DAKAR, Oct 17 (AFP) - Many of Africa's best-known musicians have joined forces for a continent-wide launch of a song they have composed that seeks to mobilise people in a campaign against poverty and AIDS, the scheme's organisers said Sunday.
Entitled "We are the tom-toms" the song is the result of an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A UNDP statement received by AFP in Dakar says the aim of the song is to "mobilise all elements of society to push back poverty and HIV/AIDS."
Its lyrics urge people no longer to be "victims of misery, hunger and to take responsibility to block the spread of AIDS... The artists invite everyone in Africa to be a 'tom-tom' (or drum) to mobilise people who have not yet (been made aware)," the statement said.
The song will be launched Monday "everywhere in Africa", according to Luc Mayitoukou, administrator of Africa Fete, the organisation of Senegalese producer Mamadou Konte, responsible for artistic coordination.
The song is part of the Africa 2015 initiative launched by the UNDP which seeks to realise eight goals by 2015, including cutting poverty and hunger by half, providing primary education for all and reducing the rates of AIDS and other diseases.
Artists include Ismael Lo and Youssou Ndour of Senegal, Salif Keita of Mali, Cheb Mami from Algeria, Koffi Olomide of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mahmoud Ahmed from Ethiopia, Chiwoniso from Zimbabwe and Joaojoby Eusebe from Madagascar.
Also taking part were Achien'g Abura (Kenya), Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Coumba Gawlo Seck (Senegal), Didier Awadi (Senegal), Habib Koite (Mali), Malouma (Mauritania), and Meiway (Ivory Coast).
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