Jay-Z and Kofi-A team up on water crisis

Rapper Jay-Z will join the UN's efforts to improve water and sanitation in developing countries, as he spreads the word about the water crisis among the planet's youth during his international concert tour.


While the UN is undoubtedly where most of the expertise on this subject lies, Jay-Z will bring a capacity to command young people’s attention into the partnership – without which the planet’s youth would be less likely to listen.

The rapper’s next tour, starting next month, will take him to some of the countries affected by the water crisis, including Turkey and South Africa. The involvement of another youth-friendly player – music television station MTV – will amplify his message.

Jay-Z said of the initiative: “Partnering with someone with a huge voice such as MTV, people that knew what they was doing, who know their way around countries, like the UN; it was a smart partnership for myself.”

Over the course of the tour Jay-Z will be filming a documentary, entitled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life, to be aired on MTV across 179 countries on November 24.

UN secretary general Kofi Annan joined Jay-Z in announcing the initiative at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

“Most of us take water for granted, but, for more than a billion people who lack access to safe drinking water, this is an inconceivable dream,” he said at the launch.

“The water crisis – like many issues confronting our world – can only be fully addressed with the active participation of young people everywhere,” he said.

“Working with MTV and Jay-Z, all of us at the UN hope this campaign will motivate youth to take action both in their own lives, and in support of broad eco-friendly initiatives.”

Goska Romanowicz

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe