Gospel artists unite to help educate young Africans

|PIC1|Some of the UK's biggest gospel music talents will take to the stage this month to raise money for disadvantaged children in Africa.

Headlining the FOCUS gig is Stellar Award winning group 21:03. This group from the US were handpicked to form a new gospel outfit by PAJAM - the production group behind top music acts like Destiny's Child, Kelly Price, N'SYNC, Vanessa Williams, Dru Hill and Boyz II Men.

They will be backed up by homegrown artists Urban Music Award winner Guvna B, Jake Isaac, Rachel Kerr, GK Real and Sharon Rose.

Money raised by the gig next Saturday will go towards work by the African charity, the Bola Soyode Educational Foundation, which works to help young people caught up in poverty and illiteracy, and those struggling to continue on with their education because of the death of a parent or guardian.

The charity, currently sponsors 12 young people up to secondary school level, was set up by Nigerian Kike Soyode, whose father was just three, leaving her mother with the challenge of funding her daughter's private education by herself.

"Like any African family, the father would normally supply the finances for provision for his child's education but he died when I was really young leaving my mum Tomi Soyode to provide good and private education for me which is very expensive," said Kike Soyode.

"It was challenging and I know that I have been very fortunate to have had a good and private education in Nigeria and the UK and I want to help others in the same boat like me.”

State education in developing nations costs an average of £200 per child per year, while private education fees cost around £2,000 per annum.

Soyode hopes to raise enough money from the concert to sponsor at least 10 more children, and not only up to secondary school but to university level as well.

The sponsorship includes tuition fees, the costs of uniforms and books.

The fundraising event will take place at 112 Brent Terrace, Brent Cross, London NW2 1LT on Saturday 16 January 2010. For more information or to purchase tickets which start from £10, visit www.thebsefoundation.com/events.html