Alicia Keys shed her superstar image this week for a low-key Zulu blessing ceremony held beneath a “healing tree” in KwaZulu-Natal. The Grammy award-winning singer, who is about five months pregnant, arrived in South Africa to headline the Fifa Kick-Off Concert in Soweto last week. On Wednesday, Keys and Swizz Beatz, her music producer fiancĂŠ, both decked out in beads and leopard print, had their union and their unborn child blessed in a traditional ceremony at Illovo on the South Coast.

The ceremony took place under a huge fig tree – dubbed “the healing tree” – which symbolises good fortune and good health. The R&B diva, known for her stylish wardrobe, swopped her blue jeans, cowboy boots and knee-length jersey to emerge from behind the tree in a skirt, a blue sash over her shoulder and a beaded headdress, necklace and bracelets. Beatz, who has worked with the likes of Gwen Stefani and Beyonce, donned a red sarong decorated with an image of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, a leopard print silk sash and a leather peak cap with fur trimming.

The couple sang traditional Zulu songs and danced to the rhythmic beat of drums before the ceremony. Keys and Beatz were accompanied by her mother, Terri Augello, her younger brother, Cole Cook, bodyguards and a film crew, documenting her “return to Africa” trip. Keys first visited South Africa in 2006. The two-hour ceremony was arranged months in advance at Keys’s request by the non-governmental organisation, Bobbi Bear, a child abuse group funded by Keys’ Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Foundation. The local NGO runs a weekly HIV/Aids awareness clinic under the tree.

Staff from Bobbi Bear formed a circle and greeted the couple with songs of praise and welcome. They were joined by about 50 locals who gathered under the tree to watch the proceedings. The Sunday Times was asked to respect the ceremony and not to photograph the couple being blessed. ”She (Keys) doesn’t mind that you’re here,” said a publicist, ”but she wants the ceremony to be private.” Keys arrived in Durban on Tuesday to open the Blue Roof Wellness Centre in Wentworth, south of Durban. Also funded by the KCA, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art HIV/Aids care centre. On the night of the opening ceremony, Keys tweeted:

”The Energy out here is STAGGERING!!!!! Unbelievable unbelieveable unbelievable!! I have a true connection w South Africa!! thank u 4 ur love!”

Beatz tried out Durban’s legendary bunny chow while here, describing it to his fans as “damn good”. Before the couple left South Africa, Beatz tweeted: ”Much love and respect to all my people in SA. I had the time of my life now I’m on to the next 1.”

Thanks to my love Tania I have uploaded some older candids, plus few from this year as well, my favs You can check below : Keep A Child Alive Black Ball at St Johns Smith Square 05-27-10 & Seen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport in Spain.

Thanks to Rachael we have posted 2 images of Alicia at the ‘keep a child alive’ press conference last Thursday. As co-founder, Alicia launched the campaign, with the help of glacĂŠau vitaminwater, at a time when the spotlight is shining brightly on South Africa as it hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup. High profile football players sporting powerful messages also star in the campaign, including Aaron Mokoena, Salomon Kalou, Jermain Defoe, John Paintsil, Carlton Cole, Benik Afobe and Djibril Cisse. ‘Keep a child alive’ is dedicated to providing life-saving aids treatment, care and support services to children and families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

An expectant Alicia Keys is considering adopting a child from Africa in the future, Britain’s Daily Mirror reports. The mom-to-be regularly visits Africa in conjunction with her Keep A Child Alive charity, which helps youngsters whose parents have died of AIDS. The heartbreaking trips have left Keys wanting to help out.

“Adopting is definitely not out of the question,” Alicia said. “I would love to figure out the ways that could work for me. I felt I wanted to scoop up the children I met in Africa and take them home. At this point I kinda feel I have amazing brothers and sisters in Africa. Hopefully I can be their big sister who they know they can depend on and will always be there, fighting for them.

After her performance at the pre-World Cup concert, Alicia said that she’s never been so inspired in her life. “The people I met last time I was in Africa inspired me more than anything in my life. I cried a lot. It was extremely emotional and it changed me. It was heartbreaking but also heart lifting.”

Rihanna and Alicia Keys are up for Choice R&B Artist for this year’s Teen Choice Awards. They face fierce competition from other artists in their category including Beyonce, Trey Songz and Usher. This year’s event will be hosted by Katy Perry on August 9, and fans can vote at teenchoiceawards.com.

For the 10th anniversary of the “BET Awards,” the network continues to add more exciting performances to its already impressive roster. Along with performances from Kanye West, Diddy, and Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Usher, and T-Pain have also been added to the line-up. The 2010 BET Awards, airing Sunday, June 27th on BET, will also feature performances Drake, Ludacris, T.I., Rick Ross, and Trey. Grammy Award-winner and Oscar nominee Queen Latifah will host.

Alicia Keys performs on stage during the FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert at the Orlando Stadium on June 10, 2010 (yesterday) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Thanks to my sis Tania I have added HQ images from this event. You may also find MQ photos over here.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz fly to South Africa to take part in the opening ceremony of The World Cup. Heathrow. UK. 8th June 2010, I have added High Quality images to the gallery, check them out :

I have made 4 animated avatars from Un-thinkable videoclip, they are 100×100 pixels. I have also added photos of Alicia and Swizz seen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport in Spain in better, high quality.

The lovely Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz walk hand in hand through Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport. You can literally feel the love throught this pic of the happy couple. Its good to see them both content and not shying away but embracing the cameras. Alicia Keys is still on tour looking chic and amazing. But it cant hide the bundle of joy forming inside the soulful singer and quite frankly it doesn’t look like shes trying too. Check out the close up for yourself. She really has that pregnancy glow about her smiling ear to ear. Credit globalgrind.com

Alicia kicks of her European Tour in bespoke Armani, designed especially for the singer. Giorgio Armani has designed a custom wardrobe for Alicia Keys during her European Tour. The Element of Freedom tour kicked off in Lisbon on April 29th and continues through Europe until early June. Alicia and Giorgio have become close friends over the years after a series of collaborations including designing her custom wardrobe for her world tour in 2008.

This time around, Armani has created a collection featuring crystals, sequins and beading on long chiffon gowns and tougher leather military jackets. Our favourite look of the show was the black viscose – lame mini dress which was teamed with fabulous Swarovski-encrusted gloves and of course this incredible jacket!