| "We want people to come along and say 'I was there and I will remember it until the day I die'" | | Tim Smit the Eden Project's chief executive |
Africa Calling will take place at the same time as the main concert in London's Hyde Park and will feature a host of African acts including the Senegalese artist Youssou N'Dour - who had the hit '7 Seconds' in 1994 with Neneh Cherry - is hoping to perform in London, Paris and Cornwall all on the same day.
The Somalian singer Maryam Mursal and the vocalist Angelique Kidjo, from Benin will also be performing along Thomas Mapfumo.
The evening concert will be hosted by Peter Gabriel, who has championed world music for the past 25 years, and is the co-founder of the world music body Womad. Womad - which stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance - is working closely with the Eden Project and Live 8 to help hold the event.
Gabriel explained that the Eden Project concert would give African artists an opportunity to be heard. "We have a chance to do more to redress the balance. Africa Calling will be about voices of Africa undiluted. I think there are advantages from separating it, although it wouldn't have been my first choice."
Tim Smit, the Eden Project's chief executive, said they hoped to create "an authentic voice for Africa that was moving and personal". He added: "We want people to come along and say 'I was there and I will remember it until the day I die'."
 | | Live 8 takes place at Eden |
Smit shrugged off criticisms that it was a token gesture in light of comments there were too few black artists taking part in the main Live 8 London concert. His thoughts were echoed by African performer Angelique Kidjo. "This is an opportunity for the media to realise that when it comes to Africa, we need to be a part of it. You couldn't help us without us. Kidjo said she had no problem with the Hyde Park line-up.
"Why are we having this controversy?" she asked. “They are big rock and roll stars and without them we would not have the media interest. What is important is that we all work together against poverty." Gabriel said he hoped it would be a "special evening" and give African artists the chance to be heard. "We have a chance to do more to redress the balance. Africa Calling will be about voices of Africa undiluted," he said. Eden press officer David Rowe said: "I would not say it's a response to the criticism, more an enhancement of the event." Eden is also hosting the Eden Sessions this coming August featuring acts such as Keane, Embrace, Ian Brown and Basement Jaxx. Mr Rowe said: "For a fairly young organisation it is a quite a coup, but Eden is a perfect venue for this."
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast from the event as part of the Live 8 coverage.
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