Last week I had the opportunity to travel with Malaria No More to Chad where I was lucky enough to meet and work with Hakim Samad, a talented and inspired music producer, as well as 12 of Chads biggest music artists, celebrities in musical genres that are as diverse as the country itself. The occasion? The creation of Chad’s very own anti-malaria anthem.

Like in Tanzania and Cameroon, these cultural icons are developing a unique song, written by and for Chadians, which will complement the country’s national campaign to end hundreds of needless deaths from malaria every year.

To kick-start their involvement, artists met with a local doctor to learn about the dangers of malaria to their people and communities, and how this deadly disease can be prevented and treated.  I then accompanied them to an orphanage and a feeding center for severely malnourished children on the outskirts of the capital, N’djamena. It was incredible to listen as Sultan, one of the musicians, spoke in his own words to young children and mothers about the myriad possibilities that awaited these kids in their futures if only we could keep them safe long enough to grow up.

Later, by the light of a candle, we sat around Hakim’s laptop long into the night as these incredible artists demonstrated their musical talent and commitment to spreading the word about ending this disease. With chickens scratching in the dust nearby, nationally celebrated artists like Daisson, Cidson, Sultan, Maestro Diego, Prince D, and the girl-group Matania, sang and played instruments, while Hakim digitally recreated the music and captured the emotions behind the drive to bring awareness to malaria in Chad on his MacBook. 

Finally, in what was a shocking contrast of setting, we went to a state-of-the-art studio to watch the recording of the song and music video. The government of Chad is so committed to this humanitarian effort that it let us use these national facilities, offering the support of their capable recording studio personnel. Our key malaria partners, including the National Malaria Control Program, joined us there to ensure that we got the technical messages right. The musicians, studio technicians and Malaria No More staff were all incredibly excited to take part in the creation of such a collaborative and creative project for the malaria cause.

I look forward to hearing this new anthem, sharing it with all our supporters, and listening to it ring out across Chad in the near future -- a future that will hopefully soon be free from malaria.