The ONE campaign against hunger has issued a statement clarifying that all the ambassadors that work with them do so on a voluntary basis.

 

The statement comes amid reports that rapper Jackson Makini aka Prezzo may have gotten himself a new pay-slip worth several millions each year, and this compared to the Big Brother Africa cash prize he missed out on of a cool Sh25m.

 

Varied reports across the internet have pinned Prezzo’s earning at well over Sh4m per month, including a diplomatic passport and security.

 

Despite losing out on the top prize, Prezzo was appointed as an ambassador of the ONE campaign, a move that will see him travel to the US to attend a concert by rap mogul Jay Z.

Prezzo was chosen after he won a competition in the BBA house to design t-shirts for the ONE campaign, which expressed ‘sustainable and smart agriculture means for Africa’s youth’.

 

His t-shirt which bore the words “Swagger Farmer” accompanied by an artistic expression of Africa, is currently being produced for ONE’s line of branded merchandise.

 

“Swagger Farmer, leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that farming is cool.  It’s a phrase we think appeals to more than 50% of Africa’s population, who are youth,” said Edith Jibunoh, who is ONE’s Director for Multilateral Institutions and also judged the competition.

 

ONE Africa Director, Dr. Sipho S. Moyo said, “Prezzo joins our growing portfolio of African celebritieswho believe that Africans can drive change for Africa.  We will work together so that Prezzo can lend the strength of his celebrity voice to ONE’s campaigns with its partners across the continent.  We will also be working closely with our global design team to come up with a final design of Prezzo’s T-shirt…  We will be wearing these during various campaigns in Africa.”

 

Kenyan musician Nameless is also a ONE ambassador, and some of the international members of that family include U2 lead singer Bono, Freshly Ground’s Zolani, Mary J. Blige, 2Face Indibia, Naz and Melanie Fiona.