Mr Mandela address the crowd at the 46664 Hyde Park concert
July 1, 2008 – Rochelle Riley was one of the 46 664 fans who flocked to the 46664 concert in Hyde Park on Friday night. For her, the experience was highly entertaining, but also inspirational.
Read her blog post on the concert, published in the Detroit Free Press, and republished here in part, with permission.
Mandela concert offered music, recruited new warriors
By Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley
“LONDON, June 27 - Some moments in history are great when they happen: an inaugural speech, a call to dream, a final farewell from a television icon who has told you for years “and that’s the way it is.”
“And then there are others that become historic by word of mouth, because you later hear about it and wish you had been there.
“I’m glad I flew to London for a special concert. I’m glad I am here. But my joy wasn’t just in seeing stunning performances by Queen, Leona Lewis, Josh Groban singing with South African singer-songwriter and poet-activist Vusi Mahlasela, Amy Winehouse and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
“I’m glad because, an hour ago, I joined nearly 50,000 fans in front of an outdoor stage in Hyde Park to stand for honor and courage and duty. I stood for Nelson Mandela, whose courage in the face of racism inspired a world. I stood to sing “Happy Birthday” at the top of my lungs. I stood to honor hope and progress and a man who gave us both.
“As I stood about 50 feet from him, I realized that it would be the closest I would ever come to him. And there are few people whose heroism matter as much. Mandela, an African National Congress freedom fighter, was imprisoned by the South African government for 27 years before world pressure and U.S. sanctions against his country helped lead to his freedom in 1990. Four years later, he was elected South Africa’s first black president. Since 1999, he has devoted his time to preventing the spread of AIDS.
“The concert’s proceeds benefit 46664, the AIDS charity that bears the name of Mandela’s prison number.
“I was there for music. But I also was there to accept a charge. And it came halfway through the show. After being helped across the stage, Mandela took the podium and said that, “after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.”
“I didn’t look around and wonder to whom he spoke. He was speaking to me.
“And …”
To read the rest of this essay about the concert, please visit the Detroit Free Press website
Photo courtesy Paul Williams