{"id":425714,"date":"2020-04-03T00:44:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T07:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=425714"},"modified":"2024-10-28T11:51:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T18:51:42","slug":"covid-19-song-of-thanks-to-healthcare-heroes-by-big-fish-jason-dunford-jus-of-jabali-afrika","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/covid-19-song-of-thanks-to-healthcare-heroes-by-big-fish-jason-dunford-jus-of-jabali-afrika\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Song Of Thanks To Healthcare Heroes By ‘Big Fish’ Jason Dunford & Jus of Jabali Afrika"},"content":{"rendered":"

Samaki Mkuu<\/strong>, the artist formerly known as the Kenyan swimming ace Jason Dunford<\/strong>, has \u00a0collaborated with Jus of Jabali Afrika<\/strong> to produce a\u00a0COVID-19 song to help\u00a0spread “the message of social distancing to save lives and also express our gratitude to medical professionals around the world battling on the front lines”.<\/p>\n

The swimmer is still in him: Dunford’s artist name,\u00a0Samaki Mkuu<\/strong>,\u00a0loosely translates to ‘Big Fish’\u00a0in Swahili.<\/p>\n

\"jasondunford2covid-19\"

Photo Courtesy: The COVID-19 Song – Photo Courtesy: Jason Dunford<\/p><\/div>\n

He\u00a0tells Swimming World<\/em> that the song’s message can be summed up in the hope of\u00a0“together we shall overcome”, borrowing the sentiment of the original\u00a0“We Shall Overcome”, a gospel song which became a protest song and a key anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 is the fight right now, the song from\u00a0Jason <\/strong>and\u00a0Jus<\/strong> notesat a time when the impact of the coronavirus pandemic not only leads the news each day but is the news dominating the lives of billions across the globe.<\/p>\n

Dunford, Olympic finalist, Commonwealth 50m butterfly champion over 50m butterly in 2010, a five-times All-Africa Games butterfly champion and gold medallist over 100m Butterly at the 2009 Universiade, says:<\/p>\n

“As the whole world confronts coronavirus, Justo Asikoye (Jus\/Jabali Afrika)<\/strong> and I wanted to do something\u00a0to help ease anxieties\u00a0using the power of reggae music. We decided to write and record this song, with the whole project from conception to completion taking only one week.<\/p>\n

“We wanted to document some of things we’ve been hearing about in the news, spread the message of social distancing to save lives and and also express our gratitude to medical professionals around the world battling on the front lines. Together we shall overcome”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n