The Voice2Rep campaign which is supported by the Netherlands embassy, Luminate, Chocolate City and Don’t Drop the Mic is aimed at birthing the next Nigerian music stars who support greater representation, participation and accountability across Nigeria by developing socially conscious music for positive social change and to hold government to account had announced her top 10 finalists on her social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and her website www.voice2rep.ng.
Below is the list of the top ten finalists who are set to go on to the next phase of the Voice2Rep Competition:
- Faden, Elijah – “Ejay”
- Olatide, Wright – “Tide”
- Oparemi, Favour – “Millar”
- Ajanlekoko, Emmanuel-David – “JustED”
- Boniface, Jeremiah – “Jezzay”
- Pepple, Fidelia – “Delia”
- Sarumi, Keizy – “KEIZY SUGARH”
- Ijeh, Jessica – “Nanya Ijeh”
- Beddie-Memberr, Boma – “Shona”
- Abah, Hope – “Giovanni”
The top 10 finalists arrived Lagos – the entertainment and business capital of Africa to be housed, trained, exposed to the music industry stakeholders and produce a song each on issues around women’s rights which is the theme of the second edition of the Voice2Rep campaign. Upon arrival some of the top 10 – Giovanni, Keizy Sugarh and Just Ed were invited to the International Women’s Day celebration hosted by the Netherlands embassy alongside a host of women’s rights activists such as Soroptimist International, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and others where they met with the Netherlands Consulate-General Jan Van Weijen who had a series of discussions with finalists presents and further invited the top 10 to an exclusive meeting with him on Wednesday 11th March.
On Wednesday the 11th of March, the top 10 were received by the Consulate-General in the Embassy of the Netherlands, Lagos where he listened to the finalists talk about their music and went on to share with them the limitations of rights and freedoms in respect to diverse cultures and religions stating that rights and freedoms are never totally exclusive and absolute because of the collision and interplay of diverse cultures, religions and other factors. He also encouraged the top 10 artists to create music with a clear message delivered beautifully in an art form.
A photo session followed immediately after the meeting where the top 10 had a group picture with the Consulate-General as individual pictures.
See picture below:
The voice2Rep campaign is also supported by Constitution Lab and Map reporters.
