Stars Pay Tribute To Nelson Mandela

Actors, Musicians And Athletes In London For 90th Birthday Bash

(AP)  Will Smith charmed the crowd, Amy Winehouse wowed them just by showing up - but Nelson Mandela proved the biggest star of all at a concert Friday in honor of the South African statesman's 90th birthday.

Acts including Queen, Razorlight, Leona Lewis and a host of African stars joined more than 40,000 music fans for the outdoor show in London's Hyde Park, hosted by Hollywood star Smith and held to mark Mandela's birthday on July 18.

American singer Josh Groban and the Soweto Gospel Choir also performed at the event, which comes 20 years after a 70th birthday concert at London's Wembley Stadium that helped press South Africa's apartheid authorities for Mandela's freedom.

The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Mandela, who told the crowd that the 1988 concert had made a difference.

"Your voices carried across the water to inspire us in our prison cells far away," said Mandela who spent 27 years in South African prisons. "We are honored to be back in London for this wonderful celebration.

"But even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete."

Proceeds from the show - for which there were 46,664 tickets - are going to 46664, the AIDS charity named for the number Mandela wore in prison.

Mandela looked frail and leaned on a cane as he was helped onto the stage by his wife, Graca Machel. But his brief speech brought thunderous applause.

"Where there is poverty and sickness including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done," Mandela said. "Our work is for freedom for all.

"We say tonight after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.".

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Photos: Concert For Nelson Mandela

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Also on the lineup were Annie Lennox, reggae star Eddy Grant, girl group Sugababes and African artists including Emmanuel Jal, Johnny Clegg and Papa Wemba.

One of the biggest stars was Winehouse, whose participation looked doubtful after she collapsed at home last week and was hospitalized. But she made it. Looking composed if slightly unsteady - and buoyed by the crowd and her excellent band - she performed two of her best-known songs, "Rehab" and "Valerie."

Se returned at the end of the show to lead the artists in a rendition of The Specials' 1984 hit "Free Nelson Mandela."

Winehouse spent several days in a London hospital undergoing tests. Her father said she had developed the lung disease emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine, although her spokeswoman later said Winehouse only had pre-emphysema symptoms.

One of the past century's most admired political figures, Mandela attracted a sense of respect approaching reverence from concertgoers and performers alike.

Singer Leona Lewis dedicated her global chart-topper "Bleeding Love" to him, saying that when she was a child her aunt and grandmother told her stories "about this incredible, wonderful and great man, Nelson Mandela."

"Happy birthday. Thank you so much for everything," she said.

Many who turned out on a cool, blustery London evening said they had come to see the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Mandela rather than any particular act.

"Ever since I was at university, 35 years ago and I learned about the injustices in South Africa I have wanted to meet Nelson Mandela," said London primary-school tutor Sheelagh Leith, 51. "I have always wanted to be in his presence."

Singer Jim Kerr of Scottish band Simple Minds, which played the 1988 show and performed again Friday, said the mood was very different 20 years on.

"I was angry the last time," Kerr said. "It was very much a protest concert. This is a joyful occasion."

Mandela, a frequent visitor to London, has been in the city since Monday for a week of birthday events. At a star-studded dinner on Wednesday, he criticized Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, saying there had been a "tragic failure of leadership" in the southern African country. Zimbabwe's opposition pulled out of Friday's presidential election runoff, citing state-sponsored violence, leaving Mugabe the only candidate.

Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994. He retired from politics in 1999 and has since campaigned to prevent the spread of AIDS.

[ozonmojo]

The so-called stars are publicity crazy.Mandela is just a vehicle for them for such exposure and nothing else.Naomi Campbell,for example,has gone all the way to Venezuela to hobnob with Chavez.

[joe1022joe]

Ask yourselves: If whites had literally never set foot on African soil, what would be happening today on that continent in general and in South Africa in particular?

[neoconrcrazy]

mandela is still on the US list of suspected "terrorists" along with his party ANC -

suposedly he''ll be removed for his 90th birthday.

doesn''t that just make us proud? and haven''t we just the greatest State Dept. and administration?

[snoopy28173]

Happy birthday Mandella! You''re a great leader and will be in the top leaders in the world. You brought down a pig headed biggoted regeime and changed the face of Africa.

[snapper4298]

Remember the victims of the Church Street bombing. A bombing Mandela "signed off". Those killed and wounded included children.

Mandela has reached a ripe old age, what a pity the victims of that terrible terrorist atrocity didn''t.

Happy Birthday? I think not.

[wdrussell1]

Happy B-day Nelson, hope you have many more.

[rushlimpdrug]

The slaves are free to roam Africa now?

[likeitis5050]

I can''t imagine how inspiring it must be for so many to get to participate in this historical event. Of course it was the whose-who and extremely entitled who get to experience all the fun...as usual. Still, it must be something to part of at this point in time. Even sickening, pathetic Amy got to participate and she isn''t even capable of grasping the importance nor will she even remember one single thing about the whole affair...talk about unfair!

[karenaolson]

Nelson Mandela is a dirty criminal animal. I just love how great South Africa became after this moron was left in control. I laugh my butt off seeing what this Idiot did to destry it. All these stupid american celebrity ****** bags make me sick. Join the Nelson Mandela hate club. www.theoandavirus.com

[jschufm]

Something like having a party for Al Capone...! Let''s all celebrate Martha being a felon, too! Be sure to pick up your copy of Grand Theft Auto 4.0! This society is already come and gone!

[ringading3]

When the whites ran South Africa they produced enough food for all the population and even exported food to the rest of Africa. Now that blacks run the economy, the people are starving, and can''t even produce enough food for themselves. More Black progress!

[brianbwb-2009]

Happy 90th, Mr. Mandela, I am so happy to know that you outlived your jailers, and as you said, there is much more work to be done. Now that we see the first rays of the dawn of a new post apartheid day in the US, perhaps we will be able to more effectively assist each other in that work.

Ubuntu.

[cusefanjapan]

The last three posters must be living on another planet. When the whites ran South Africa, blacks couldn''t even walk the streets of their own country without passes. Did that government ever share the food with poor black townships? Mandela was a "criminal" because he fought against the evil illegitimate racist white government. It''s amazing how many uninformed fools are walking around out there.
Happy birthday, Mr. Mandela! The illegitimate racist government locked you up and tortured you but they couldn''t break you! Now the old racists and apartheid are dead but you are a vibrant shining light for the world to see! LONG LIVE MANDELA THE LION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

"It''s amazing how many uninformed fools are walking around out there." Posted by cusefanjapan

Not really so amazing, these misanthropes are not misinformed, they are attempting to be deliberately misinforming.

They know of the injustice, but are still believers in the idea that apartheid was somehow "correct", and its adherents did nothing wrong. These same people still probably would try to advance the idea of Saddam''s WMDs if not for the face that there aren''t any.

[keithle1]

All the hip, cool, beautiful people celebrating Mandela. They have their list of the "in" causes & check them off one by one. "Next week, honey, we''re going to the Darfur benefit concert in Central Park hosted by Angelina Jolie. And can you believe it? U2 will be there!"

Winehouse is a little young to have "pre-emphysema symptoms", no? Gee whiz.

Can''t say I hate Mandela. His ex Winnie was a real piece of work.

Now that the whites aren''t in charge anymore, what''s next? Turning into a country like Zimbabwe? Mugabe has had 30 years since Ian Smith & what has he done? What''s improved?

Malaria kills more people in Africa than AIDS does.