How Fatima got to sing for Ed Sheeran

Fatima, a former asylum seeker from West Africa, has done both these things thanks to her involvement with National Lottery-funded Citizens of the World Choir.

Fatima and the choir sang at the Glastonbury Festival in 2024. More recently, they provided backing vocals for Ed Sheeran’s single ‘Azizam’ at a secret recording session in London. The song debuted at number three on the UK singles chart when it was released on 4th April 2025.

Fatima said, “I couldn’t believe it when we heard we would be recording for Ed Sheeran. It was an amazing experience.

“The recording team were so kind, welcoming and encouraging. We knew from the moment we heard the track that it was full of energy and love to share with the whole world. It’s an invitation to the dance floor and we’re so pleased to be part of it.”

Azizam is a Persian word that means ‘my dear’ or ‘my beloved’ when translated from Farsi to English. It was the perfect song for the Citizens of the World Choir, a vocal ensemble comprised of refugees, asylum seekers and their friends which was founded in 2017. At present, the choir features singers from more than 20 different countries.

When ‘Azizam’ was released the choir held a listening party in south-east London. They reflected on what the word Azizam meant and how it might be translated into their own languages.

Becky Dell, the conductor and CEO of Citizens of the World Choir, said, “As a choir that seeks to celebrate the heritage, artistry and humanity of people seeking sanctuary, it’s incredible to be sharing this moment with so many people globally and spreading a message of peace and joy further than ever. It was a dream come true to work with Ed Sheeran and his team on the backing vocals for ‘Azizam’.”

Fatima first heard about Citizens of the World Choir during the pandemic. She was pregnant at the time and like many people felt isolated during the lockdowns.

When the Covid restrictions were lifted, Fatima visited the choir at its London rehearsal space. She didn’t consider herself a singer and can’t remember what she sang on that first visit, but she does recall being made to feel extremely welcome.

She said, “I wanted to do things that would get me out of the house. There was still a lot going on with my status, I was feeling lonely, and I didn’t have family to visit. I was looking for a way to break free.”

Since joining the choir and more recently becoming its rehearsal manager assistant and outreach officer, Fatima feels she has blossomed. She has started writing poetry and a reading of one of her compositions, Echo of Your Voice, is one of two recordings the choir will release on World Refugee Day on 20th June 2025. In her poem, Fatima says, “When life feels really hopeless, singing songs has been part of the way of escape. Yes, singing.”

Fatima also hopes to return to the stage at Glastonbury in the not too distant future.

She said, “The choir has helped me make friends and it’s helped me make progress – so many things. If I hadn’t been part of it, I probably wouldn’t have reached this point.”

2nd June 2025