AJ Nelson and Valentine Alvares collab on NUKU for children of Africa
Findings according to UNESCO/UIS in 2019, indicate that in sub-Saharan Africa, 32.6 million girls of primary and lower secondary school ages are out of school. This number rises to 52 million when taking into account girls of upper secondary school age, with millions more at risk as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These are the numbers AJ Nelson of Ghana and Valentine Alvares are hoping to reduce through their positively impacting new music collaboration.
These numbers are indeed very disturbing for these musicians, and both of them told TheAfricanDream.net that they are at least feeling a little positive that it has attracted the attention of many organizations and people around the world. “We are recording artists must be a positive voice for positive social change, which is why Valentine and myself are adding our voices to improve the situation albeit musically,” AJ Nelson said as he again disclosed that “Nuku means ‘seed’ in the Ewé language which is spoken in both Togo and Ghana.”
Their most recent and trending song advocating for girl-child education and also championing the cause of the African child in general is aptly titled ‘NUKU’ which the sensational Togolese songstress, Valentine Alvares preaches her message. She didn’t travel too far across the border to choose Adjei Nelson Otumfour, better known by his stage name AJ Nelson, the Ghanaian hip-hop and afrobeat musician as the perfect voice to join hers on this mission. He is most famous for the singles “Same Girl, ” “Faith” and “Power to the People” which feature the African Lioness — Wiyaala.
AJ Nelson in a phone chat with TheAfricanDream.net revealed that he “linked up with Valentine through a friend musician Gustav Legist, who is also a Togolese,”. The single characteristic of Valentina’s music persona is undoubtedly her sleek voice which makes her songs break into hearts. It is not surprising therefore that AJ Nelson said “Valentine’s vocal strength is impeccable, her voice is so soothing that you would love to listen and listen again to Nuku.”
Addressing his fans, AJ Nelson said he will be releasing the first single off his upcoming Extended Play (EP) and that “after this project, the first single of my upcoming EP is going to be released. The title of the song is ‘Guy Guy’ and it features Kwaku Afro and Ohene Savant. It’s a mixture of afrobeat and highlife as I revisit my original Ghanaian highlife music roots…”
Valentine Alvares is a musical explorer who does not hesitate to put her bags down in a foreign land. She thus has the art of making her music lovers travel and making them discover new musical destinations. The young Togolese singer translated into her first opus entitled “Music and words”. More than revealing, the title of her first album expresses the personality of its author.
We are so proud of AJ Nelson and Valentina Alvares for contributing to the awareness about girl-child education through such a beautiful song as Nuku which by the way we’ve listened to and can assure you that it’s not only on point with the vocals and melodies but heavily delivers q refreshingly important message about the African girl child.
But don’t just take our words for it, you may listen to the song and share it with your friends below and learn more about Alvares on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/valentinealvaresofficiel/ and AJ Nelson too on Instagram Instagram https://www.Instagram.com/ajnelsonnmusic.
Enough reading, now please check out Nuku on Audiomac which is sung in French, English, Ewé as well as West African pidgin: https://audiomack.com/nuku-6/album/nuku.
Written by Oral Ofori
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
