Excited Tutu Helps Launch World Cup With Juanes & Keys
By WENNThursday, June 10, 2010
Human rights icon ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU couldn’t contain his excitement as he helped launch the 2010 FIFA World Cup in his native South Africa on Thursday (10Jun10).
The beloved clergyman took the stage at the star-studded Kick-Off Celebration Concert held in Johannesburg to present a film tribute to former South African leader Nelson Mandela.
Wearing a South Africa team shirt, scarf and woolly hat, Tutu fought back tears as he looked out at the sea of soccer and music fans before him.
He shrieked, “Just fantastic… Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s unbelievable. I’m dreaming, man… Wake me up. What a lovely dream… We are the world.
“We welcome you all… We welcome you home - all of you… We are all Africans… We are a beautiful butterfly.”
The Black Eyed Peas, Juanes, Shakira, Alicia Keys and John Legend were among the acts who performed at the the launch party concert.
Latino pop sensation Juanes mixed it up with concert pals Black Eyed Peas when he invited the band’s Taboo to join him onstage.
Juanes told the crowd, “It’s such a huge opportunity to be here.”
Keys made one of her first public appearances since announcing she was engaged and pregnant last month (May10). The R&B superstar performed a flawless five-song hits medley, which featured her breakout hit Fallin’, No One and her 2009 New York anthem Empire State of Mind (Part II), during which she changed the lyrics to mention South Africa and the World Cup.
She ended her solo set by stating, “Johannesburg, it’s such an incredible night tonight,” and then joined BLK JKS for an onstage jam.
The Kick-Off Concert ended with an all-star jam of unity anthem Everyday People.
The soccer tournament begins on Friday (11Jun10) when the host nation, South Africa, takes on Mexico.
