updated 6/10/2010 5:34:30 PM ET
JOHANNESBURG — The world came to Soweto on Thursday for a celebration of soccer, music and unity on the eve of Africa's first World Cup, with a concert featuring international headliners Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys.
Warm-up acts played for hours before the internationally televised portion(一部分) of the concert began at 8 p.m. with a frenzy(极度的激动) of flag waving, drumming and African-inspired dancing.
Veteran South African trumpeter(小号手) Hugh Masekela took the stage with "Grazin' in the Grass" a No. 1 international hit in 1968. He was quickly joined by a new South African star, Lira, who covered the late Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata", another worldwide hit that originated in South Africa.
The Black Eyed Peas were next with a slick medley of their hits, then it was back to Africa, with the blind duo(成对的表演者) Amadou & Mariam of Mali and their sinuous(蜿蜒的), driving sound.
Shakira, wearing an animal print, waka waka-ed — the anthem and dance of the World Cup. The turbaned(包着头巾的) Tinariwen brought the sounds of Mali's desert nomads to the mix. The crowd swayed to Keys, and did the toyi-toyi — the protest dance of the apartheid era — to hometown favorites BLK JKS. Colombian rocker Juanes, in a multicolored warm-up jacket, debuted his newest single, "Yerbatero" to cheers from the crowd.
"This is a showcase," concertgoer(常参加音乐会的人) Nana Masithela said as she entered Orlando Thursday. "We are showcasing ourselves, to say, 'Blacks can do it!' "
Sepp Blatter, head of soccer's world governing body FIFA, had pushed to bring the World Cup to Africa. He made a brief appearance during the concert to speak about 1GOAL, a campaign to improve education in impoverished countries. South African President Jacob Zuma, who took the stage with Blatter, thanked South Africans for the welcome they have given World Cup fans, and called on them "to show the warmness for the whole duration(在整段时间内) of the tournament."
Orlando, the venue for Thursday's concert, got a three-year, $43 million renovation(修整，翻新) as part of a nationwide building spree(狂欢) in preparation for the World Cup.
South Africans of all races filled Orlando, parading in the yellow and green of their national team, or draping themselves in their flag. Soccer fans from other countries also sported their colors.
Concertgoer Tumi Mohafa said the mix of races in the renovated stadium(露天体育场) in an area where blacks once were confined is a sign of how far South Africa has come from apartheid(以往南非的种族隔离制度), which ended in 1994.
"We're a rainbow nation," Mohafa said.