Ayaan Allarakhia releases uplifting song 'Unaweza'

Ayaan Allarakhia, a talented Year 9 student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, released an uplifting original song titled ‘Unaweza’ or you can, which he wrote to inspire people amid the current global crisis.

“I wanted to encourage and give hope to people that there are better days ahead and we should have faith instead of giving up,” Ayaan said, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. “I thought it was necessary to remind people that we can do it and we can stay strong during this trying time.”

The song features local artist Mr Shamir Tadeiya, who also served as producer  It was accompanied by a video shot entirely on the Academy’s 18-acre campus. The video, starring students and teachers, has racked up nearly 12,000 views on YouTube.

“The shooting process was an unforgettable experience for me, and I’d like to believe it was the same for everyone who participated,” Ayaan said. “It wasn’t my first time shooting a video, but I still learnt a whole lot and I’m glad it all paid off.”

With his song, Ayaan hopes to reach those in Kenya who were struggling most during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those suffering economically and mentally. “I wanted people to know that this pandemic is just a passing cloud and that they should not give up,” he said. 

Ayaan discovered his love for music at the age of four, after his parents gifted him a toy piano for his birthday. They later signed Ayaan up for music classes, where he learned to compose his own songs. Ayaan credits the Academy with providing him numerous opportunities to perform at school events and hone his craft. 

“I was given opportunities to sing in front of the whole school so that my talent could be well recognized. All these helped me to express myself better in terms of confidence and collaboration with teachers and students of the school,” Ayaan said. 

Through this project and his future pursuits, Ayaan hopes to motivate other students to never give up on their dreams. He says, “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, for as long as you are determined, disciplined, and have fun with what you are doing," he said.

Watch his video below: