Lagos — Pepsi cola international has teamed up with Grammy nominees Keri Hilson, Akon as well as two-time Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir to create an African inspired track with the title Oh Africa. Aimed at benefiting the underprivileged African youth, the track was written by hip-hop duo and writers, Rock City and produced by Prettiboifresh with 16 aspiring young music artistes from around the world including Nigeria's Folakemi.

At the official unveiling of the song in Nigeria, Business and Systems Manager of 7up Bottling Company, Siddarthan Mane explained that the Oh Africa Song is a song for Africa featuring international music stars like the Senegal born American based, Akon, Keri Hilson, the Soweto Music Group and a Nigerian upcoming, Folakemi.

The track and accompanying video, internationally released on what has come to be regarded as music's biggest Sunday night, the Grammies held January 31 and premiered during the Grammy awards pre-telecast stream on Grammy live, is composed especially to celebrate Africa at this important moment of hosting the world cup on its soil for the first time.

"The song is intended to welcome the rest of the world to Africa and showcase our love to them. The Oh Africa Song is a song for charity; funds raised from the song will be used in supporting worthwhile charity across the globe. This is not the first time Pepsi is being associated with music, I am sure that the memory of the Britney Spears and Black Eyed Peas will still be fresh in our memory."

Apart from music, Mane explained, Pepsi is also involved in football the most loved sport in the world. "We have worked with football superstars and we have also contributed in making the new generation football stars like John Mikel Obi and Osaze Odewingie both of whom are products of the prestigious Pepsi Football Academy."

A portion of the proceeds from the energetic new track, which will also be the soundtrack for the Pepsi's 2010 football campaign, will go towards supporting disadvantaged African youth, Konfidence Foundation owned by Akon and other great charities designated by Keri Hilson and Pepsi will partner in the distribution of funds.

The Konfidence Foundation was founded by Akon in 2006 and headed up by his mother, Ms. Kine Gueye Thiam, President of the charity. The foundation is a charity body dedicated to increasing public awareness of the conditions in Africa and providing African youth with access to learning and recreational environments equipped with modern technology, educational materials, recreational resources as well as health and wellness services.

On his contribution to charity in Africa especially through the song, Akon commented that at present, hospitals in Africa could literally make one sicker. "There's a lack of equipment and medical care. At the Konfidence Foundation we want to be able to provide access to new equipment, evolve education and improve facilities so kids can be comfortable when learning. The Foundation really focuses on children, because the only thing that can change Africa, its way of thinking and promise for development, is the children."

To date, the Foundation has worked on remodelling schools in Senegal and providing textbooks to help improve education for school children; in 2010 the not-for-profit organization will work on creating sterile mobile health clinics that will visit the more remote villages in Africa. The clinics, which are expected to provide access to quality healthcare within individual communities on a continuing basis, will conduct regular health screenings and provide education focused on disease prevention.

The Oh Africa Song will be used across Pepsi's football 2010 advertising campaign and will also form the centerpiece of the brand's new 'Refresh Your World' campaign based on enabling youth to make a positive change in the world in which they live.

According to Pepsi Cola International's, Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Lowden 2010 is an extraordinary year for football as the eyes of the world focus on Africa. To mark the occasion, he says, they set out to create a song to support our 2010 football campaign that not only captures the passion of Africa but at the same time gives something back to the remarkable continent. "With this in mind, it made sense for us to join forces with multi-platinum selling Artist Akon and Grammy-nominee Keri Hilson to help turn our vision into a reality. We're really excited about the single and hope it raises an enormous amount of money for less fortunate children in Africa who really need our help."

Countries that participated in the track included China, Turkey, Romania, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland, Spain, Egypt, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, US, Mexico, Greece and UK.