Femi Anikulapo Kuti

The United Nations has collaborated with Skype, Facebook, and Ustream to give users worldwide a greater degree of exposure and access to celebrities and politicians taking part in the Stand Up Take Action! movement to end poverty. This week key figures including former Irish President Mary Robinson and African entertainers Femi Kuti, Angelique Kidjo and Yvonne Chakachaka, will be taking part in Skype video chats that Ustream will be broadcasting through the Millenium Campaign's Facebook Page and Ustream channel. The calls will also include Facebook's Live Stream widget.

King of Afrobeat, Femi Anikulapo Kuti, who came back to Nigeria penultimate week after a two-and-half month tour of Europe and America, has challenged African leaders to wake up from their slumber and ensure that the visions of the founding fathers of the continent are not defeated. He remarked that the focus of current African leaders is far from what the past leaders dreamt and worked for.

On getting to Ravinia, in Highland Park, Illinois last Wednesday July 1st, 2009 we walked around the grounds a bit before the concert started. We saw Nigerians decked out in unique fashion and styles galore. (Trust us, Nigerians, we know how to do it!)

Beirut, Chris Botti, Jackson Browne, Pink Martini, Ornette Coleman Quartet, Maria Schneider, King Sunny Ade and Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Wayne Shorter Quartet, The Lost Fingers, Gary Burton Quartet ...