Pepsi-Cola International has teamed up with GRAMMY nominees Akon and Keri Hilson and the two-time GRAMMY-winning Soweto Gospel Choir to create an African inspired track, "Oh Africa." to benefit underprivileged African youth. The track and accompanying video is set for international release on Music’s Biggest Night, the 52nd GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 31, and will premiere during the GRAMMY Awards Pre-Telecast stream on “GRAMMY Live,” an online destination for all things GRAMMY featuring 72 hours of live coverage on www.grammy.com during GRAMMY Weekend.
"Oh Africa," written by hip-hop duo and writers to the stars, Rock City, and produced by Prettiboifresh, sees 16 aspiring young music artists from around the world join forces with international superstar Akon and Hilson. A portion of the proceeds from the energetic new track, which will also be the soundtrack for the Pepsi's 2010 football campaign, will go towards supporting disadvantaged African youth. Akon’s Konfidence Foundation and other great charities designated by Hilson and Pepsi will partner in the distribution of funds.
The Konfidence Foundation was founded by Akon in 2006 and is headed up by his mother, President & CEO Ms. Kine Gueye Thiam. It is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to increasing public awareness of the conditions in Africa and providing African youth with access to learning and recreational environments equipped with modern technology, educational materials, recreational resources, and health and wellness services.
"At present hospitals in Africa can literally make you sicker," Akon commented. "There’s a lack of equipment and medical care. At the Konfidence Foundation we want to be able to provide access to new equipment, evolve education and improve facilities so kids can be comfortable when learning. The foundation really focuses on children, because the only thing that can change Africa -- both its way of thinking and promise for development — is the children."
To date the foundation has worked on remodelling schools in Senegal, Africa, and providing text books to help improve education for school children. In 2010 the not-for-profit organization will work on creating sterile mobile health clinics that will visit the more remote villages in Africa. The clinics, which are expected to provide access to quality healthcare within individual communities on a continuing basis, will conduct regular health screenings and provide education focused on disease prevention.