MUMBAI: Members of the Marley family, including Skip, Cedella and Stephen Marley, will be launching a re-recorded version of the late Bob Marley’s classic song One Love to support UNICEF’s work for children affected by COVID-19 on 17th July 2020.

The global solidarity anthem will be released by Tuff Gong International and Amplified Music and will be available on all major streaming platforms. It was reimagined by the Marley family in response to a call by UNICEF to help reimagine a fairer, more just world for children whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to honor the late Marley. The song also comes on the 75th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birth, and features artists and musicians from around the world, including:

• Members of the Marley Family, Jamaica

• Raja Kumari, rapper, India and the United States

• Babsy, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica

• Bob Marley Foundation Choir, Jamaica

• Natty, singer, Thailand

• Patoranking, singer, Nigeria

• Mermans Mosengo, vocalist with ‘Playing for Change’, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa

• Jason Tamba, vocalist with ‘Playing for Change’, Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Regiane, vocalist with ‘Dawtas of Aya’, Brazil

• Teeks, Maori singer/songwriter, New Zealand

• 249Too Dope, rapper, Sudan

• Children from the Ghetto Youths Foundation, Jamaica

Cedella Marley states, “One Love was written as a call for global solidarity at a time when the world was very divided, much as it is now. And yet, only by uniting with one love and one heart can we defeat this virus, protect our children, and make the world a more just and equal place. All over the world, children and families are suffering. Whether they are living in refugee camps, slums or favelas, or they lack access to healthcare or school, or are being treated unfairly because of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender, our dream with this song is to reimagine a world where all children are treated equally – just as my father intended.”

Raja Kumari states, “I’ve had a Bob Marley poster on my wall since I was a kid, and he has influenced my music and art in so many ways. I’m honored to be a part of ONE LOVE with so many incredible artists to celebrate the legacy of one of my musical gurus. I’m so excited to partner with UNICEF and donate all the proceeds to a charity I hold dear to my heart and has helped so many people in need.”

Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF states, “One Love is one of the world’s most iconic solidarity anthems. But it is also a song about children, and their hopes and dreams for a better, more united and equal world. Today, in the midst of a global pandemic, responding to Bob Marley’s call to ‘hear the children crying one love’ is as important and relevant as ever. Our best hope to defeat COVID-19 and to reimagine a more equal, less discriminatory world for children remains through global solidarity and co-operation.”

COVID-19 has upended the lives of children around the world and exposed rampant inequalities both within and among countries. UNICEF estimates that an additional 6,000 children could die every day from preventable causes over the next six months – almost all of them (over 90 per cent) in low or lower-middle income countries – as the pandemic continues to weaken health systems and disrupt services. Children are also extremely vulnerable to the indirect impacts of COVID-19, such as school closures, food shortages, limited access to basic healthcare, and disruptions to medical supply chains.

In response, UNICEF has launched Reimagine—an urgent appeal to governments, the public, donors and the private sector to support UNICEF’s efforts to respond, recover and reimagine a world currently besieged by COVID-19. All proceeds from the song and related activities will directly support Reimagine.

In addition to the 75th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birth, this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. While the UN continues to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has launched UN75, the UN’s most ambitious effort to crowdsource public opinion and solutions for the future. Throughout the year, UN75 is inviting people everywhere to reimagine the future they want and contribute ideas on how to make it a reality, building a better and more sustainable world for all.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General states, “In a year in which the entire world is taking stock of the United Nations and the progress we’ve made, and the work that remains toward improving global solidarity, there is perhaps no better song to honor this work than One Love, and no better year to do so than on Bob Marley’s 75th birthday.”

The money raised from One Love for Reimagine will help UNICEF respond to the immediate needs by providing soap, masks, gloves, hygiene kits, protective equipment and life-saving information for children and families; support near term recovery efforts, including by supporting education, protection and healthcare systems; and further UNICEF work to reimagine a fairer, more just world for children.

To coincide with the release of the song, members of the public are invited to engage in UNICEF’s One Love campaign through activations on social media channels. UNICEF is partnering with the short-video platform TikTok to launch the #OneLoveOneHeart challenge, encouraging TikTok users to post videos using the One Love chorus; revealing who or what they hold dear – i.e their One Love – nominating five friends or family to do the same and donating to One Love for UNICEF.

Continuing Pandora’s support for One Love, the jewellery brand and UNICEF global partner has launched an augmented reality #OneLoveOneHeart filter on Instagram. Every use of the filter will unlock US $1, as part of Pandora’s total contribution of up to US$1 million to One Love for UNICEF.

The first video performance of One Love by the Marley family will air during a One Love Livestream Show on UNICEF’s TikTok account on 18 July 2020 at 8:00pm EST. TikTok users will be able to donate to UNICEF throughout livestream, with Pandora matching donations.

Until 31 August 2020, jewellery brand Pandora will match every dollar donated by the public to UNICEF's One Love activation as part of the company’s total contribution of up to US$1 million to the activation.