The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has appointed Tanzanian hip hop artist Frida Amani as its first-ever Advocate for Ecosystem Restoration, ahead of the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi.
As UNEP’s Advocate for Ecosystem Restoration, Amani will work to mobilise young people and raise awareness about efforts to prevent, halt and reverse environmental degradation.
Her appointment comes at the midpoint of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, an initiative aimed at reviving billions of hectares of damaged ecosystems across the world, from oceans and mountains to cities, grasslands and forests.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen welcomed Amani to the role, praising her dedication to environmental advocacy.
“Frida sings, speaks, and acts for a healthy environment, so I am pleased to welcome her to the UNEP family,” Andersen said.
“Reflected in her work is a relentless passion for restoration, where care for people and nature go hand-in-hand, making her an inspiring role model for young people across Africa and beyond.”
Amani, one of East Africa’s most prominent female rappers and media personalities, boasts more than one million social media followers and has earned recognition for her influence across music and social causes.
Her accolades include the global Music Cities Award, which honours the use of music to drive sustainable development, and Tanzania’s Orange Award.
Amani emphasised the urgency of restoring degraded natural ecosystems.
“Growing up, we saw nature as a great protector. We also watched it become increasingly vulnerable to climate change and unsustainable exploitation,” she said.
“By joining the UN Environment Programme, I wish to inspire my fans to become part of a generation committed to ecosystem restoration. It is no longer enough to lament nature’s loss — we must bring it back. We are Generation Restoration.”
Amani’s activism is already evident in her music and public initiatives.
Her work includes the Kisiki Hai track promoting Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration, performances at the Performance for Nature event, and participation in the Mote Mama Gizani campaign advocating for maternal health.
She also serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Lead Foundation and runs her own organisation, the Amani Foundation, which supports environmental and social causes, including the Performance for Nature concert held in Tanzania earlier this year.
UNEP said the appointment reflects the increasing role of artists and cultural influencers in driving environmental awareness and inspiring public action globally.
