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Tupac's Ashes Going to South Africa

The hardest-working dead man in show biz, Tupac Shakur, is hitting the road -- sort of. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of her son's death, Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, is bringing his ashes to Soweto, South Africa, widely regarded as the birthplace of the movement that ended apartheid and brought equality to black South Africans.

During her South Africa trip, which will last from September 10th to the 18th, Ms. Shakur will meet with anti-apartheid icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela. She hopes the meeting will lead to a relationship between the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which provides creative arts training to underprivileged children in the U.S..

"I feel blessed to be able to visit South Africa, especially Soweto," Ms. Shakur said in a press release. "Events that happened there are so much a part of our history and it will be an honor for my son to rest in this special place; the birthplace of the South African struggle for democracy."

Tupac Shakur was gunned down on September 13, 1996 in a crime that remains unsolved. Since his death, his family has released no fewer than seven albums featuring the late rapper's live and unreleased performances. During her tour of South Africa, Afeni Shakur plans to visit South African musician, actor and activist Zola and record some of his vocals, which will be featured alongside Tupac's on -- surprise! -- a 10th anniversary CD to be released later this year.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
08.09.06