Nelson Mandela will be the Host of

5th AIDs Concert

 

Nelson Mandela will host the fifth international AIDS concert December 1st, 2007 in Johannesburg, Africa.

 

Wearing a shirt with the number 46664 which prison authorities gave him "I am very delighted that we are engaging the youth in schools, communities and through the media breaking the silence and stigmas around HIV and AIDS and making them realize that the power to beat the pandemic lies in their own hands," said Mandela, 89 at the press conference.


"The 46664 campaign has done great work in putting the global spotlight on the issue of HIV and AIDS," the former South African president said Monday at a press conference at his Johannesburg offices. "We will continue to use celebrities from the world of music, sports and entertainment to speak to the youth about the disease."

 

This fifth concert is expected to have about 35 international and local artists for performances and will draw at least over 50,000 people. More details about the artists will be announced at a later time next month. The previous concerts were held in Spain, Norway and Cape Town and former musicians included U2, Beyonce, Peter Gabriel and Annie Lennox.


"We are trying to make this concert something very different," said Tim Massey, the international director for the campaign. "This is going to be the greatest concert yet."


This incredible concert event was launched in 2003 by the Nelson Mandela Foundation. All monies and funds raised go straight to the AIDS Awareness program.

 

An estimated 5.4 million South Africans are one with the highest infected AIDS rate. Approximately 5 million people are infected with the virus.

 
Massey said about $3 million has been raised through the concerts so far.