Seeking to spotlight the vitality of the communities that inspired the song, Kidjo, Williams, and Quavo filmed the video for “Bando” with director Paul Hunter in La Grande Borne, a public-housing project in Grigny, in the suburbs of Paris. Even as a historic heat wave swept through the area, residents filled the streets and danced for hours, embodying what Kidjo views as a much-needed counter-narrative to rampant stereotypes. “Most of the time, people only talk about the pain and the struggle of people in the projects, but there’s also pride and joy and celebration,” she says. “When we made the video the whole community came out, and you could feel how proud they were to be seen and recognized. Even in the crazy heat, the kids were so happy and so hopeful. I hope that the song will do them justice, and lift them up even more.”

“The visual world of ‘Bando’ is rooted in culture and community,” says director Paul Hunter. “I was moved by the song and inspired to explore the world it evokes beyond the music itself. The most powerful moments came from observing people simply being together, seeing the younger generation supported by those who came before them, and capturing those natural moments of connection. The goal was to create an experience that felt lived-in and honest, while honoring the culture and people who give the song its meaning.”

“Bando” takes its title from a term for an abandoned house, but the song looks beyond a physical place to the lives and creativity that exist within communities shaped by poverty and inequality. At its core is Kidjo’s conviction that where someone begins should never dictate where they are able to go. “So much of the art that we love comes from people who created something out of nothing,” says Kidjo. “When you have so little, making art becomes a way to have agency and protect your humanity. It proves that you have something of value to share with the world.”