May 23 2012

MAMMA MIA! ABBA answer "SOS" in Central African Republic

23/05/2012 - World-famous Swedish pop band ABBA take “SOS” to another dimension.  The song title that was a sensational hit for ABBA in the 1970s has again inspired success – this time for SOS Children’s Villages in the Central African Republic.   

The Eurovision Song Contest winners together with Polar Music and music publishing house Union Songs, have joined up to sponsor the construction of a house in the SOS Children’s Village Bossangoa, Central African Republic. The village of twelve houses will be home to 120 children.

ABBA and SOS Children
Something to sing about - A loving home

Children's author Astrid Lindgren

Band members, Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Björn Ulvaeus have expressed enthusiasm for the initiative that also pays tribute to another Swedish icon – children’s book author Astrid Lindgren. The village will be named, “Bullerbyn” - a village in one of Lindgren's books.

“The combination of Astrid Lindgren and ABBA has a special glow I think. To do something with Astrid Lindgren’s relatives felt like a good idea”, said Mr Ulvaeus (67). While the band members have not visited the country, the singing legend also outlined in a recent interview with Swedish business web magazine di.se. why ABBA supports SOS Children’s Villages.

“One has to be convinced that the money is really used for the purpose. That was what convinced us. This project will be a reality and it is concrete, it is not a lot of middle hands that take away some of the amount on the way.” The project is a long-term cooperation which also includes a preschool, a school, a medical centre and a social centre.

ABBA and SOS Children
'This will be reality' -Children in Central African share in the success of Eurovision Song Contest winners 
Light Your Fire is the motto of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. "Waterloo" may have won the competition for ABBA in 1974, but their “SOS” legacy will never be extinguished. 

Like Bullerbyn, it will carry on. As construction gets underway at the SOS Children’s Village in Central African Republic, Björn Ulvaeus is in no doubt when he says that “this will be reality”.