Nigerian stars line up for debt concert on July 15

King Sunny Ade, the king of Juju music is to headline the Drop Nigeria's Debt Concert in Lagos on 15 July 2000. The concert takes place at Lekki Beach. Other top of the range artistes billed to perform are Evangelist Sonny Okosun, Victor Owaifo, Daddy Showkey, Onyeka Owenu, Felix Duke, Skidd Ikemefuna and Zaaki Adzee. The artists embrace a whole spectrum of music styles from Juju and Afro Juju music, Gospel, Makosa, Reggae, Hip Hop in Hausa and High Life. The concert is set to attract thousands of Nigerians from all over the country as support for debt cancellation for Nigeria spreads. Those unable to make it will be able to witness the whole event live thanks to the sponsorship of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Rhythm 93.7 FM.

In the run up to the concert, other campaign activities have also been organised. A petition campaign has been launched involving students from Lagos University, the Jubilee 2000 Secretariat in Benin and the National Assembly in Abuja. They aim to collect over 4 million signatures in support of cancelling Nigeria's debt and returning all stolen wealth to the country.

On 13 July, there will be picketing at the embassies of the G7 countries to pressure them to put the debt issue on the agenda of the upcoming G7 meeting in Okinawa. On the 14 July, Public Debt Forum has been organised, involving Nigeria's External Affairs Minister, other government officials and a cross-section of civil society.

The actions in Nigeria are just some of the activities that will be taking place all across the continent on the Africa Day of Action on 15 July. The day will see the culmination of growing pressure from Africa on the creditors. The pressure reflects rising concern at the failure of the G8 leaders to deliver the debt relief grandly promised at the G8 Summit in Cologne. Leaders from President Obasanjo of Nigeria to President Chissano of Mozambique have made increasingly strident calls for debt cancellation in the year 2000. The African governments' calls endorsing the long-term demands of campaigns in Africa to end debt slavery will only intensify on the G8 leaders while the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative continues to flounder.

• For more information, contact National Secretariat, Benin. Tel 234 1 52 258748 email. Aneej@rcl.nig.com
  and Skidd Ikemefuna tel/fax 234 1 493 2641 ext. 1039 email skidd@rcl.nig.com