When Agency Becomes Action: Why I Answered Africa’s Call

When I composed “Africa’s Call,” the official G20 song under South Africa’s Presidency, no one in government instructed me to do so. There was no formal request, no committee, no commission. I simply acted.

Some have asked me what would compel a person to take such an initiative. My answer is simple: it is the exercise of sovereign agency and the power of causation.

Sovereign agency is the ability to act without waiting for permission. It is the recognition that within each of us lies the authority to move, to decide, and to shape outcomes. The power of causation is the mental capacity to bring into existence that which was not there before. These are not gifts handed down by institutions; they are capacities that lie within us all, waiting to be activated.

For me, the G20 moment represented more than a diplomatic gathering. It was an opportunity to give voice to Africa’s spirit of unity, collaboration, justice, and hope. Music has the unique ability to carry messages beyond the walls of negotiation rooms and into the hearts of people. “Africa’s Call” was my way of ensuring that Africa’s contribution to global dialogue was not only political but cultural, emotional, and deeply human.

I did not ask myself, “Who will approve this?” Instead, I asked, “What must be done, and can I do it?” That single mental shift is the difference between spectators and participants in history. I chose to participate.

What I hope others see in this story is not merely a song but a lesson: we are all carriers of sovereign agency. Whether we choose to activate it or not, it resides within us. Some wait for validation; others move with conviction. The world is shaped by those who act.

In a time when many are held back by bureaucracy, doubt, or fear, I want Africa’s Call to stand as evidence that one person, without title or instruction, can create something of value for the collective. That is the essence of agency — and the power of causation.

And that is why I answered Africa’s call.

Africa’s Call (The G20 Official Song)

Verse 1
From the rolling savannas to the rivers wide,
Africa’s heartbeat, her dreams can’t hide.
A land of promise, rich and strong,
Her voice rising, her people’s song.

G20 holds a key in hand,
A chance to heal, to understand.
To bridge the gaps, to pave the way,
For Africa’s dawn, a brighter day.

Chorus
G20, hear the cry,
Lift our hopes to the sky.
Build the roads, let rivers flow,
Let seeds of promise start to grow.
For Africa’s future, bold and free,
A home for all, in unity.

Verse 2
Trade and tech, the tools we need,
To sow the fields, to plant the seed.
Empower youth, the dreams they bear,
A global promise to truly care.

Every handshake, every plan,
Build the bridges, and take a stand.
Let equity and justice reign,
Together we can ease the pain.

Chorus
G20, hear the cry,
Lift our hopes to the sky.
Build the roads, let rivers flow,
Let seeds of promise start to grow.
For Africa’s future, bold and free,
A home for all, in unity.

Bridge
Education for all, dreams to ignite,
Energy to power the darkest night.
The wealth of nations shared and fair,
Together we rise, beyond despair.

Outro
G20, take your place,
Stand with Africa, embrace her grace.
A better world for us to see,
A brighter Africa, bold and free.
For every child who calls it home,
Together we’ll build, they’ll never roam.

🎧 Listen to the song on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/4R4URINGZpP5FN0syQ2wVL?si=sCNI4gkFSHWuxWxgXldVfA