LOCAL actors, visual artists and musicians will gather today at Museum Africa in Newtown to discuss how to benefit from the upcoming Fifa World Cup Concert on June 10.

LOCAL actors, visual artists and musicians will gather today at Museum Africa in Newtown to discuss how to benefit from the upcoming Fifa World Cup Concert on June 10.

Hosted by the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (Cwusa), the strategy meeting takes place after local musicians complained that the 2010 Fifa World Cup Concert was dominated by American musicians.

The concert is scheduled for Orlando Stadium in Soweto on June 10, and features only three local artists - the Parlotones, BLK JKS and Vusi Mahlasela.

International artists include Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Shakira and John Legend.

Cwusa president Mabutho "Kid" Sithole said: "We will be discussing the way forward about the issue of the concert. We cannot allow a situation where local artists are neglected in their own country.

"If they don't perform locally, where are they supposed to perform?"

Sithole said the sidelining of local artists has been happening for some time. "We have noticed that every time a big event happens in South Africa, locals are sidelined.

"Recently, we discussed the issue of Jennifer Hudson coming to portray Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

"The same thing happened with Whoopi Goldberg, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. We are saying what happens to the right should also happen to the left. Let's have local stars making it big in the international arena."

Sithole said they would also discuss a social protection plan for musicians and piracy. The meeting starts at 9am.