What does SOF stand for?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bob Marley once sang, "Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom.

It was he who bravely rendered the songs of freedom, in view of socio-economic emancipation.

Instead, on that day, we sang high and loud and unashamedly the songs of freedom and hope, as we entered the echoing, haunted quarries that earlier men had gouged in the blue slate - the Marseillaise for young revolutionaries, the Green Leaves of Summer for people of eternal faith, and Men of Harlech for the brave.

Through a series of benefit concerts, symposiums, fund raisers and events, Africa Unite 2007 will encourage peace, education and empowerment for youth in Africa while reinforcing the significance of Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom to manifest change around the globe.

John Malkin is a musician and author of Songs of Freedom.

Algerian singer-guitarist, Souad Massi, conjures a mix of Algerian, folk and flamenco on which to graft her songs of freedom, pain and conflict.

For instance, "Gold of Johannesburg," has some lovely lines about finding one's own inner freedom through music: And songs of freedom Are all that I own Songs of freedom That can never be sold And that is where I find The gold of Johannesburg The diamonds of Cape Town The precious woods of the Amazon Several of the poems offer uplifting messages and equally realistic moments of melancholy and angst.

But look out for the Songs of Freedom CD given away with Big Issue tomorrow.