Artist Highya Ziya: Speaks from his heart *Guide and Protect* April 20, 2012 by Editor Sher Blake
He was inspired to guide and protect the physically challenged from his childhood days; he grew up with his blind grandfather, Lance Orlando Bryan, ‘Highya Ziya’ shares his story about “Guide and Protect” song and video.
A song used as the anthem for The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation.
What motivated you to do a song for the physically challenged? I know Maia Chung from CVM Television days, however, unofficially.
I met her officially at a media launch in 2008. We spoke and she told me about the Autism and Disabilities Foundation.
I think she saw my interest and care about the foundation and she asked me if I would do a song for the cause. I remember seeing her on the television with her son who’s affected by Autism and it touched my heart.
I consider my self a humanitarian, I connected with how she felt because I could relate, as I grew up with my physically challenged grandfather.
Who wrote the song? The song was written by me and Mark Writer.
I went to him with my idea and we pool our effort together.
Tell us about the video? I voiced the song in 2009 for John Biggs Production.
Maia said the song was powerful and significant; she even went on to say it can be used globally as an anthem for the autistic and disabled and that a video would complete the effort.
She gathered help from her friends at CVM and I told her I have a friend Asha who is a video director from Sling Shot Video Production.
Asha shot the video as a contribution; all I paid was the cost to edit the video which was minimal. I am truly grateful, Asha supported our objective.
The shooting process was challenging as it takes patience and love to deal with the physically challenged. However, the overall experience was priceless, it made me express my true feelings, and it brought me closer to The Almighty.
All I could reflect on was Bob Marley’s song “One Love” that’s a humanitarian song.
When Bob toured America it was that song that brought out scores of disabled persons, that for me is powerful. These people are special and one love one heart it is, regardless of your physical make up.
Have you recorded other songs? I have voiced a few songs, Guide and Protect, Mama Cry, Nah Sell Out, Home Coming.
‘Nah Sell Out’ is on Green Piece rhythm and feature artists like, Lutan Fyah, Natural Black, I-Octane and Bush Man.
What’s outlook for your career? Build some rhythm and write songs.
I am working on some projects at the moment. You consider yourself a humanitarian, what message do you have for fellow artists? What I have to say is simple.
Entertainers on a whole are gifted people; they get the gift from The Almighty.
When you get a gift you’re special. What I have to say to the gifted artists is, The Almighty chose you to put out great songs.
The people are judges of music universally, be a humanitarian and give back to the people.
