Let Africa unite! Ziggy Marley does free song for World Cup

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Reggae musician Ziggy Marley is focusing less on the FIFA World Cup to be held this summer in South Africa and more on the bigger picture of African unity in his latest single Africa Land.

Motivated by the historic, first-ever World Cup event to be held in Africa, Marley took the opportunity to use his melodic voice to encourage Africans to unite and reap as much success as possible from the focus that will be aimed at the continent during the event dubbed 'the greatest show on earth'.

In a recent telephone interview with The Sunday Gleaner, Marley said, "Well, di song was inspired by the historic occasion of the World Cup being in South Africa for the first time and the importance of that attention. The World Cup in Africa has potential for Africa that can be used for a greater plan. Africa can use the World Cup rather dan the World Cup use Africa."

19th edition

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is the 19th edition of the signature international football competition which is scheduled to take place between June 11 and July 11.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August, 2007 and involved 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams and matches the 2008 Summer Olympics as the sporting event with the most competing nations.

Africa Land, the upbeat reggae-dancehall-African-influenced song, was released for promotion in Africa last week and features Marley's brother Stephen as well as Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter and activist Angélique Kidjo. Kidjo and Ziggy Marley have worked together many times throughout the years with Marley referring to her as a "big sister". Africa Land falls on the heels of Marley's 2009 Grammy-winning children's album Family Time.

In a release Marley stated, "The Bible says, 'The first shall be last and the last shall be first.' How fitting that South Africa - the last nation on the homeland to be free - is the launch pad for a global event that will showcase the rise of the African continent. Africa Land is the song which celebrates that dream becoming true."

Not an official song for the World Cup tournament, Marley refers to Africa Land as a 'guerilla' song that will help Africa to look at itself and help build a better tomorrow. He told The Sunday Gleaner, "I want Africa to look at itself and use dis as an opportunity to uplift itself beyond di World Cup ... African unity should be di goal."

Busy schedule

Marley will be in Africa during the World Cup watching the games as well as doing interviews and promoting the single.

The song will be available for downloading for free online beginning June 7 at www.ziggymarley.com and www.tuffgongworldwide.com, and will be the first of a series of free songs released by Marley in the coming year.

The collection of free songs will be titled The Wild and Free Singles Marley and is set for release later this year. He explained the concept saying, "I'm not putting out an album this year and mi always writing songs and so why not release dem for free? It seems like a good ting to do and I don't mind giving away things for free."

As for the future, Ziggy Marley is keeping himself busy working on a movie project he hopes Hollywood will be interested in, among other things.