Nelson Mandela To Host Fifth International Concert To Raise Awareness About HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day in Johannesburg
Former South African President Nelson Mandela on Monday announced that the fifth international concert of his "46664" HIV/AIDS awareness campaign will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 1, to mark World AIDS Day, AFP/Google.com reports (AFP/Google.com, 10/1).The 46664 campaign -- named for Mandela's prison number during his nearly 20-year incarceration -- has staged several rock concerts to benefit the campaign. The first 46664 concert was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in December 2003 (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/19/05).
Tim Massey, international director for the campaign, said about $3 million has been raised through the concerts. About 30 to 35 international and local artists are scheduled to perform at the Johannesburg concert, and it is expected to attract a crowd of more than 50,000 people, the AP/Google.com reports. The performers will be announced later this month. The concerts' funds go toward raising awareness about HIV/AIDS among youth (Jacobson, AP/Google.com, 10/1).
"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," Mandela said (BBC News, 10/1). He added, "The 46664 campaign has done great work in putting the global spotlight" on HIV/AIDS, and it "will continue to use celebrities from the world of music, sports and entertainment to speak to the youth about the disease." Massey said, "We are trying to make this concert something very different. This is going to be the greatest concert yet"(AP/Google.com, 10/1).
