The ground-breaking African super group, Airtel ONE8, has received an influential endorsement from the music industry’s authoritative publication – Billboard International – as a talented act that is poised for international success.

The international publication which is renowned worldwide as the music industry’s premier news source, delivering insight and analysis on the industry, has named airtel One8 as a “Best Bet of 2011”. The Billboard ‘Best Bet list’ is an annual forecast of upcoming artists or groups that are destined for success in the New Year. This year’s list includes American country pop singer and Grammy award-winner Taylor Swift. Past lists have included prominent artists such as U2, Drake, and Keri Hilson.

Airtel One8 debuted in November 2010 with the global hit ‘Hands Across the World’. The group which features eight of Africa’s top acts has received rave reviews from audiences across Africa and the world. The top act also features no less than Hip Hop’s pied piper – R Kelly – who wrote and produced the debut single.

According to Billboard, the group and R-Kelly connection, no less, is poised to build a sustainable global audience for the continent’s music industry. Last year, the publication crowned R-Kelly as the top 25 R&B/hip-hop artists of the past 25 years.

The group’s single was executive produced and digitally released by Sony’s Rockstar 4000 label and backed by airtel Africa. The idea of assembling a constellation of Africa’s top act was conceived by airtel. So far, the single has picked over 500,000 tube reviews and 20 Million hits on the airtel live portal. The single continues to climb the charts, achieving airplay across more than 16 national and international countries as a top ten track.

Speaking on the endorsement, Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, airtel Africa said: “This exciting recognition has demonstrated both the potential impact African music and local artists can have on the international music scene, as well as the benefits of diversity in music. The airtel One8 super group is a living and breathing example of the diversity and cultural mix of Africa. It expresses the spirit, talent and rhythm of Africa.”

One8 – the brainchild of airtel is a diverse collaboration of eight of Africa’s top acts: Nigerian R&B singer 2Face, Tanzanian crooner Ali Kiba, Singer Fally Ipupa of the Democratic Republic of Congo, hip hop trio 4X4 from Ghana, rapper Movazhaleine of Gabon, Zambian singer JK, Ugandan rapper, Navio and Kenyan R&B singer Amani.

A full length airtel One8 album – which will include Hands Across the World – is due in the first quarter of this year. The album to be released by Rockstar 4000/Sony Label will include four regional mixes and one new hit from each of the eight African stars of the group.

airtel ONE8 is symbolic of the power of connectivity – using networks, technology and the power of music to connect fans all over Africa and the world through music.