JOHANNESBURG - FIFA and Control Room, a leading producer of global music events, last Thursday announced the final line-up of African and South African artists for the inaugural FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert. (Pictured: FreshlyGround, one of the groups in
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning in Switzerland. Five-time South African Music Award (SAMA) winners Freshlyground, legendary South African musician Hugh Masekela, the Soweto-based Mzansi Youth Choir, two-time Grammy Award winners and three-time SAMA winners the Soweto Gospel Choir, as well as African hip hop artist KNAAN, will take to the stage at Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg on the eve of the opening match of the first FIFA World Cup on African soil.
As South Africans we are proud to be hosting the first ever World Cup on African soil. I am very humbled and flattered to be part of this global event and am looking forward to the concert with great interest and excitement, said Hugh Masekela. Indeed this historic music event, which also features Alicia Keys, Amadou & Mariam, Anglique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, BLK JKS, John Legend, Juanes, Shakira, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Tour and Vusi Mahlasela, will be broadcast live worldwide. It is scheduled to begin at 20.00 local time (GMT+2) on 10 June.
We wanted to have an eclectic, international mix of music genres to appeal to as many people as possible around the world whilst at the same time showcasing the immense home-grown talent of the host country, said Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV. Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo said: This concert will be broadcast into hundreds of millions of homes across the globe and as such represents a remarkable opportunity for our nation to show off our rich cultural heritage.
Post published in: Uncategorized