Monday, June 23, 2008

Nelson Mandela in London to Celebrate Birthday

Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, is in London for the week to celebrate his 90th birthday. He is set to attend an outdoor concert that is in his honor in Hyde Park on this coming Friday. The performances will include Queen, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Amy Winehouse will also perform if her doctors say that it is okay for her to do so. The proceeds from the concert will go to 46664 charity, which is the AIDS charity named after the number Mandela wore while he was imprisoned by South Africa’s apartheid authorities.

Mandela is also set to meet supporters, which include Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and talkshow host Oprah Winfrey. The concert coincides with the 20th anniversary of London’s Free Mandela concert. Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after being incarcerated for 27 years and was elected as the first black president in South Africa in 1994.

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