WC 2010: Star-studded artists lined up

  1. Posted on Thursday 18 March 2010 - 11:05
    Gbentil
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    Glorea Bentil, AfricaNews reporter in Accra, Ghana
    FIFA and Control Room, a leading producer of global music events, have announced the first performing artists for the inaugural FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert in South Africa. The star-studded artists include superstar Alicia Keys, Amadou & Mariam and Angélique Kidjo
    Alicia Keys
    Others are Black Eyed Peas, BLK JKS, John Legend, Juanes, Shakira, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Touré and Vusi Mahlasela. They would take to the stage at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on the eve of the opening match.

    Billed as the greatest entertainment show to date in Africa, it will feature performances from major international musicians and African artists, as well as appearances by football legends past and present and celebrities from other fields, according to Goal.com

    This historic music event will take place in front of a capacity crowd of 30,000 and will be broadcast to hundreds of millions more worldwide.

    “We are thrilled to have a concert of such magnitude and performing talent raise the curtain on the first FIFA World Cup in Africa. It is testament to the universal and unifying power of football and music, and will start the competition off on the right note – of celebration,” said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke in a statement.

    FIFA has selected Emmy Award-winning producer Kevin Wall and his company Control Room to organise and produce the concert. Control Room has masterminded some of the world’s biggest and most complex events, such as Live Earth 2007, which featured 150 artists performing on seven continents over the course of 24 hours to raise awareness of climate change.

    All net proceeds from the concert will be donated to 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 World Cup, whose aim is to achieve positive social change through football by building 20 centres across Africa offering education and healthcare services, as well as football training to disadvantaged communities.

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