Mandela’s 46664 Birthday Celebration Concert

Happy Birthday Madiba!

Yesterday, July 18, a steady stream of family members, friends and members of the African National Congress (ANC) gathered at Madiba’s house in Houghton, Johannesburg to celebrate the 91st birthday of one of the world’s most respected statesman.

They sang ‘Happy Birthday To You’ in English and his native Xhosa. Mr. Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela also paid a birthday visit.

Despite his increasing frailty, Mandela blew out the less than 91 candles on his ANC themed cake. At the birthday party was South Africa’s current president, Jacob Zuma, who made a tribune to Mendala – "inspiration to the world."

South Africa officially celebrates Mandela Day on July 18. The country encourages its citizenry to do voluntary work in

Wyclef Jean and Queen Latifah

their communities in commemoration of Mandela’s birthday. The Nelson Mandela Foundation hopes Mandela Day will become an annual event worldwide.

The festival was not limited to South Africa alone. In New York, artists and musicians, including singer Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean, Lil’ Kim, Queen Latifah, Gloria Gaynor and Morgan Freeman, who has been cast to play Mandela in Invictus – a film biography of Mandela’s life, performed at Mandela Day: A 46664 Celebration Concert. The number 46664 was the former Robben Island inmate prisoner number.

Also in attendance was the first lady of France, Carla Bruni, who is also an international ambassador for HIV/Aids charities. Ms. Bruni had pledged that she would not make live appearances while she was First Lady of France but made an exception for Mandela birthday celebration. Her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in attendance at the the Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Happy Birthday Madiba!