TWO decades since British girl group Spice Girls debuted their smash hit, “Wannabe,” the song’s iconic music video has been recreated into a campaign video for international gender equality.
The remake was produced by Project Everyone in behalf of the Global Goals, a United Nations initiative of 17 goals for sustainable development.
The video features a diverse roster of artists from India, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These include Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, British hip hop group M.O and American dancer Taylor Hatala.
The video which follows a continuous shot format similar to that of the original, involved artists advocating for quality education, equal job opportunities, and an end to violence against women and child marriage.
“Girls and women are disproportionately affected by these challenges and are key to building resilient communities to withstand them,” Global Goals wrote in its home page (https://www.globalgoals.org/).
“2016 is our chance to use our collective power and tell world leaders what we really really want for girls and women,” it added, referencing to lyrics from the ‘90s girl power anthem.
Celebrities, including former Spice Girls members Victoria Beckham and Melanie Chisholm, expressed support for the video by endorsing it on their social media accounts.
“20 years on – Girl Power being used to empower a new generation. I’m so proud of The Global Goals #WhatIReallyReallyWant,” Beckham wrote on Facebook.
Chisholm tweeted, “Flattered and honored that our crazy song is being used so beautifully.”
Signed by 193 world leaders in September 2015, the Global Goals campaign aims “to end poverty, fix climate change and tackle inequalities” by 2030. Jaehwa Bernardo, INQUIRER.net trainee/KS