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Couldn’t resist putting this up here, being Friday and all…

So it’s all official, Akon is the man doing the music for the Soccer World Cup 2010 here in South Africa.

I read an interesting article today about Jacon Zuma getting a visit from Akon this last week. I am tempted to make all the obvious comparisons of an ex con hobkbobbing it with an almost ex con.

But I won’t.

Instead I’ll focus on the words of the ‘great JZ’. More on that below.

Incidentally Akon is here to shoot a music video and launch his clothing brand Konvict. Couldn’t have chosen a better place brother.

It’s interesting how public figures are blurring the lines with public servants, apparently Akon arrived on Thursday with an entourage of six smartly dressed people and immediately requested to meet the President.

His reasoning?

“It had been my desire to meet South Africa’s No1 citizen, the President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma,” said Akon adding that he wanted to meet him to ‘formally introduce myself’ as an African artist with the same voice that he (Zuma) has.”

He added: “I also came here to congratulate the President, following his inauguration last weekend.”

After being chauffeured to the President’s home in Forest Town in a black BMW X5, Akon used the occasion to sing for the President.

Zuma, known for dancing his trademark ‘Umshiniwami’ caused laughter when he said that, “it’s a pity that he couldn’t teach me any singing because I can sing on my own.’

We know, we know. You can dance too. An all singing all dancing president. [dancing video here] I don’t think you’re quite in Akons league as a singer but ja…

Zuma calls him Big Brother… maybe he is alluding to wanting to be Big Brother? We could have Presidential Big Brother. God I don’t even want to go into THAT, can you imagine?!  To spice it up we could allow the participants to bring their spouse(s). Nice

Ok back to the meeting.

The meeting between President Zuma and the US music icon was meant to be a courtesy call and the two were delighted. The President said: “This was a courtesy call, which I appreciate. I am very happy that my big brother came to say hello, and I appreciate that he is going to Angola after this, which is wonderful.”

Akon echoed Zuma’s words saying that he was equally delighted to meet the President. “I am very honoured to meet the man, as I just came to say hello. Entertainment and politics go hand in hand. They can both reach out and influence a lot of people.”

Surprisingly Akon didn’t slip in the word ‘great’. Meet the great man. What happened to the days when visiting Celebs used to ask to see Mandela?

I think it’s a ‘great’ thing that Akon is doing the 2010 Soccer World Cup music vibe. Check my article here.

Akon

I was reading at a site I like to visit [over at SAFootballfans.co.za] that none other than Akon may or may not have been approached (it’s not official yet apparently).

Akon had this to say…

“I’ve been hired as musical director for the World Cup”, he revealed to reporters yesterday.

“I will be overseeing the World Cup anthem and music at the ceremonies and I’m off to South Africa this week for meetings. I love soccer, so it’s a great honour”, said Akon.

I think using an African superstar is a good move. I know he isn’t South African, but this is the first African Soccer Word Cup and should be celebrated by Africans.