Alicia Keys sings Durban's praises

une 16, 2010

By Barbara Cole

Superstar Alicia Keys has sung the praises of "brilliant, beautiful" Durban, and paid tribute to the unique wellness centre which she had funded.

And then, to the surprise of everyone at The Blue Roof Wellness Centre, she sang to her mother, Terri Augello, who was also visiting the Wentworth centre, and then to the dedicated staff.

She sang Pray For Forgiveness, to her mother and I am Superwoman, to the staff.

The state-of-the-art care centre, which provides Aids treatment and care for 1 000 patients a month, has been made possible by Keep A Child Alive.
On Tuesday was the first time that the 13-time Grammy Award winner had seen the centre since 2006, when it was an empty shell and her plans for it were still just a dream.


"It is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Way better than the World Cup," said Keys, who sang at the tournament's glittering official opening concert last week.

Keys said it had been a very emotional return trip. She had seen how people were being cared for and treated with love.

She called on Durbanites to help to make the centre an "incredible, shining example" of a centre where people received respect and where no one was turned away.