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African reggae legend Toyin Adekale is about to take the “Hands Off Our Girls” movement and message global as she attempts to draw attention to the abuse of young girls of color globally not just in Africa.
Toyin Adekale is a British born, Sierra Leonian/Nigerian artist and songwriter, who for decades has been hitting the charts, mostly in reggae music. In fact, many people in the music industry, including her fans, confuse Toyin Adekale [despite her last name] being Jamaican. Toyins’ success has spanned several genres crossing over into pop allowing her to reach many people globally and now, she wants to use her voice to highlight the plight of young girls of color in Africa, but also elsewhere they are abused.
It was on her return to Sierra Leone after more than a decade away that Toyin became involved in the “Hands Off Our Girls” project. After the unexpected passing of her only son, who was very young and in an attempt to heal, Toyin returned home and was immediately embraced by the community and asked to help them with #Handsoffourgirls movement. Toyin linked up with Sierra Leone star Markmuday and together they wrote and produced the song “Hands Off Our Girls.”
In an exclusive telephone interview with Toyin Adekale we asked her what she hoped to achieve with “Hands Off Our Girls?”
“The aim is to promote awareness, worldwide as it is something that I am passionate about and actually mentor young woman in the States, transitioning from all levels of abuse. Although I am firmly focused on Africa, I know this is a global problem and I want to take the message global. I would encourage any artists or public figures out there to do their own versions of this song or speak on this subject. The important thing is the message and the more people shouting it the better. Unfortunately in some places, abuse like this is part of the culture, part of the norm and almost accepted. The aim is to change this, stigmatize this and change the thinking. I will work closely with anyone who truly wishes to help us get this message out there and then educate or re-educate people. I must stress this is not just an African issue or even a third world issue, this is a global issue. The sexualization, manipulation of our young girls in the West is all too apparent now and the outcome is a generation of abused, confused and misguided young ladies who carry a heavy load heading into adulthood. It is all too easy for the West to point the finger at Africa and once again conclude this is happening over there and not over here, but this is wrong thinking. It is happening everywhere, just in slightly different ways. That is why with my picture I am dressed as an African, but I am in a Western setting. This is a global issue and I want to make that clear with what I am doing. Also, this is an issue that affects all women, regardless of color, but I am more focused on young black women because in my experience they suffer more in this world from this.”
Toyin Adekale is looking for support from all areas for her campaign to raise awareness and funds. The campaign has strong goals it wishes to achieve:
- To bring an awareness and open up discussions regarding sexual violence against young women and children.
- To encourage young girls/women to find a safe place to open up, recognize that they’re not alone, and stand strong against this monstrosity.
- To bring awareness to parents to observe the signs of distress amongst their female members, as they fall prey more often than not, to people that are close and trusted in family circles.
- To support an organization that caters to rebuilding and empowering your girls and women transitioning from sexual violence.
# HandsOffOurGirls
Written & Composed by Toyin Adekale ft Markmuday
Recorded at KME Studios, Freetown, Sierra Leone, W. Africa
Talithavoices Label is available to download and stream.
By Jeanette Smith
Source:
Toyin Adekale
Image by Santoshi Padhiar Courtesy of Shlepp Entertainment – Used With Permission