"Initially released on Facebook and with 1,431,432 views on YouTube since launching nine days ago, the song has certainly struck a chord with viewers"
7/10
When you think of Akon, the RnB artist behind tunes such as ‘Lonely’ and ‘Locked Up’, sustainable energy might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what the star is focusing on as he releases a comeback single this month in partnership with oil company, Shell.
The video forms part of Shell’s#makethefuture campaign, highlighting the need for sustainable energy in Africa and inspiring youths to use their surroundings for the greater good.
Filmed in Lagos, Nigeria with Akon taking centre stage, the video calls out to budding entrepreneurs and is shot on location at Africa’s very first football pitch which generates energy from the sun.
A truly revolutionary idea, the pitch captures kinetic energy generated from footsteps, which is then used to power the floodlights.
The campaign demonstrates the power of technology and innovative thinking and shows that the most enjoyable activities can be used to create positive change for local communities. Akon’s performance doesn’t quite fit with the narrative of the video at the start, as he sits back on a couch watching a mock TV clip of World News explaining how more than one billion people worldwide still live without electricity.
However, while the performance lacks sincerity at the beginning, Akon brings an infectious positivity to the issue from the moment he walks onto the pitch.
Shell takes a tech-savvy approach to tackling the energy crisis. Initially released on Facebook and with 1,431,432 views on YouTube since launching nine days ago, the song has certainly struck a chord with viewers.
Akon also spoke to HuffPost for a Facebook Live interview in which he delved into his experience going back to Lagos, adding a personal touch to the campaign.