Youssou N'Dour and global, public-health non-profit IntraHealth International have teamed up with Indaba Music to launch a global remix contest, featuring Youssou's song "Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling)," from his most recent Nonesuch release, Rokku mi Rokka (Give and Take). Artists like Duncan Sheik, Nas, and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck are among the headliners who have donated remixes of the song to raise funds and visibility for the IntraHealth OPEN initiative, designed to address critical health issues in Africa by putting the latest open-source software technologies directly in the hands of health workers.

Now, the same tracks used by those artists are being made available to the global music community on Indaba, an online music collaboration tool and social network for musicians, allowing fans and supporters to rework the song themselves. Contestants will be challenged to re-imagine "Wake Up" as part of a five-week campaign on the site. Youssou will be among the contest judges, as will Nonesuch's own Executive Vice-President David Bither, and OPEN Remix artists Toubab Krewe.

The IntraHealth OPEN initiative was created to address the most critical health issues in Africa by putting the latest open source technologies directly in the hands of health workers. With growing connectivity, mobile phone use increasing at twice the global rate, web-based interfaces, and PDAs, Africa can take advantage of cutting edge technologies in eHealth. Open source technology is ideally suited for application in low-resource environments being inexpensive, flexible and collaborative.

"Creative collaboration is exactly what IntraHealth OPEN aims to accomplish," said IntraHealth’s CEO, Pape Gaye. "With open source training health workers in Africa can join in the development of life saving systems. The IntraHealth OPEN Initiative will foster a new generation of technology professionals, eHealth workers, and national leaders who understand, use, and support open technologies to improve health."

Youssou has been using music to bridge the digital divide in Africa for years and has been a leader in the fight against Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other critical public health issues. "I was drawn to this project because open source technology lets us address health challenges collaboratively with African developers in the lead, designing programs to meet the specific needs of our people," he says. "If we invest in open source development training in Africa we will be supporting a new generation of self-sufficient health professionals able to use technology and customize programs to meet the most urgent needs. Better organized, efficient, affordable and sustainable systems save lives."

The winner of the Indaba Music Remix contest will be announced at a special OPEN ceremony at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC, on May 26. The winner will be invited to perform their remix at the event and will be joined by several of the OPEN Remix artists presenting the award. The winning selection will be added to the official OPEN Remix album and will be available for download on the IntraHealth website, Rhapsody, and Amazon MP3.

Free downloads of all the songs will be available with a suggested donation through several distributions partners including Rhapsody, iLike, Amazon MP3, and through IntraHealth’s website, through the summer. Each distribution partner has received an exclusive track along with a set of remixes ranging from hip hop to electronica, trance, blues, and world.

To enter the remix contest, visit indabamusic.com. For a video of Youssou N’Dour discussing the IntraHealth OPEN Initiative, visit nonesuch.com/media. For more information on the project and on IntraHealth, visit intrahealth.org/open.