#DontGoViral, the online campaign launched by the UNESCO on April the 1st, gathers creative content and fills the need for culturally pertinent information, under a free license, and in regional African languages. The goal is to inform all linguistic communities on the ways to preventing the spread of COVID-19. The campaign is also a way to fight the infodemic: all the disinformation and misinformation spreading alongside the pandemic.
The clip Corona tillé (Corona exists) in Tamasheq by the band Ezza from Niger, spotted by #AuxSons on April the 1st, was sub-titled in French, Arabic, and English thanks to the UNESCO campaign.
High-level artists from all across Africa and the diaspora have joined the campaign, like Fally Ipupa, Timi Dakolo, Wale Turner, Stonebwoy, Reekado Banks, Les Frères Smith and Seun Kuti, Youssou N’dour and Didier Awadi, amongst others. Seun Kuti and Les Frères Smith have won the first round of #DontGoViral prices in the category “best audio” with their single “No Waiting”.
Since its launch, the campaign has received more than 500 submissions from over 40 African countries. The posts on social media, counting only Facebook and Twitter, have reached more than 90 million people, and the videos have reached an incalculable amount of people through Youtube, messaging applications, and local radio stations.
The artists wishing to join the initiative can submit their content here: bit.ly/dontgoviral
