49-year-old hip-hop and rap magnate Russell Simmons is visiting South Africa and neighboring Botswana to learn how the lucrative industry in the two countries can help locals cope with HIV, poverty and little education.

The hip-hop and rap magnate has released the following statement after arriving in South Africa on a mission to better understand the diamond industry.

“I, Russell Simmons, have arrived at 5:30 pm Monday, November 27th, safely in South Africa. I am here because the most important and powerful Muslim preacher and the most important and powerful Jewish Rabbi I have met in my lifetime - The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Rabbi Marc Schnier - both, individually, told me to come here.

I am funded by the Diamond information Center and am here to promote the Transparency and Integrity that is found in the conflict free, Greatest Diamonds in the World (which to me represents truth). I am inspired by my lovely wife Kimora Lee Simmons, and my children Aoki Lee and Ming Lee Simmons. I am on a fact-finding mission to learn how the diamond industry, in conjunction with Simmons Jewelry Company, can positively affect the lives of The Black Africans here who are suffering from poverty, HIV and lack of high quality education.

I have heard from Ken Sunshine directly (Petra Nemcova and Leo DiCaprio's publicist) that Petra is worried about the political and, possible, business ramifications of this trip and that she is awaiting her advisers to respond to decide whether she can join me on this trip. I know her presence as a celebrity and the chairman of her Happy Hearts foundation will give added attention to this mission, which is much needed to make it a success. I pray that her advisers, including Ken Sunshine and all other parties will advise her to accept this invitation, as planned.

I am sending this out because I sincerely believe that the more people I can mobilize to support this mission, the greater chance we'll have to help improve the lives of the African people. The more people talk about this mission, the more I can serve humanity.

Further, I believe that I am protected by the One God that protects all of humanity.” - Russell Simmons