Beyoncé for Madiba
THE Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on December 2, will be headlined by Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Usher, among others.
International advocacy organisation Global Citizen yesterday announced that Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher and Wizkid would headline the first Global Citizen Festival to be held in Africa – a free-ticketed event.
The event is the culmination of Global Citizen’s “Mandela 100” campaign in partnership with the House of Mandela; a series of global events honouring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year.
Oprah Winfrey will deliver a special keynote address remembering Mandela and his legacy. The executive producers include Dr Precious Moloi Motsepe, Patrice Motsepe, Kweku Mandela, Dave Holmes, Declan Kelly, Liza Henshaw and Hugh Evans.
Hosts of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 include Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Tyler Perry and Forest Whitaker.
The festival will be the culmination of a six-month-long campaign engaging Global Citizens around the world on seven goals: poverty, zero hunger, health, education, girls and women, water and sanitation, and life below water.
Evans, the Global Citizen co-founder, said: “Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest examples of resistance, patience and forgiveness that our world will ever know.
Campbell added: “I’m truly honoured to celebrate the legacy of Nelson Mandela by co-hosting the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in South Africa. Madiba was a man whose values and wisdom have left a lasting imprint on this world.
“I cherish everything he taught me about giving, sharing and forgiving, and I look forward to celebrating his life on December 2.”
Since the first Global Citizen Festival in New York in
2012, Global Citizen has grown into one of the largest, most visible platforms for young people calling on world leaders to honour their responsibilities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ending extreme poverty by 2030.
Actor Whitaker said: “It’s an honour to take part in the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 and use my platform to shine a light on the world’s most important issues.”
Music fans and activists can sign up at www. globalcitizen.org.za to be a part of the concert.
Goodwill acts to win tickets include emailing world leaders, signing petitions and using social media in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. – Staff Writer