STARS GATHER FOR NELSON MANDELA BIRTHDAY SHOW
Jill Lawless
London (AP)
27 June 08
Queen, Leona Lewis, Amy Winehouse And A Host Of African Stars Joined
Tens Of Thousands Of Music Fans Friday To Salute Nelson Mandela At
A Concert In Honor Of The South African Statesmanu’s 90th Birthday.
The Outdoor Show In London’S Hyde Park Opened In Eclectic Style
With Jivan Gasparyan, An Armenian Master Of The Duduk Wooden Flute,
Followed By British band Razorlight.
American singer Josh Groban and the Soweto Gospel Choir are also lined
up for the event, hosted by Will Smith and held to mark Mandela’s
birthday on July 18.
It also comes 20 years after a 70th birthday concert at London’s
Wembley Stadium that helped press South Africa’s apartheid authorities
for his freedom.
Singer Jim Kerr of Scottish band Simple Minds, which played the 1988
show and was due to perform again Friday, said the mood was very
different 20 years on.
"I was angry the last time," Kerr said. "It was very much a protest
concert.
This is a joyful occasion."
Proceeds from the show — which organizers hope will be attended by
46,664 people — will go to 46664, the AIDS charity named for the
number Mandela wore while imprisoned for opposing South Africa’s
apartheid regime.
Many who turned put on a cool, blustery London evening said they had
come to see the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Mandela rather than any
particular act.
"Ever since I was at university, 35 years ago and I learned about
the injustices in South Africa I have wanted to meet Nelson Mandela,"
said London primary-school tutor Sheelagh Leith, 51. "I have always
wanted to be in his presence."
Makhauta Leimo, 38, a graduate student originally from South Africa,
said Mandela "is the person who taught us to forgive. He is our hero
and our inspiration."
Queen guitarist Brian May said the event was "as important and as
joyful as anything we’ve done in our lives, and has a great serious
significance as well."
"It’s very much about spreading Nelson Mandela’s message to the next
generation, and I’m very happy to be a part of it," May said.
Annie Lennox, who performed at the 1988 show as part of Eurythmics,
was scheduled to sing Friday. Also on the lineup are reggae star Eddy
Grant, girl group Sugababes and African artists including Emmanuel Jal,
Johnny Clegg and Papa Wemba.
Organizers said Bono and The Edge from the Irish band U2 had recorded
a version of "Happy Birthday" which would be shown on big screens
during the show.
Winehouse, whose participation was in doubt when she was hospitalized
last week after collapsing at home, was due to end the show by leading
a rendition of the Specials’ 1984 anthem "Free Nelson Mandela."
Winehouse she spent several days in hospital undergoing tests. Her
father said she had developed the lung disease emphysema from smoking
cigarettes and crack, although her spokeswoman later said Winehouse
only had "early signs of what could lead to emphysema."
Mandela, a frequent visitor to London, has been in the city since
Monday for a week of birthday events. On Wednesday, he attended a
dinner with guests including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former
U.S. President Bill Clinton, actor Robert De Niro and talk show host
Oprah Winfrey.
Mandela used the event to criticize Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe, saying there had been a "tragic failure of leadership" in
the southern African country. Zimbabwe’s opposition has pulled out of
Friday’s presidential election runoff, citing state-sponsored violence,
leaving Mugabe the only candidate.
Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years behind bars,
and was elected South Africa’s first black president in 1994. He
retired from politics in 1999 and has since campaigned to prevent
the spread of AIDS.