You likely know K'naan Warsame for his FIFA World Cup anthem "Waving Flag" and Belgiumhis role on The Hamilton Mixtape track, "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done.)" Now, he's asking American citizens to vote on his behalf in the upcoming elections.
Though the Canadian-Somali singer and poet lives and works in New York, he's a Canadian citizen and his family still resides in Toronto, which means he's facing challenges as a result of the Trump administration's travel ban.
SEE ALSO: Riz Ahmed, K'naan and more star in a new music video from 'The Hamilton Mixtape'So he released a powerful video plea in partnership with The Love Vote, a nonprofit organization that aims to give the 50 million people like K'naan — who are unable to vote in the U.S. due to circumstances like age, citizenship status, or disenfranchisement — a space for their voices to be heard.
In the video, K'naan, who serves as one of the Love Vote's Creative Advisors, explains that though he is a Canadian citizen with the right to vote in Canada, he says he never took part in the process because he "never really felt connected" to the candidates he saw on TV.
Now that he's working in New York amidst the changing U.S. immigration laws, he says understands the immense weight that each individual vote carries and wishes he could take part in the U.S. midterm elections.
"I'm thinking about how to go back [to Canada,]" the singer says in the video, following a June Supreme Court ruling in favor of President Trump's third proposed travel ban — which has the power to restrict entry into the United States from people from seven countries: Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela, and North Korea.
"I had bought a little chessboard for my kids who like chess. My two little boys they're 11 and 13 and so I want to take back this chessboard to Toronto but the immigration ban happens and I'm really worried that I won’t be able to come back to New York where my apartment is," the singer continues. "I call my immigration lawyer and she confirms my fears and says, 'Do not leave because you probably won’t be allowed back.'"
"God, I really wish I could vote."
"That was the first time I thought, 'God, I really wish I could vote.' It really makes me think about this idea that someone could cast a vote for you as this incredibly generous, thoughtful idea."
With these personal videos, the Love Vote's hope is that individual stories will inspire people to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. After visiting personal pages and watching each person's video, visitors can virtually promise to vote on behalf of an individual with the simple click of a button.
"Now I’m asking for you, if you can vote, to vote for someone on my behalf, who wants to vote so desperately now," K'naan said. "Cast a vote to affect this process that affects so directly my own life. If you could cast a vote on my behalf and you believe in the work that I do I would really love that."
To get involved with the Love Vote's initiative, you can become a "Mover" by sharing your own personal story to encourage others to vote on your behalf, pledge to help as a voter, or donate to the organization to help share more stories.
As of today, 1,071 love votes have been promised.
You can watch K'naan's full video, along with others, here.
Topics Activism Social Good Elections Politics Celebrities Immigration
Taylor Swift pens Tumblr post following news Scooter Braun owns her mastersThe best SpiderGoogle thinks this country is showing the most interest in mobile development courses'Bond 25' filming kicks off in LondonThis musical remix of the UK news in 2016 is hilariously brutalSony's new wireless earbuds will kill the noise around you'Stranger Things' Season 3 first reactions are here. Brace yourself.Carpool Karaoke has a special connection to George MichaelMistletoe man rushing to the airport is like 'Love Actually' IRLThe best TV scenes of 2019 (so far)Marvel hasn't been great to LGBTQ audiences, Iceman writer saysKim Kardashian celebrated Christmas by silently posing in SnapchatsSony's new wireless earbuds will kill the noise around youVolkswagen's 1962 bus is back as the allThis millennial's relatable tweet about time is blowing people's minds'Stranger Things 3' review: Season 3 is an exhilarating return to formAnchorage roasts as heat records break across AlaskaThe new and improved Gay Street sign is all over NYC Pride Twitter'The L Word' creator on the next generation of LGBTQ love on screenThe best photos from South America's solar eclipse Fans are petitioning to bring back 'Good Girls Revolt' India's Paytm announces toll Will Ferrell will be starring in a comedy about esports Here's how you could have predicted Trump as 'Person of the Year' Here's how the 'Star Wars' droids could help you survive the holidays Football club seriously regrets posting a job opening on Twitter 7 practical gifts for people who always break their phones Everyone but the Chinese are worried about Matt Damon in 'The Great Wall' GE integrates Alexa into its first desk lamp The Leftovers Season 3 premiere date set for April Today's NYT mini crossword answers for June 19, 2025 Apple Music hits 20 million paying subscribers Google, Microsoft, Facebook receive notice from Indian court over illegal activities Marshawn Lynch narrating the 'Planet Earth II' iguana chase is just so perfect This is not normal, people: Arctic and Antarctic hit record low sea ice A new underwater robot captured eerie, high Homes in Trump Tower now advertised with a new amenity: Secret Service protection NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for June 18: Tips to solve Connections #269 Truth is, Trump hated 'Time' until it put him on the cover Adobrable bush baby inspires super