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Hip-hop star Akon to hold concert in Iraq for Kurds fighting Islamic State Hip-hop star Akon to hold concert in Iraq for Kurds fighting Islamic State
(35 minutes later)
Hip-hop star Akon has announced he will hold a concert in for Kurdish military forces in Iraq next month. In a video message, the popular singer of the hit songs "Lonely" and "I want to love you" announced he would soon perform at Irbil's international Hariri International Stadium. Hip-hop star Akon has announced he will hold a concert for Kurdish military forces in Iraq next month. In a video message, the popular singer of the hit songs "Lonely" and "I Wanna Love You" announced he would soon perform at Irbil's Hariri International Stadium.
"Be there man," Akon tells viewers. "I'm telling you, you will not, not regret it.""Be there man," Akon tells viewers. "I'm telling you, you will not, not regret it."
According to the Iraqi Kurdish news agency Bas News, the concert was arranged through the Irbil-based Rwanga Foundation and will be specifically designed for members of the Iraqi Kurdish armed forces, the pesh merga. “We can confirm that Akon will be performing live in Irbil this coming March to benefit Peshmerga families," Babylon FM Noor Matti operations manager told Bas News. According to the Iraqi Kurdish news agency Bas News, the concert was arranged through the Irbil-based Rwanga Foundation and will be specifically designed for members of the Iraqi Kurdish armed forces, the peshmerga. “We can confirm that Akon will be performing live in Irbil this coming March to benefit peshmerga families," Babylon FM Noor Matti operations manager told Bas News.
Akon, who was born in St. Louis and raised in Senegal, is being touted as the first American performer to appear in Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The concert is designed to raise money for the pesh merga, the Kurdish armed forces who have fought fierce battles with members of the Islamic State over the last year and lost thousands of fighters. Akon, who was born in St. Louis and raised in Senegal, is being touted as the first American performer to appear in Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The concert is designed to raise money for the peshmerga, who have fought fierce battles with members of the Islamic State over the last year and lost thousands of fighters.
At the peak of fighting last year, the Islamic State came within 25 miles of Irbil before being pushed back. Now the city is fairly stable, although some foreigners have been advised not to go to the Akon concert as it could be a security risk.At the peak of fighting last year, the Islamic State came within 25 miles of Irbil before being pushed back. Now the city is fairly stable, although some foreigners have been advised not to go to the Akon concert as it could be a security risk.
Akon, who has described himself as a practicing Muslim, has performed at a number of different events for international charities. In 2011, he worked with a number of Arab pop stars on the viral song ""Tomorrow/Bokra," which was designed to raise money for cultural projects across the Middle East. Akon, who has described himself as a practicing Muslim, has performed at a number of different events for international charities. In 2011, he worked with a number of Arab pop stars on the viral song "Tomorrow/Bokra," which was designed to raise money for cultural projects across the Middle East.
He has also, however, managed to get himself into a number of international controversies, such as when he was accused of simulating sex with a 14-year-old girl onstage in Trinidad & Tobago, or when he was banned from entering Sri Lanka after offending Buddhists with a video that showed a risque pool party with a Buddha statue in the background. Last year, a concert by Akon in DR Congo went viral after he was shown performing in a plastic bubble, a move that was – inaccurately – portrayed as an attempt to avoid the Ebola virus. He has also, however, managed to get himself into a number of international controversies, such as when he was accused of simulating sex with a 14-year-old girl onstage in Trinidad and Tobago or when he was banned from entering Sri Lanka after offending Buddhists with a video that showed a risque pool party with a Buddha statue in the background. Last year, a concert by Akon in Congo went viral after he was shown performing in a plastic bubble, a move that was — inaccurately — portrayed as an attempt to avoid the Ebola virus.