Santana said he hopes to raise between $2.5 million and $3 million during his U.S. Shaman tour.

“We invite you to join us in spreading a spiritual virus. … We invite you to create a masterpiece of joy on this planet,” Santana told a press conference attended by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and several Hollywood stars.

“When you get to the other side they will not ask you whether you’re a Christian or a Mexican, or Buddhist or Muslim. They will ask you, ‘What did you do with the energy and life that we gave you?'” he said.

The proceeds will go to the Artists for a New South Africa fund which supports South African groups fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS.

More than 42 million people around the world have HIV and 29 million of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the artists group, 600 people die from AIDS every day in South Africa and 1,600 contract HIV.

Tutu and celebrities including Samuel Jackson, Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood praised Santana and his wife, Deborah, for supporting the cause.

“Apartheid tried to destroy our people and apartheid failed,” Tutu said. “If we don’t act against HIV-AIDS it may succeed, for it is already decimating our population.”

AIDS-awareness booths will be set up at the concerts to provide information to fans. The tour begins June 13 in Raleigh, North Carolina. It concludes in Los Angeles on July 14.