A Special Concert to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 91st Birthday was held at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, July 18.
STEVIE WONDER, ALICIA KEYS, WILL.I.AM, T-PAIN, JESSE CLEGG, GLORIA GAYNOR and EMCEE WHOOPI GOLDBERG were all scheduled to join the Mandela Day concert lineup. This in addition to Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Forest Whitaker, Aretha Franklin, Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah, Dave Stewart, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Josh Groban, Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Jesse McCartney, Zucchero, the Soweto Gospel Choir and a host of African artists who helped kick-off the first Mandela Day Celebration.
Staged by the non-profit known as "46664", with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation charitable organizations and backed by world figures including President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Zuma, Forest Whitaker, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Laurence Fishburne, Quincy Jones and many others, the Mandela Day celebrations brought together major music names from the US and Africa to perform under one banner.
Drawing its numeric title from Mr. Mandela's Robben Island prison number (prisoner 466/incarcerated in 1964), 46664 was founded in 2002 when Mr. Mandela gave over the number under which he served 17 of his 27 years incarceration, to Eurythmics' founder Dave Stewart, to use to call attention to finding solutions to critical social issues such as HIV/AIDS and the social injustices that impact the disease such as poverty, gender inequality and the lack of education.
To date, the 46664 campaign has raised millions of dollars applied to supporting projects in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa where current needs are deemed greatest, particularly in assisting those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Many of 46664's ambassadors formed part of Saturday's multi-artist concert, bringing together leading US artists with many of Africa's foremost performers for a celebration for Mr. Mandela's 91st birthday-- a day which will be remembered as a meeting in music between the US and Africa in a concert for the world.
New York's concert for Mr. Mandela was devised to not only spread the message of 46664 but to have a longer lasting purpose-- to mark a day to reflect on Nelson Mandela's inspiration and guidance and individually strive to make our own contribution.
More information can be found at www.MandelaDay.com.
