46664 concert
Jun. 27th, 2008 08:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nairiporterhttp://allafrica.com/stories/200806270609.html
Celebrities, statesmen and music fans from around the world are gathering in London's Hyde Park for the annual 46664 concert to be held tonight.
The concert, which will feature such artists as Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox and Queen, is being held to celebrate former President Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.
Thousands of people are expected to celebrate Madiba's birthday by chanting the slogan, "It's in our hands."
According to the 46664 campaign's website, many of the world's most powerful and instantly recognisable figures such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson will attend.
However, the concert is open to the general public with tickets selling at £65.
The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, whose actual birthday falls on 18 July, arrived in London earlier this month to take part in a series of events to mark the day.
Events range from exhibitions, dialogues, book launches, the 46664 concerts and the sixth annual Nelson Mandela Lecture.
This year, people have been given the opportunity to send their personal messages to Mr Mandela through SMS, MMS and via the web.
The 46664 World Aids Day concert will be held on 29 November in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
A range of silver, gold and platinum 46664 branded bangles were unveiled in June at a special fund raising event in London.
Other activities included a series of six newspaper interviews in honour of Mr Mandela that were published from March to July on the site www.nelsonmandela.org.
Another highlight during the run-up to Mr Mandela's birthday is a visit by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who will deliver the 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto, on 12 July.
Four years ago, Mr Mandela announced his official retirement and is determined now to spend as much time as he can with his friends and family. For this reason and because the three Mandela organisations have taken up the mantle of his work, this year will be a mixture.
