Nelson Mandela’s Birthday Concert In London | Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis & Queen

Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday concert, held to pay tribute to the freedom fighter and former President of South Africa, as well as to draw attention to raise funding for and awareness of the 46664 Campaign, Mandela’s HIV and Aids charity.

The concert included appearances from the cream of the crop of British music talent. This included Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Queen, Simple Minds and Annie Lennox. Other stars from the world of entertainment introduced the acts on stage, including Will Smith, Quincy Jones and Lewis Hamilton.

The concert was held 20 years after a similar concert was held in 1988 to celebrate Mandela’s 70th birthday, and to call for his release from prison which he was being held because of his anti-apartheid views. While the main emotion on show back then was frustration and anger, this time around saw happiness and optimism shine through.

Mandela was finally released from prison in 1990 and went on to become South Africa’s first black President. He now spends his days promoting awareness of the huge HIV and Aids problem around the world in developing countries, and Africa in particular.

The concert had a hard time competing with the first day of the 2008 Glastonbury Festival, but 46,664 people turned up to show their support for the cause, and to see some brilliant musical performances. The 46664 is an important number due to it being Mandela’s prisoner number while in jail.

The biggest performance at the gig came from Amy Winehouse, who was released from hospital, where she is receiving treatment for the early stages of lung disease emphysema, just for the concert.

Winehouse looked healthy and well when she arrived on stage to perform a medley of her hits, including Rehab and her cover of The Zutons Valerie. She then came back on for the finale of the show, which was a rendition of Free Nelson Mandela, accompanied by The Specials Jerry Dammers and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

However, she may have upset some in the crowd by changing the lyrics from “Free Nelson Mandela to “Free Blakey my fella”. Her husband Blake-Fielder Civil is due to be sentenced within weeks after admitting to the charges of perverting the course of justice and GBH.

Queen also did a fantastic set although it’s clearly not the same without the presence of Freddie Mercury at the front of the stage whipping the crowd in to a frenzy. Instead, it was left to regular stand-in singer Paul Rodgers to deliver the goods.

Nelson Mandela is an incredible man who no-one alive can possibly dislike. His courage and determination are seemingly unbound, so this concert was a fitting tribute to the man.

[Photo Source: Ixtla at Flickr]