DAKAR (Senegal) - As Africa assembles in the Senegalese capital of Dakar to compete in the 26th edition of the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019, the official song 'Viva Africa' echoes the diversity and unity of the African people. 

Written, produced and recorded by award winning Senegalese singer Didier Awadi, this song was selected by FIBA, the International Basketball Federation and the Senegal Basketball Federation (FSB) as the official anthem of the 12-team competition that tips off on August 10-18 at the newly constructed Dakar Arena. 

You can watch the song here. 

Awadi alongside renowned and celebrated Idrissa Diop as well as six other contemporary Senegalese artists including Clayton Hamilton, Korka Dieng, Pama Dieng, Fefsy, Sabel Dieng and Astar emphasise this message in English and mostly wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal, strongly pointing towards the importance of harmony and cohesion. 

"THIS IS A MESSAGE OF UNITY AND SOLIDARITY BETWEEN ALL THE WOMEN OF AFRICA WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CHAMPIONS. NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, YOU ARE HERE TO REPRESENT AFRICA. FOR ME, IT IS A BIG MOMENT OF SOLIDARITY,"- Awadi

Speaking to FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview, Awadi strongly said that, "Before being Senegalese, we are Africans. I chose one of the first generation of modern artists like Idrissa Diop and I have many upcoming artists. I gave them a chance that they have something to give Africa. They have different backgrounds." 

"It is all about Africa. I want everyone watching to see united women of Africa. I want them to keep this image," he highlighted in a very passionate way. 

The FIBA Women's AfroBasket is Africa's premier event for women's basketball and has attracted the creme de la creme from the entire continent stretching from the oil wells of Angola through the wild life in Kenya to the pyramids in Egypt, the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the beaches of the West Coast to the ends of the Sahara Desert in Tunisia and on to the Cape Verde archipelago.  

The official video speaks to young women finding themselves and following their dreams no matter the price and for Awadi, this song comes at a crucial time when women need to be emancipated. 

He relates this to his personal life and how it has shaped his thinking, "I am the only boy in my family. I have two sisters and my father passed away a long time ago so I grew up with them. I have a wife, two girls and two boys. I always think about them before anything else."

Awadi, whose work has for a long time been motivated by the Burkinabe former President Thomas Sankara with his label, recording studio and rehearsal space named 'Studio Sankara', revealed that just like his idol, he too is a feminist. 

"Women need to take power and not wait for men to give it to them because they will not. Sankara was a feminist so I am a feminist. When you are a woman, it is in your DNA that you are a winner and you must be convinced that you are a winner. We are thinking about Africa. This is not only for Senegal. It is for all of Africa," Awadi explained. 

"The message in the song 'Viva Africa' is a message of unity and solidarity between all the women of Africa who are supposed to be champions. No matter where you come from, you are here to represent Africa. For me it is a big moment of solidarity."

'Viva Africa' will officially be performed in front of thousands of fans at the opening ceremony of the competition on Saturday evening right before hosts Senegal take on Cote d'Ivoire at 19:00 GMT. 

FIBA