PRETORIA, April 15 (NNN-BUANEWS) — World football’s governign body, FIFA, and the South African music industry seem to have ironed out their differences over the inclusion of local artistes in a World Cup Eve concert to be held in Soweto on June 11.
Several local artistes had been up in arms over what they called an overseas dominated line-up in the concert organized by FIFA. The concert, to be held a day ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, will feature international stars such as Alicia Keys, Angelique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, BLK JKS, John Legend, Juanes and Shakira.
After a meeting Tuesday between Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) board headed by Danny Jordaan, the parties agreed on the inclusion of additional South African artistes in the line-up for the concert.
Arts and Culture Department Spokesperson Lisa Combrinck confirmed to BuaNews on Wednesday that FIFA was part of the agreement to include more local artistes in the list of performers.
She said a representative of FIFA had flown in from Zurich to sit in on the meeting, which was also attended by the South African Music Promoters Association (SAMPA) and the Communication Workers Union of South Africa.
Part of the agreement is that SAMPA would work together with the Los Angeles-based Control Room, a company which is staging the concert, to satisfy local concerns. SAMPA would have a line of communication with Control Room.
No name of local artistes to be included would be publicly announced until contracts were signed with the artistes but rock band, the Parlotones and Vusi Mahlasela, are among those initially confirmed and will perform.
Both Xingwana and Jordaan were quoted as expressing their satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting. “We’ve always maintained that the incredibly talented South African and African music industry will play a major part in the tournament’s off-field success and character,” said Jordaan.
“So, we are certainly very supportive of South African artists using the tournament’s considerable platform to showcase their talents and we will continue to constructively engage with CWUSA in this regard.” — NNN-BUANEWS
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