Just Adetoun tasks women, girls to embrace African values

To ensure better representation on global pedestal for the African continent, musical artist and playwright, Adetoun Onajobi popularly known as Just Adetoun has urged young girls to hold firm to the core values and roots of their ancestry.

This was the drive at her recent stage play titled ‘African Values’, which addressed a number of contemporary issues affecting African women and girls in today’s global landscape, and emphasised the need to hold firm to their cultural heritage and African identity.

The child nutritionist, gospel music recording artist and philanthropist is harnessing the power of music to illuminate pressing social issues and societal norms that present challenges. Through her unique blend of advocacy and gospel music, Just Adetoun spreads a message of love, hope and possibility, inspiring a brighter future for a diverse audience.

Just Adetoun told the tale of the African Woman, and portrayed how African culture has become etched onto the global terrain. The play highlighted pride, dignity, truthfulness, dedication and tenacity, as the African Woman’s biggest tools for success.

She said that inspiration for the play is from the diverse struggles of the youth. “Our society faces numerous pressures, which have placed a significant burden on the younger generation. Many feel compelled to explore unethical means to make ends meet. This troubling trend motivated us to use the arts to address these issues.”

Just Adetoun emphasised the importance of giving the next generation of young African girls a proper upbringing, as it will enable them stand tall amongst their international counterparts and inspire real change across different sectors: “My message is simple yet powerful: the girl child has endless potential and possibilities. If well-harnessed, she can make a difference and change her world without compromising her values.”

She noted that societal pressure forces a lot of young girls to take the responsibility of breaking out of the cycle of poverty into their own hands, settling for any means to make ends meet for their families. Through her play, Just Adetoun also call for a change, urging guardians to embrace the core values and essence of the African culture when raising their children.

“The world is fragile and difficult. We can only make the world a better place with truth, by being truthful to who we are and what we stand for. This play serves as a reminder to the girl child that she should not be objectified or used. Instead, she should uphold African values. The play’s message is particularly relevant during the festive season, when societal pressures can be overwhelming.”

She wants more African women to embrace their cultural strength and the beauty of their heritage, while noting that intentionality is the key ingredient for attaining unparalleled success in any field.

“My message to young African women is that they have greatness embedded within them. I encourage them to pursue meaningfulness in all they do, which will ultimately lead to unqualified success. I hope to see them make informed choices, prioritise their values, and strive for excellence in their endeavours,” she added.