Davido and Burna Boy, two renowned Nigerian singers, alongside Sauti Sol, Kenyan afro-pop band, have been included on the lineup for the ‘Africa Day Benefit Concert’ to be hosted by Idris Elba, an English actor.
As countries around the world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, earnings from showbiz have plummeted, prompting artistes to explore alternatives to in-person concerts and shows.
Elba had announced the online concert and enlisted a league of acclaimed artistes in a bid to raise funds towards providing COVID-19 assistance to needy children and families in Africa.
The two-hour special will be streamed on the MTV Base Africa YouTube channel on May 25 at 18:00 CAT and broadcast on the network’s TV channels in Africa at 21:00 CAT.
It will also feature messages from renowned personalities like Trevor Noah, Zozibini Tunzi, Omari Hardwick, Ludacris, Sean Paul, Anthony Hamilton, Nomzamo Mbatha, Fat Joe, and Winston Duke.
Among the African singers who are also on the concert’s lineup are Bebe Cool, Busiswa, Adekunle Gold, C4 Pedro, Reekado Banks, M.anifest, Niniola, Salif Keita, DJ Maphorisa & KABZA De Small.
Others are Toofan, Angelique Kidjo, AKA, Diamond Platnumz, Fally Ipupa, Nasty C, Sho Madjozi, StoneBwoy, Teni, Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade.
On the goal of the concert, Lola Castro, the World Food Programme (WFP) director for Southern Africa, said: “We are concerned about the prospect of COVID-19 causing a hunger catastrophe.”
It was said that the United Nation’s WFP initiative would work with UNICEF while “all funds raised from the concert will be donated to their work to support COVID-affected communities in Africa.”
