Femi Anikulapo-Kuti takes the stage as AFCON kicks off in Egypt

 

Nigeria’s legendary Afro-beat singer Femi Anikulapo-Kuti will lead an ensemble of African artistes that will perform at the opening ceremony of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019, the Organising Committee of the competition has announced.

Kuti, a four-time Grammy award nominee will be joined by two other musicians Hakim from Egypt and Dobet Gnahore from Ivory Coast.

The 2019 AFCON is set to kick off with the new expanded 24 teams Friday in Egypt, It will be preceeded with a colourful opening ceremony.

In a post on CAF’s official Twitter handle, the continental football body confirmed that Femi would perform the official song for this year’s AFCON alongside Hakim and Gnahore.

The Afrobeat singer will perform in English, while Hakim and Gnahore perform in Arabic and French respectively.

The three international musicians will sing “Metgamaeen” (We Are Together), produced by Synergy, together on stage in Cairo, Egypt.

Femi had previously performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa at the Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg.

Host, Egypt will play Zimbabwe in the opening match while the Super Eagles will take on debutants Burundi in their opening fixture on Saturday.

The 2019 AFCON will hold from June 21 to July 19.