, we must deploy all our mighty weapons. Music has always been our most potent weapon, so it must be unleashed without waiting. Let's use all the tools at our disposal to sensitize the masses against this global pandemic," Kyangulani posted on Twitter.

In the song titled Corona Alert, Kyangulanyi teams up with fellow artist Nubian Li in spreading the message on the importance of personal hygiene.

"The bad news is that everyone is a potential victim, but the good news is that everyone is a potential solution. Sensitize to sanitize," Kyangulanyi sings.