INQUIRER Sports

JOHANNESBURG?Grammy-winning international artists will perform at the World Cup kick-off celebration, on the eve of the world's biggest sporting event in South Africa, FIFA said on Wednesday.

The Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Shakira and Alicia Keyes will share the stage with local and African artists in Soweto, in a concert to be broadcast worldwide on June 10.

"We are thrilled to have a concert of such magnitude and performing talent raise the curtain on the first FIFA World Cup in Africa," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said.

The concert will take place at the 30,000-seat Orlando stadium, in the historic Soweto township, where liberation hero Nelson Mandela once lived.

According to FIFA, money generated from the event will be donated to the "20 Centres for 2010", a project which aims to use football to promote public health and education in poor communities across Africa.

Tickets will cost up to 1,150 rand ($156, ?113).

Prominent African musicians include Angelique Kidjo from Benin, The Parlotones from South Africa and Amadou and Mariam, the blind musical duo from Mali.