K’NAAN Rallies the World to Cheer for Somali Olympians

[Angela Burke]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

K’NAAN Rallies the World to Cheer for Somali Olympians

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN, August 3, 2012—Somali-born musician K’NAAN is rallying the world to cheer on the Somali Olympic Team through a new Facebook campaign.

They are runners Zamzam Mohamud Farah and Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, who have trained on a dirt track in Somalia, ignored death threats, and have received almost no investment. “Let's do whatever we can to support (them),” K’NAAN said.

K’naan is inviting more than 50,000 people from 80 countries to join a new Facebook campaign. Online fans from around the world are asked to add “rings of hope” to a paper chain by cheering for the Somali Olympians on the I AM A STAR Facebook page.  Rings from virtual fans will be added to a paper chain by volunteers in Minnesota, home to North America’s largest Somali community.  When 50,000 new likes, posts and shares are reached, the American Refugee Committee will receive a $50,000 check from a sponsor for aid relief in Somalia.

Best known for his song “Wavin’ Flag,” which became the anthem for the 2010 World Cup, K’NAAN traveled to Mogadishu and saw the need firsthand at Banadir Hospital, a facility for women and children that was in deplorable condition.  Some children slept on the floor because there weren’t enough beds.  Sanitation was sorely lacking, and there wasn’t enough medical staff or medicine to treat the sick.

Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world – and one of the most complex.  More than 2.5 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid.  Families don’t have enough food to feed their children.

The American Refugee Committee is working in Mogadishu, providing lifesaving care like food, clean water and medical care.  Far too many families remain in camps for the displaced in Mogadishu, unable to return home.

“In Somalia, I saw people suffering insecurity ...famine.... all these destructive elements.  But right alongside that, what I saw was the will, the determination, the empathy, and the compassion of the Somali people,” added K’NAAN.  “Let’s all be in solidarity with Somalia.”

How to Help
To cheer for Somalia – and raise $1 for aid relief – visit www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia<http://www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia>.

More Information

·         Photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/archq

  *   Press Kit:  www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/PressKit_OlympicsCampaign2012<http://www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/PressKit_OlympicsCampaign2012>
  *   Press Kit:  http://www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/presskit_olympicscampaign.pdf



About K’NAAN
With his eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics, in the tradition of great folk singers and protest songs, K’NAAN carved a new path that widened the traditional hip-hop music perspective. With his sophomore album, K’NAAN was declared an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone, NPR, The Los Angeles Times and MTV. The album included his multiplatinum single “Wavin’ Flag,” which saw worldwide success after being selected by Coca-Cola as their theme song for their FIFA 2010 FIFA World Cup™ campaign. Declared the “People’s Anthem” with its message of hope and solidarity, the single reached #1 in over 18 countries and also topped Billboard’s European Hot 100 Singles chart. In addition, K’NAAN has won a variety of awards including four Junos including Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year and was also nominated for a Polaris Music Prize, as well as a BBC Newcomer of the Year award. The artist has guested on multiple notable projects including Nas and Damian Marley’s Distant Relatives, Keane and Mos Def. K’NAAN’s new album, Country, God Or The Girl, is set to be released in October 2012.



About I AM A STAR
“I AM A STAR”, a grassroots platform to take action for Somalia, is a program of the American Refugee Committee (ARC), a humanitarian aid organization that provides basic health care, shelter, clean water and other lifesaving care.  Based in Minneapolis, ARC helps nearly 2.5 million refugees a year – mostly vulnerable women and children.  ARC is also providing humanitarian relief in Somalia.  To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia<http://www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia> or www.ARCrelief.org<http://www.ARCrelief.org>


For More Information on K’NAAN Please Contact:
Carleen Donovan  // Angela Burke // Katie Leggett at PRESS HERE:
212-246-2640
carleen at pressherepublicity.com<mailto:carleen at pressherepublicity.com>   angela at pressherepublicity.com<mailto:angela at pressherepublicity.com>  katie at pressherepublicity.com<mailto:katie at pressherepublicity.com>

For More Information on the ARC Please Contact:
Therese Gales at the American Refugee Committee
612-607-6494 // ThereseG at archq.org<mailto:ThereseG at archq.org>


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