New York, NY—November 29, 2019—In a strategic effort to partner with the African Union, collaborate with the United Nations, garner support from the African diaspora and help sign up 1 million African Youth to help lead Africa into a new era, Hip-Hop/R&B Recording sensation Zakiyyah, with that her groundbreaking single, “Shades of Black (The Hip-Hopera),” has launched a crowdfunding page on Patreon to take Africa to the next level.

Patreon is a top crowdfunding membership platform site based in the U.S. that provides business tools for creators to run a subscription content service, while enabling artists to build relationships and provide exclusive content, experiences and opportunities to their subscribers, or “patrons.”

There is a lot 1 million youth can do to help the U.N. achieve the SDGs, which are the world’s shared plan to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality and protect the planet by 2030.  Adopted by 193 countries in 2015, the SDGs emerged from the most inclusive and comprehensive negotiations in U.N. history and have inspired people from across sectors, geographies and cultures.  Achieving the goals by 2030 will require a heroic and imaginative effort, determination to learn about what works, and agility to adapt to new information and changing trends.

Africa’s youth are at the very heart of Africa’s development agenda.  Over 75% of Africa’s 1.2 billion inhabitants are under the age of 35, and there are 453 million Africans ages 15-35.  So it goes without saying that the development outcomes of Africa’s young people have a significant and lasting effect on the continent’s future.  The challenges Africa faces in education, employment, health and governance are most acutely felt by Africa’s youth.  It is against this backdrop that the African Union Commission is celebrating Africa Youth Month under the theme “1 Million by 2021: Count Me In!”

DJ Clue with Zakiyyah

During Africa Youth Month a host of activities are scheduled each week to support the 4E’s which include: Education, November 4-10; Engagement, November 11-17;  Entrepreneurship, November 18-24; and Employment, November 25-30.  Activities will include youth-led actions, conferences and meetings, dialogues and extensive social media engagement.  To kick off the month on November 1^st there was a continent-wide scavenger hunt, the first of its kind, which provided youth across Africa and in the diaspora with fun, instructive tasks and activities to perform throughout the day.  These simple tasks were developed to create awareness, learning, knowledge and interaction with the Africa Agenda 2063, which is the framework guiding Africa’s development in the next 50 years; the African Youth Charter; and 1 Million by 2021. 

The importance of these goals is not lost with Zakiyyah, whose own personal goals align with those of the U.N. and the African Union.

Zakiyyah with DJ Self

“It has always been a dream of mine to give back to the land that created me.  There is an abundance of talent, ingenuity and wealth on the continent and I could not be more thrilled to have the opportunity to use my music and activism as a platform to bring those gifts to the forefront.  For too long the world has believed that Africa was just a land in need of saving—but this couldn’t be farther from the truth.  The solution to whatever plagues the continent lies not in the hands of outsiders looking to control it, but in the continent’s own youth who understand the power of African Unity and why so many have gone so far to try to destroy it.  I’m ready to take on the mission of empowering our young people in Africa and throughout the diaspora in order to transform politics and the business sector and ensure the vitality of our future.”

“I have seen many artists in my life, but very few with the skills, diversity and talent  that Zakiyyah has.  Her activism, philanthropy and humanitarian movement is a breath of fresh air and I’m truly excited about her agenda and how she will use her upcoming album: African Import, and tour to help unite Africa’s youth with those in the diaspora.  As we prepare to work with the U.N. and the African Union to unite and empower African youth, you can bet this initiative will grab a lot of attention amongst the 55 leaders of the African Union. Africa has a lot of young talent and with Zakiyyah spearheading a drive to sign-up 1 million youth by 2021, a lot of doors will open in America for new talent supporting the SDGs,” stated Charles Fisher, CEO of P.O.G. Music, Marketing & Management. 

Zakiyyah with Honey German

Said Randy Fisher, Executive Director, Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, “We have worked with the U.N. since 2006 on a host of projects including the Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) and now the SDGs.  Both were created to help developing and undeveloped countries improve their living standards.  Its always been our position that if the Hip-Hop community and the Entertainment industry got more involved with the social issues confronting Africa and the world, we could definitely make this a safer and better planet.  When you have the attention of 1 million youth there is nothing you can’t accomplish.  If Zakiyyah can be the bridge we have all been waiting for, this will change the game and put us in a better position to fulfill the SDGs and the goals of the African Union.”

Said The “Fitness Sheriff”, Workout Coach and Talk Show Host of the Hip-Hop ‘Hood Report, “I met Zakiyyah for the very first time at the POWERHOUSE 2019 concert and I was impressed with the way she carried herself during our interview and the entire evening.  When I first watched the Hip-Hopera video, I knew it had a lot of potential to win because what she brings to the table is new, cultural and different from what you hear today.  Everyone can’t be Cardi B; you have to get creative, dare to be different and pave your own road to success.  You can bet there is a market out there for positive Hip-Hop and with the right team she can take her career to the next level.”

“After watching her video I was completely blown away because I know talent and Zakiyyah is an incredible artist with the ability to take a label to another level.  I’m looking forward to working with her and Charles in the very near future” ended Brad Patrick, President, Phoenix Music Group.

Zakiyyah with EmEZ

Posted and Written by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher for the Hip-Hop ‘Hood Report. To watch Zakiyyah’s hot and culturally inspiring new video click here– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvIKK_HCr2w

For additional information about her crowdfunding page on Patreon you can go to: www.Patreon.com/Zakiyyah.

For info on her Tour, Album, Activism, etc. hit us up at: RandyKFisher@gmail.com.

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