Chris Oledude delivers something deeply personal and powerfully relevant with his single, “If A Woman Had Made The World.” Originally written in 1983 for his late mother, Ethel Werfel Owens, the song returns in 2025 with renewed purpose and emotional weight. Now also dedicated to his late wife, Sandra Dixon, this updated version feels less like a revival and more like a fulfillment of a long-held vision. It’s reflective, honest, and driven by Oledude’s belief that women’s voices have always shaped history, whether acknowledged or not.
The duet featuring Kiena Williams adds striking depth and balance. Her voice doesn’t just complement Oledude’s, it strengthens the song’s message. There’s a natural chemistry between them that makes the call-and-response passages feel alive and communal. One of the song’s most moving moments comes when Oledude sings “If a woman had made the world, families would live, If a woman had made the world, everyone would freely give. There’d be support for every soul.” In these lines, the song’s message crystallizes—offering not accusation, but a vision of compassion, generosity, and shared responsibility as the foundation for a better world. Drawing inspiration from legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Rawls, and Al Jarreau, Oledude blends classic soul warmth with a modern sense of urgency. The groove is steady, the harmonies are rich, and the arrangement leaves room for the song’s message to breathe.
Oledude’s background gives the single added resonance. Encouraged early in his career by folk icon Pete Seeger, he has long viewed music as a tool for social reflection. The original recording appeared on his 1984 cassette Anyone’s Revolution, captured on modest equipment but fueled by conviction. Decades later, the song’s central question feels even more pressing.
This new production is fuller and more assured, yet it retains the heart of the original. A renewed guitar solo from Clyde Spillenger adds texture, while the layered vocals create a sense of shared strength. “If A Woman Had Made The World” is not just a tribute—it’s a thoughtful challenge, inviting listeners to rethink assumptions and imagine a more compassionate world.
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