LONDON – Organizers of the Live 8 (search) concerts to raise awareness of poverty in Africa (search) have announced plans for a separate concert featuring African artists.
The Africa Calling (search) concert will be held in Cornwall, southwest England, on July 2 — the same day as larger concerts in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia.
It will be hosted by Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour and will feature performances by Maryam Mursal, Salif Keita and Thomas Mapfumo, it was announced Wednesday.
Live 8 organizers have been criticized by some people in the British music industry for a lack of African artists at the main London event, for which more than 130,000 tickets will be released.
Organizers have said the purpose of the concerts is to feature high-profile artists who will attract worldwide attention.
Singer Peter Gabriel (search), who is helping organize Africa Calling, said the concert would give African musicians an opportunity to be heard.
"We have a chance to redress the balance. Africa Calling will be about voices of Africa undiluted," he said.
Meanwhile, rapper 50 Cent has pulled out of the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia because of a scheduling conflict with his new movie.
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