LA, July 15: Rock guitarist Carlos Santana will donate at least $2 million in net profits from his U.S. tour to fighting AIDS in South Africa, a charity official said on Tuesday.
The 23-city "Shaman" tour, which ended on Monday at the Hollywood Bowl, benefited a fund set up by Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) to provide grants for South African organizations combating the disease.
The estimate was given by ANSA executive director Sharon Gelman, who said final numbers are still being tallied. Santana himself pleaded ignorance on the financials.
"I don't know man, I'm not an accountant," he told Reuters. "I'm with the notes. I'm not with numbers."
At a post-concert presentation, the ever-spiritual Santana shared his wider philosophies on life with guests.
"I feel very grateful because I'm living in times where even Jesus would have been mindblown. He converted wine from water. But we get to transform, illumine and rearrange molecular structure by creating a masterpiece of joy, instead of being victims of fear and anger.
"The disease is going to go away, the disease of AIDS, and corruption in politicians and religious people. It's the same sickness."
Santana told Reuters he planned to take up an invitation from his friend, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to visit South Africa next year. In the immediate future, he will take about four weeks off before touring Europe with Mexican rock band Mana, and he hoped to play Japan after that.
Bureau Report
