| London to boogie with Madiba |
|
|
|
| Written by Ndaba Dlamini | |
| Tuesday, 24 June 2008 | |
|
There are plenty of activities lined up to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of the world's most beloved citizens - exhibitions, dialogues, lectures, books, concerts - or simply add your name to the global Happy Birthday Madiba card. 
Madiba is turning 90 on 18 July
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg) NELSON MANDELA turns 90 on 18 July, and a host of events are taking place in South Africa and around the world to celebrate his birthday. Year-long activities include exhibitions, dialogues, book launches, a 46664 concert and a Nelson Mandela Lecture. According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which works to develop a living legacy that captures the vision and values of Mandela's life and work, the focus of the exhibitions, dialogues and book launches is "a celebration of ideas". The shows and concerts, on the other hand, are aimed at assisting the organisation's ongoing work in social justice, started by Madiba, and the perpetuation of his ideals of freedom, non-racism and gender equality. Celebrations began in March, with a series of six newspaper interviews published on the foundation's website. An exhibition entitled Parenting a Nation: Walter & Albertina Sisulu was launched on 12 March with the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa at Mandela House. On 14 March there was a reunion and dialogue with the surviving trialists from the Defiance Campaign Trial, the 1956 Treason Trial and the Rivonia Trial, in which Mandela was an accused. The event as held in collaboration with the Swedish embassy. A marathon series of youth community dialogues, essay and art competitions focused on Mandela's leadership and the Vision of an African Child is running from March to November. They are held by the foundation in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. A global "birthday wishes campaign" began on 18 June, in which ordinary South Africans can SMS their birthday wishes to 46664, Mandela's prison number. International well-wishers can send their birthday messages through the Happy Birthday Mandela website. One of the biggest and most anticipated celebrations, a 46664 90th Birthday Concert, is being held in Hyde Park, in London, on Friday, 27 June to celebrate Mandela's life and legacy on an international scale. Queen, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis and the Soweto Gospel Choir are among the superstars on the bill. Proceeds will go to the 46664 Aids charity. The 46664 initiative, an independent, non-profit entity based in South Africa and wholly owned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, focuses on raising awareness about HIV and Aids and supporting the fight against the global pandemic. It uses music, sport and entertainment to deliver its message to young people. And bling is not being ignored. The 46664 campaign, in a joint venture with Coutts Incorporated, launches 46664 precious metals bangles this month. Limited edition bangles in silver, gold and platinum have been produced for a special fundraiser in London. The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund is holding a series of Children's Parliaments in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which will culminate in a joint sitting via satellite in June. And just before the birth day itself, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the president of Liberia, delivers the sixth annual Nelson Mandela Lecture at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Soweto, on 12 July. But perhaps the highlight of the celebrations is the annual 46664 World Aids Day Concert to be held on Saturday, 30 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An international array of musicians is expected to perform at the concert. World Aids Day is on 1 December. Already five 46664 World Aids Day concerts have been held around the world, the last one in Johannesburg. The first was in Cape Town in 2003. Related stories: Related links: |
