Konfidence.org

PEPSI PRESENTS ‘OH AFRICA’

EXCLUSIVE NEW TRACK FEATURING AKON AND KERI HILSON

January 31, 2010 – PepsiCo International announced today the launch of their explosive new track ‘Oh Africa’.  The song and accompanying video, set to premiere today have been created through a powerful collaboration between multi-platinum selling artist Akon, current GRAMMY nominee Keri Hilson, the multi-GRAMMY Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, and 16 aspiring music artists from around the world.

Pepsi’s partnership with Akon and Universal Motown will see the infectious new track released around the world today and it will also be featured on Akon’s eagerly-awaited new album releasing later this year. The music video will premier immediately following the live stream of the GRAMMY® Pre-telecast Awards on “GRAMMY Live” – an online destination featuring 72 hours of live coverage on www.grammy.com during GRAMMY Weekend.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the song, written by hip hop duo and smash hit songwriters, Rock City and produced by Prettiboifresh, will go towards helping underprivileged African youth. Akon’s Konfidence Foundation, (Konfidence.org), will be one of the main charities set to receive the proceeds.

The track, available for download now at konfidence.org,  will accompany the new, global Pepsi football TV commercial and form the centrepiece of the brand’s new worldwide Refresh Your World’ campaign, which is based on enabling youth to make a positive change in the world in which they live.

Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone said: ‘Oh Africa’ features the universally acclaimed voice of Akon, the serene yet powerful vocals of Keri Hilson and the incredible backing sound of the Soweto Gospel Choir mixed in with the international voices of the 16 Pepsi competition winners. It’s one of the most globally universal tracks. The combination of the international artists is what makes the project so special – every one of them has a shared passion for music which comes through on the track.”

The aspiring young musicians won the opportunity to step into the recording studio alongside Akon and Keri Hilson and star in the music video after winning music competitions in their OWN country. Each local musician travelled with Pepsi to Los Angeles for a once in a lifetime experience and to bring a truly global sound to the track.