Award-winning musician, writer, producer, humanitarian and activist Alicia Keys is the final interviewee to be questioned by African youth in the current series of MTV Base Meets.

The R&B legend met up with 6 young Africans and MTV Base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo in New York City in August 2011 for a far-reaching discussion that touched on female empowerment, HIV and AIDs, motherhood, family, music,  the importance of education and Keys’ difficult early life growing up among prostitution and drug abuse.

Among the panellists who lined up to meet with Alicia Keys were Zambian entrepreneur Alton Ford who won a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet his heroine in New York City after participating in a pan-African MTV Base Meets contest.  Other panellists featuring in the episode include South African dancer Yoliswa Cele Luthuli, Zimbabwean model and blogger Makho Ndlovu, Rwandan singer-songwriter Iyadede and South African stylist Gugulethu Banda.

Inspirational musician, Alicia Keys has sold more than 35 million albums, notching up two number one singles and 4 US number one albums.  In her stellar 10-year career, she has won a plethora of awards including 14 Grammy Awards, 4 MTV Video Music Awards and Best R&B artist at the inaugural MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in 2008.

Beyond the world of music, Keys is a tireless AIDS activist and philanthropist. In 2003, Alicia Keys co-founded Keep A Child Alive (KCA), a people’s movement that provides life-saving AIDS treatment, orphan care, nutrition and surrounding support to children and families affected by AIDS in Africa and India. Since its inception, KCA has served 250,000 people affected by AIDS and continues to provide much needed relief and treatment.

Over the last 8 weeks, the groundbreaking TV series and youth empowerment initiative has been bringing African youth face to face with the continent’s elite, facilitating meaningful dialogue between potential African leaders of the future and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President Paul Kagame, Julius Malema, Ben-Murray Bruce, Aliko Dangote, Hugh Masekela and Sir Richard Branson.