That Aituaje Iruobe, stage name Waje, is a Nigerian superstar is not in doubt.
However, the diva has crossed over to the world stage; not with her
music, but with her humanitarian efforts via the One Campaign; a
non-profit organisation with a mandate to fight world poverty.
In her submission about the effect of the work of Femi Kuti on younger
musicians, Waje said, “It is so amazing to be part of this
entertainment industry where you are not afraid to say the things you
need you to say, so that when we open our mouths, we know we have
someone pushing us from behind.
We may never meet you, (some of us have never met you, some have, some
have never even sat down to have conversations with you).
“But we know that there is a path we should follow because you want
your community, and the people that associate with you to understand
the concept of living, and making sure that your community gets the
best.”
Waje was part of the One team at the meet and greet session between
Irish born Rock superstar; Bono, and Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti that
held last Thursday at the new Afrika shrine. Bono, who is a Knight of
the British Empire (OBE), was on a brief visit to Nigeria in
association with his work with One; an organisation he cofounded.
Waje says that her involvement with the campaign stems from her belief
in women’s empowerment, and girl child education, as a way of
eradicating poverty. “In Africa, there is a saying that ‘when you
educate a boy you educate an individual, but when you educate a girl,
you educate generations,” she said.
A face of the Strong Girls Campaign, which is part of the One Campaign
in Nigeria, she is involved in an ongoing campaign in Nigeria tagged
“Poverty is Sexist”.
It urges world leaders to take speedy action against denying girls
education, being forced into marriage; avoid mothers risking their
lives when they give birth; and to stop the farmer from being
prevented from owning the land she works in.
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