Maravi

Akon hails ‘beautiful’ Zim

Akon hails ‘beautiful’ Zim
by Agencies
04/09/2010 00:00:00

UNITED States-based R&B superstar Akon says he has not seen any of the negative things highlighted by the Western media about Zimbabwe adding there were a lot of misconceptions about Africa in many parts of the world.

The superstar, who jetted into Harare on Thursday afternoon for a show alongside dancehall maestro Sean Paul, said he had struggled to see any of the bad things said about the country.

“As far as I can see Zimbabwe is a beautiful place and I haven’t seen anything that contradicted the positive things that I have heard before,” he said.

The star is in the country as part of efforts by authorities to rebrand a country battered by negative publicity after relations with Western countries chilled following its controversial land reforms.

Akon told journalists that the African continent had often been projected as underdeveloped and backward.

“I think there have been a lot of misconceptions, too, in a lot of places in Africa. But when you land in these places you never really see what they are talking about,” he said at a press briefing.

“You never get to see the misconceptions that are as far as the place being underdeveloped.”

Akon said African people were mostly the same everywhere, despite their situations.

“Everywhere in Africa that I have been, pretty much has always been the same. It feels like you are in the same place.

“Everyone has the same energy. All the people have been extremely humble. Even in the areas that have seen a lot of conflict, when I get there, I don’t feel it,” he said.

Akon paid tribute to thousands of fans, who earlier thronged Harare International Airport and his hotel in down-town Harare and promised to give them a show of their “lifetime.”

“We are very excited. This is an incredible moment for us. We have been trying to get to Zimbabwe for a long, long time. We always end up bumping heads with unreal promoters.

“Sometimes you hear that Akon is coming but we never knew that we are coming. It is really funny because Africans, we are like that, we are the ultimate hustlers. This time it was real. A call came from Zimbabwe and it was a real call with some real people doing some real business,” he said.

The show promises to be one of the best, if not the best, according to organisers - Zimswag.

Analysts say it should be bigger than the 1980 Independence concert where reggae legend Bob Marley performed, and even the 1988 Human Rights concert when Zimbabwe hosted Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour.

Zimswag also say the show should surpass other shows that have seen American R&B stars Joe Thomas, Tevin Campbell and Horace Brown as well as reggae maestros Luciano, Maxi Priest and Sizzla Kalonji performing in recent months.

Labels: AKON, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL

posted by MrK @ 7:48 PM