Wednesday, June 16, 2010

8 Goals For Africa Campaign


Some of Africa’s most renowned musicians have joined the United Nations in part of an awareness and advocacy campaign developed by the United Nations System in South Africa for a commitment to achieve the 8 Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The ‘8 Goals for Africa’ song features 8 of Africa’s best known musicians: Yvonne Chaka Chaka from South Africa, Angelique Kidjo from Benin, Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe, Eric Wainaina from Kenya, Baaba Maal from Senegal, and the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa. World renowned jazz musicians Hugh Masekela and Jimmy Dludlu from South Africa are also instrumentalists on the track.

End poverty by 2015 is the historic promise 189 world leaders made at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000 when they signed up to the Millennium Declaration and agreed to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The MDGs are an eight-point road map with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world´s poorest people. Ten years later our leaders are meeting again on 20 September in New York to review the progress, it is up to us to make sure world leaders keep their promise.

Music composer Jimmy Dludlu said: “I was inspired by this initiative. We want to help promote the Millennium Development Goals and I am optimistic that the song will convey a message of peace, hope and promise of a better future,” said Dludlu, who attended the launch along with Masekela and Chaka Chaka.

8 Goals for Africais also recorded as a music video, which is being screened throughout the World Cup, across all the fan parks and public viewing areas in South Africa.

-Molly Mcneill

SOURCE: 8 Goals For Africa Campaign