Posted on 12/19/2002 10:57:42 PM PST by kattracks
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Dec 20, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Veteran rock stars Bono, Dave Stewart and Joe Strummer have written a song in tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela.
"48864," the song's title, is the number Mandela wore as a prisoner of the apartheid regime. It will be played by the three entertainers at a Feb. 2 AIDS benefit concert on Robben Island, where Mandela was held prisoner.
Mandela, 84, emerged from prison to become South Africa's first democratic president in 1994. He stepped down in 1999 and has since become a vocal activist in the fight against AIDS.
The song, which focuses on Mandela's courage in speaking out against apartheid, ends with the musicians defiantly chanting "48864," Stewart said Thursday.
Performers include Queen, Bono, Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, Shaggy, Jimmy Cliff, Johnny Clegg and Youssou N'dour.
Many artists "have responded to Mr. Mandela's call to arms on the issue of HIV-AIDS," said Stewart, who is the concert's musical director.
An estimated 4.7 million South Africans - one in nine - are HIV positive, more than any other country in the world.
A simultaneous concert will be held in a Cape Town stadium that can hold 30,000 people, said Ned O'Hanlon, the concert's executive producer. A large screen will show the Robben Island concert, and several of the musicians will play both venues.
The "Mandela SOS" concert will be broadcast live on the Internet, and TV rights to a two-hour concert special are being negotiated, he said. Money from those sales and sponsorships will benefit AIDS charities.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Who are they defying?
Certainly not Robert Mugabe. Now that would take a little courage.
Well, please tell Bono that Mandela's intentional insult cannot be forgiven, and the American Taxpayer shouldn't accept one, eventhough it won't be offered.
Hah. Wait till all those starving Zimbabweans start flooding the SA border. Minimum of 300K was the prediction last spring.
Maybe they'll write a song for Winnie. They can call it "GR78-14".
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