Google on Thursday in Lagos said it was partnering Viacom and MTV Base to host an Africa Day benefit concert to commemorate the Africa Day.
Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google Communication Officer, West Africa, said in a statement that the collaboration was through a two-hour special benefit concert to raise funds to support food and health needs of children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Africa Day is an annual event to commemorate the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union, celebrated annually on May 25.
According to him, the Africa Day Benefit Concert At Home would be streamed and broadcast to millions of viewers in Africa and around the world on MTV channels and on the MTV Base Africa YouTube channel.
Kola-Ogunlade said the concert would be hosted by Idris Elba, an English actor and would bring together a star-studded line up including performances from Burna Boy, Sauti Sol, Sho Majozi and Diamond Platinum on YouTube at 7pm on May 25.
‘’Hear Africa – YouTube Music has released a special Africa Day playlist, which takes the love of afrobeat, a bit of house and the soul of Africa to allow you to travel through the continent from your couch.
“The playlist includes some of the most listened to songs on YouTube, featuring sensations like Eddy Kenzo, Lady Zamar, Sauti Sol and Wizkid.
‘’It also takes you back to the sounds of great African voices we have lost, like Fela Kuti, Hugh Masekela and Johnny Clegg,” he said.
According to him, in Explore Africa, Google Arts and Culture has curated a special Africa Day exhibit that features various pieces and collections from all over Africa.
He said this digital exploration of the African continent takes one through 26 collections and 194 stories including the magical world of Nigerian food.
Kola-Ogunlade said in Discover Africa, as one listens to the sounds of Africa through YouTube, and explores its culture with Google Arts and Culture one could head over to Google Search to learn more about the wonderfully diverse and colourful place called home.
He said one could ask Google about the true origin of jollof rice, learn about the national dish of Ethiopia or find out how far the Sahara stretched.
