SOUTH AFRICA: Black Eyed Peas were honoured to meet Mandela in their drive to inspire the youth of Africa with its music

Record ID: 454072

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Black Eyed Peas were honoured to meet Mandela in their drive to inspire the youth of Africa with its music
  • Date: 1st June 2006
  • Summary: MANDELA AND GROUP POSING FOR PICTURES PEOPLE WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA7LLA5RTVLGCD4S0Z3HOWIONOB
  • Story Text: Hit U.S. hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas want to inspire African children with the story of their own escape from poverty and say solving the continent's woes is not just a celebrity fad.
    The double Grammy-winning group from Los Angeles spoke to reporters after meeting South African icon Nelson Mandela.
    On Sunday (May 28) the group played for free in a concert for people usually too poor to see global musicians live, and the group is using the occasion to launch their own children's charity.
    Frontman William Adams, known as will.i.am, told Reuters ahead of the gig he hoped his own struggle to pursue a music career growing up in the tough L.A. projects would inspire South African kids to strive for a better life.
    will.i.am and Black Eyed Peas diva Fergie -- real name Stacy Ferguson -- told reporters they were shocked when they first came to Africa's richest country in 2004 to see plush golf courses alongside shantytowns.
    They were even more stunned when they arrived on stage to meet a roaring crowd of mostly affluent white fans, and vowed to return to play to ordinary people for free.
    "I saw such a dichotomy between the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor and that hurt my feelings," said Fergie, decked out in skin-tight jeans, a gold chain belt and killer heels. "If I inspire one child then I have done something."
    The group, whose hits include party anthem 'Let's get it started' and more lyrical 'Where is the love', are the latest of a string of celebrities including Angelina Jolie and U2 frontman Bono to highlight worthy causes in Africa, after last year's Live 8 concerts revived interest in the continent.
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