Supermodel Naomi Campbell, U2 front-man Bono and former South African president Nelson Mandela took to the stage at Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi on Saturday night to kick off the Frock ‘n’ Roll Festival, a star-studded fundraiser for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. The glitzy bash, conceived and organised by Naomi, featured racy designs from Alexander McQueen, an increasingly rare catwalk stroll from the stunning Helena Christensen, and an awe-inspiring performance from Wyclef Jean of the Fugees.
Elle Macpherson – dressed first in a midriff baring black ensemble and then in a shimmering gold figure-hugging number – hosted the programme, as onlookers found out first hand exactly why she’s been dubbed “the Body”. Throughout the evening, the supermodel and actress introduced three runway shows – Diesel, Gianfranco Ferre, and McQueen – and welcomed the incomparable Bono and the unstoppable Wyclef to the stage.
Wyclef should be dubbed the evening’s MVP, Most Valuable Performer, for his frequent returns to the stage – most likely intended to fill gaps left by no-shows Macy Gray, Mick Jagger and UB40. The Fugee more than rose to the occasion, inciting fans to dance and cheer wildly for his cover of the House of Pain classic Jump Around and the track Ready Or Not from the Fugees disc The Score.
An unpretentious Bono, whom Nelson proclaimed “one of the most respected activists”, sampled early U2 with sombre yet intense performances of Sunday Bloody Sunday and One. Bono, sans his Irish mates, re-emerged alongside a stream of models to croon Bob Marley’s Redemption Song for the moving finale.
The event, which drew an estimated 3,000 spectators, was deemed a success by Nelson, who proudly cheered the huge effort made by his "granddaughter" Naomi for the cause she's taken so much to heart.
“Nothing is as disappointing as to have high expecations and that those expectations are not fully realized,” said the 83-year-old ex-South African president. “I came to Barcelona with high expectations and I am happy to say that those high expectations have been fully realized.”
Though the concert was held on Saturday, the weekend truly began on Friday night as Naomi held court at a celebrity packed charity dinner alongside Elle, Kate Moss and Nelson Mandela.
Speaking at the press conference, Mandela said: “The fight against poverty is the most important challenge society faces today. One doesn’t need to be a president or a prime minister to help eradicate the poverty.”
Mandela founded the fund in 1994 to help children in third world countries, notably the 16 million orphans in Africa whose mothers have died of AIDS.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
