Marley touts World Cup honor with song

LOS ANGELES, June 8 (UPI) -- Ziggy Marley's record label says the reggae star has released his song "Africa Land" to celebrate the World Cup being played in Africa for the first time.

"The song is an anthem to unity, freedom and new beginnings; well-known principles championed by the legendary Marley family," Tuff Gong Worldwide said in a news release.

"Africa Land" follows Marley's 2009 Grammy Award-winning children's album, "Family Time."

For this song, Marley recruited his brother Stephen Marley and African mega-star Angelique Kidjo.

"Together they created a catchy, danceable song, which incorporates dancehall reggae, as well as African elements," the label said.

The song is available as a free download at www.ziggymarley.com and www.tuffgongworldwide.com.

"The Bible says, 'The first shall be last and the last shall be first.' How fitting that South Africa -- the last nation on the homeland to be free -- is the launch pad for a global event that will showcase the rise of the African continent," Marley said in a statement Monday. "'Africa Land' is the song which celebrates that dream becoming true."