Legend, Luciano Sing For Flood Victims

Leading events company, Creative Storm, and mobile telecommunications giants, Tigo, will, on Saturday, October 27 bring together five-time Grammy Award winner, John Legend, and international reggae icon, Luciano, on one stage to “sing away” the sorrows of flood victims and “jam out” the pain of sufferers of guinea worm infection in the country.

Indeed, the ultimate aim of the huge concert, to be staged at the Independence Square in Accra, will be to raise funds to speed up the eradication of guinea worm, the dangerous water-borne disease.

According to Dr Kwesi Owusu of Creative Storm, the show will offer the artistes a chance to express solidarity with the motherland.

“This is a great gesture of solidarity with the people of Ghana. Over 300,000 people have been displaced by severe floods in northern Ghana, whole villages and farms washed away, with real threat of famine and outbreak of diseases in the coming months. The process of recovery has begun.

We cannot fail the people, many of whom have lost everything. The concert is a rallying call and a timely response,” Dr Owusu said.

Legend and Luciano will visit guinea worm endemic areas in the north and dedicate their performances to the relief effort which is supported by a number of UN aid agencies working in Ghana.

Creative Storm has worked out an elaborate itinerary to enable them to get a sense of the Ghanaian environment and culture from the moment they arrive in Accra.

John Legend is a singer, songwriter and pianist. His debut album in 2004 was the platinum-selling “Get Lifted”. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names on the international scene, including Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys.

Born Jepther McClymont in 1974 in Davey Town, Jamaica, Luciano is often referred to as “The Messenger”. He is a universally revered figure in reggae circles and regarded by many as the man who took over from Bob Marley in terms of the consciousness of his lyrics and as real defender of the poor.

His best known songs in Ghana include Never Give Up My Pride, Sweep Over My Soul, It's Me Again Jah and No Night In Zion.

A traditional durbar, to be hosted by the Paramount Chief of Aburi, Nana Otobour Djan Kwasi II, will be held in honour of the stars before the concert, which will feature a strong line-up of Ghanaian artistes, including Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, Tinny, Slim Busterr, King Ayisoba, Ohemaa Mercy, Mac Tontoh, Gyedu Blay-Ambolley and Wulomei.

The South Africa-based Nigerian jazz guitarist, Kunle, is also expected to be there.

Story by William A. Asiedu