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Home , Baaba Maal, Yvonne Chaka Chaka

8 Goals For Africa MDG African Super Stars in for closing of World Cup

Pretoria, South Africa, 1 July 2010 – with only 11 days to go to the closing of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, energy and excitement are mounting for a splendid send-off.

The System in South Africa has taken this opportunity to be part of the euphoria while at the same time spreading the message of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Africa’s Super Stars will get together in South Africa to sing the “8 Goals For Africa” song, and call for a commitment to achieving these goals to reduce poverty, hunger, disease and maternal and child deaths and promote gender equality, universal education and a sustainable environment as well as a global partnership by 2015. The artists will perform at the Elkah Park Fan Fest in on 11 July. The artists will also be acknowledging World Population Day which coincides with the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Artists who are part of the 8 Goals For Africa feature: African MDG Envoys Yvonne Chaka Chaka from South Africa, Angelique Kidjo from Benin, Oliver Mtukudzi from , from , from , Mingas from Mozambique, and the Soweto Gospel Choir and HHP from South Africa. World renowned jazz musician and Jimmy Dludlu from South Africa are instrumentalists on the track, produced by Arthur Baker from the United States of America. 8 Goals For Africa was composed by Jimmy Dludlu and the lyrics were written by Eric Wainaina, and are copyrighted to the United Nations.

Notes to the editor:  Artists will be rehearsing at Bassline, Newtown on Sunday 11 July between 10h00 and 12h00.  They will perform at Elkah Stadium in Soweto just before kickoff of the final game at about 20h00 on 11 July.  All artists are available for one-on-one interviews and photo sessions either at rehearsal venue or at the stadium.  8 Goals for Africa is also recorded as a music video, which has been screened throughout the World Cup, across all the fan parks and public viewing areas in South Africa.  Throughout the World Cup, the track is available as a free download on iTunes. 8 Goals for Africa and all related materials, including the music video, ring tone, logo and wallpaper, are also available for free download at www.8goalsforafrica.org.  MXit also carries the song, ring-tones and skins.  The music video of the song is available on YouTube and on Vimeo.com. Broadcast quality of both the song and video is available at: www.undp.org/broadcast  The 21st annual World Population Day is on 11 July 2010. This year’s theme is “Everyone Counts”. Data collected provides valuable information on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. The MDG 2010 Review Summit in September will review this, with a view to re-energising commitment to deliver on the targets.

For more information contact: Lopa Banerjee, Advocacy & Policy Advisor Email: [email protected]; Tel: +27 12 354-8036

To arrange interviews and photo sessions with the artists please call:

Zanele Mji Cut 2 Black Media Email: [email protected] ; Tel: +27 11 482 3580 For more information on the Millennium Development Goals visit: www.un.org/millenniumgoals/