Ricky Kej to perform for Narendra Modi at Johannesburg

Johannesburg, July 8  Grammy Award-winning Indian musician Ricky Kej is set to perform for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other state leaders and dignitaries of South Africa at ‘The Dome’ here on Friday.

The performance will be witnessed by a live audience of over 15,000 people and a television audience of 200 million across the globe.

Kej, who has flown down from India to Johannesburg especially for this performance, told IANS that he will be performing a song about Mahatma Gandhi from his Grammy-winning album "Winds of Samsara". 

"I have flown (to South Africa) especially for this performance. I was invited by the Indian diaspora," Kej said. 

He would be performing with Grammy-winning South African flautist, producer and composer Wouter Kellerman, who also featured on "Winds of Samsara". 

"Our Grammy-winning album was a collaboration between him and me, so (we have) South Africa and India right there," Kej said. 

"We will also be playing the music video from the album. Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years in South Africa, so I thought it would be perfect," he added.

Last year, Kej was invited by Modi to personally congratulate him on his win at the 57th Grammy Awards. 

Kej, who also composed a special version of the national anthem for the PM, said he felt great to receive recognition for his work from the country and from the head of government.

Modi arrived in South Africa on Thursday from Mozambique on the second leg of his four-nation African tour.

Apart from Mozambique and South Africa, Modi will also visit Tanzania and Kenya.