On Monday, March 2, 2015 at the United Nations General Assembly Hall, Etana and her band took the stage at the private concert “Stop Ebola and Build For the Future” led by United African Congress, Give Them A Hand Foundation and the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation. She delivered a breathtaking set – performing songs off her latest album I Rise as well as her single “Better Tomorrow,” which has been chosen as the campaign’s official anthem. After final remarks from the National Chairman of UAC Dr. Mohammed Nurhussein, Etana returned to close the show (1:53:09 on the video) with a grand finale performance of “Better Tomorrow” featuring Independent Artists United, where she brought the crowd to their feet for a standing ovation.
Starting this week, fans can buy “Better Tomorrow” and all the proceeds go towards children orphaned by Ebola and rebuilding the communities affected in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The song is currently featured on the iTunes Music homepage. Purchase now: http://smarturl.it/BetterTmrwUNMEER.
The “Stop Ebola and Build For the Future” event was hosted by NY1 News anchor Cheryl Wills with remarks from the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United Nations Vandi Minah, Italy Ambassador to the United Nations Sebastiano Cardi, TV personality and humanitarian Lisa Vanderpump, Dr. Howard Zucker (Acting Commissioner of Health for New York State) and former head of the NAACP Dr. Benjamin Chavis.
The evening featured additional performances by Chieck Hamala Diabate and Band and Artists With One Voice, a collaboration of singers from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Cameroon and Mali. The concert was possible through a partnership between the UAC, GTAH, the Permanent Mission of São Tomé and Principe, the Permanent Missions to the UN of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea and the Observer Mission of the African Union as well as numerous nonprofit and community organizations, health professionals and faith-based groups. The Friendship Ambassadors Foundation will act as the 501(c) 3 nonprofit fiscal conduit. A series of online video shorts highlighting the issues and featuring the song “Better Tomorrow” was presented at the event. WATCH them here: http://www.youtube.co/playlist?list=PLBb9w0_BLY6lW2TJc0i6cFclH506XG8uY
“When I wrote the song ‘Better Tomorrow’ I thought of Africa and how rich and beautiful the continent is yet there are so many struggling and suffering people and only a handful of very wealthy people. I also had similar thoughts of people in America, South America, Jamaica, Haiti and India. I wanted the world to feel like I feel, that there must be a better tomorrow. When I heard that someone was so moved by the song that they wanted to use the song to help people affected by Ebola I was overwhelmed with emotions. I am so happy to see the song doing exactly what I wanted it to do – help, heal and strengthen humanity. I am grateful to everyone participating in the mission to help make it a very successful one. One perfect love to each and everyone,” ~Etana.
“We are honored to be asked to support this noble effort. Etana is the right artist to represent and ‘Better Tomorrow’ is the perfect song,” concludes Richard Lue, Director of Business Development at VP Records.
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