R&B singer Akon launches anti-slavery song at UN

London, March 27: R&B singer Akon debuted a song at the United Nations in New York to commemorate the victims of the slave trade, past and present.

He launched "Blood Into Gold" on Wednesday - the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery. "I will do my part to spread the word - a lot of my US friends are not aware of the history [of slavery]," The BBC quoted him, as saying. Akon, real name Aliaune Thiam, was born in St Louis, Missouri, but spent much of his youth living in Senegal. "[Slavery] is a big situation for us - the younger generation," he told the BBC`s Network Africa programme. "It`s very important for me because it was the slaves that opened the door for me personally. Seeing how far we`ve come, I`m honoured to be a part of it and I will do my part to spread that word." "As people, we should stop using each other for money purposes,” he added. On "Blood Into Gold" he collaborates with Emmy-award winning musician Peter Buffett. The single’s proceeds will go to an organisation whose purpose is to educate and bring an end to human trafficking worldwide. ANI