Celtel Nigeria has announced its decision to take one of the country’s hottest music stars, 9ice, to London for Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Music Concert.
9ice (born Abolore Adegbola Akande) will join several other African music stars, such as the legendary Papa Wemba, Kenya’s Suzanna Owiyo, Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mabuze, Loyiso, Kurt Darren, Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Aids orphan choir, The Children of Agape, Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal and an array of international music artistes to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela and his continuing fight against social injustices and the spread of HIV/AIDS.
African Icon, ‘Madiba’ Nelson Mandela turns 90 this year. The global telecommunication company, Zain Group, along with its operations in Africa, Celtel, is sponsoring a Music Concert in Hyde Park, London, on 27th June 2008 in honour of ‘Madiba’.
The sponsorship of 9ice, an Afro-hip-hop artist, and other music stars to the Music Concert is in line with Zain Group and mobile Operator, Celtel’s sponsorship philosophy of promoting African arts and culture, according to Celtel Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer, Norman Moyo.
Moyo said Celtel Nigeria and indeed Zain Group will continue to play a key role in the development of the Nigerian music and entertainment industry. Last year Celtel Nigeria sponsored two top Nigerian artistes, Tu face Idibia and the Koko Master, D’banj and top two Idols West Africa, Timi Dakolo and Omawumi Megbele, to the yearly MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards.
Also in 2007, the Nigerian mobile operator sponsored the hugely popular music talent hunt competition, Idols West Africa and Idols Road show.
Other artists who have been specially invited to perform for Mandela include Queen + Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Leona Lewis, the Sugababes, Dame Shirley Bassey, Razorlight, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, and Jamelia, along with international 46664 Ambassadors and Italy’s Zucchero and Spain’s Amaral.
Also expected at the event are leading figures from across the world including former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, popular movie star, Will Smith, talk show hostess, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, two-time Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning American film actor, Director, and Producer, Robert de Niro and American actor, producer, and director, Forest Whitaker, amongst others.
