Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Celebrations

Omotaylor writing from London

London is really alive this week. The papers are full of “IT”, the TV screens are not silent on “IT”, and the Radio stations are screaming and even running competitions so that listeners could win tickets to “IT”. What you may be wondering is “IT”?

“IT” is simply the 3 hour outdoor 46664 concert in honour of a world renowned hero and legend, Nelson Mandela. This is part of the week long activities to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90^th Birthday. This concert is scheduled to take place on Friday 27^th June 2008, at Hyde Park London and starts at 4pm. Official tickets to this outdoor event range from £75 to £99 per head.

London has a real genuine love love romance with Mandela and this I guess dates back to the “Free Mandela” concert 20 years ago at Wembley Stadium on 11^th June 1988, to mark Nelson Mandela’s 70^th Birthday. This premier Wembley concert was initiated by the likes of Jerry Dammers who in 1984 scored the hit single “Free Nelson Mandela”. Nelson Mandela was still in the South African Apartheid prison then, and later gained his freedom 2 years after. Also in August 2007 London unveiled a Mandela Statute at London’s Parliament Square in honour of our hero, father and the greatest freedom fighter of all times, Nelson Mandela (visit http://www.africanloft.com/unveiling-nelson-mandelas-statue-in-london/ for more).

This June 2008, 90^th Birthday concert in London is most assuredly going to be a star studded occasion as the world’s most powerful and most popular persons; royalty, celebrities, sports personalities, entertainers and who have you are expected at the Gala Concert. Nelson Mandela, his wife Graca Machel, and some members of his family are already in London (since 23^rd June) for this event.

Yes from Prison to Presidency, Mandela, will be joined at this concert by the likes of Bill Clinton (former American President), Gordon Brown (UK Prime Minister), Robert De Niro, Lenny Henry, Richard Branson, Will Smith (who I understand will be one of the hosts), Oprah Winfrey, Roger Taylor, Dave Stewart etc. The concert will also feature South African and African artists like Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mabuse, Loyiso, Children of Agape Choir, Papa Wemba and Emmanuel Jal. This Hyde Park concert will also feature some of the biggest names in music e.g. Soweto Gospel Choir, Leona Lewis, Eminem, Annie Lennox, Queen, Sugar Babes etc. The concert audience will be 46 664 in number.

Papa Mandela is now expected to really bow out of public eye and “retire from retirement” after this concert which is put together by 46664 Charity, the Aids Campaign associated with Mandela and proceeds of the Hyde Park concert will go to this Charity. Oh by the way just in case you are wondering what 46664 really is; this is the number that Nelson Mandela wore while he was in prison for 27 years before his release in 1990 and followed by his election as South Africa’s first Black President in 1994.

Forming part of the celebrations this week will be a fundraising event to benefit the charitable organisations founded by our hero Nelson Mandela e.g. Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and Mandela Rhodes Foundation. There are many other related campaigns for this 90^th Birthday celebrations e.g. The World’s Biggest Birthday Card for Mandela where anyone with a mobile phone could be involved by joining the “Text Your Birthday Wishes” campaign. All messages will be displayed on the Nelson Mandela Birthday website, www.happybirthdaymandela.com. For London viewers this Hyde Park concert will be broadcasted by ITV1 at 9pm on same Friday 27^th June 2008.

A BIRTHDAY POEM TO MY GREATEST HERO OF ALL TIMES

Papa Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Proudly Born a Mandiba Man

1918 was a year of great importance

For birthing a man of such great stance.

Black Pimpernel and Living Legend

Even the gates of hell could not you prevail

Yes the Apartheid Prison was predestined to fail,

For you were born the world to apprehend.

You stooped to conquer and since exalted

While the apartheid authorities remain debased

You will live long; our African Methuselah

Many happy returns, our leader and master.

May your lineage be forever established

May your ideals in South Africa never diminish

May the Lord Bless and Lengthen your days

May we all usher in with you your 100^th Birthday.

We at AFRICAN LOFT, join South Africa, Britain and the whole world in wishing Papa Nelson Mandela the “Bestest” Happiest Birthday EVER.

WE LOVE YOU…