Beyonce Knowles joined forces with Nelson Mandela and Bono on Saturday for a five-hour charity gig in South Africa. The marathon concert, which was staged to raise money to fight Aids, reached a global audience of about two billion.
The "46664" event - held in the run-up to World Aids Day on December 1 - enjoyed performances by a host of major acts, including The Corrs, Queen, Ms Dynamite and Anastacia, but it was Nelson Mandela himself who provoked the biggest cheer.
At one point Mandela joined Beyonce and Bono onstage to address the crowd: "Aids is no longer just a disease – it is a human rights issue," said the iconic statesman. "46664 was my prison number for the 18 years that I was imprisoned on Robben Island. I was supposed to be reduced to that number.
"Millions of people infected with HIV and Aids are in danger of being reduced to mere numbers unless we act. They too are serving a prison sentence for life so I have allowed my prison number to help drive this campaign."
The event also included recorded messages from former US president Bill Clinton, Robert De Niro, Sir Ian McKellen and Annie Lennox. And British rocker Peter Gabriel performed his anti-apartheid anthem Biko with a little help from the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Earlier in the year, Bono teamed up with Dave Stewart and the late Joe Stummer to write a song especially for the event. Long Walk To Freedom can be downloaded at www.46664.com for 69 pence, with proceeds going to the charity.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
