A group of Nigerian celebrities spanning the entertainment industry have come together to record a cover version of the iconic song “We Are The World” to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebrations.
The project was spearheaded by content creator and actor Enioluwa Adeoluwa and veteran actress Kate Henshaw.
Among the stars lending their voices to the rendition are Sola Sobowale, Hilda Bassey, Fathia Balogun, Toyin Abraham, Shaffy Bello, Odunlade Adekola, Eniola Korty, Toke Makinwa, Waje, Korede Bello, 2024 AMVCA winner Chimezie Imo, and VeeKeee James.
“We all came together to sing ‘We Are The World’ originally composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie to celebrate the children in Nigeria on our country’s Children’s Day,” read the caption accompanying the video release.
The 1985 original “We Are The World” was co-written by Jackson and Richie and recorded by an ensemble of popular American artists at the time, with production led by Quincy Jones. Titled “USA for Africa,” the initiative aimed to raise funds and awareness for famine relief in Ethiopia.
A quarter-century later, in 2010, Haitian musician Wyclef Jean gathered 25 celebrities to re-record the track, drawing attention to the devastating earthquake that had struck his home country earlier that year.
The newly released Nigerian cover maintains the song’s essence as an anthemic call for unity and support, specifically directed toward advocating for children’s welfare on the annual commemorative day.