Former South African President Nelson Mandela will be joined on stage by a line-up of international and local artists when the fifth International 46664 Concert takes place at in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium on World Aids Day, 1 December.
Previous 46664 (say: four, double six, six four) concerts have taken place in Cape Town and George in South Africa, and in Spain and Norway, while Nelson Mandela recently announced that to commemorate his 90th birthday a 46664 Concert would be held in London on 27 June 2008.
International artists Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Corinne Bailey Rae, Razorlight, Ludacris, Goo Goo Dolls, Jamelia and Angelique Kidjo have already signed up together with more than forty of South Africa’s biggest artists and musicians who will join Madiba at Ellis Park Stadium on 1 December in his 46664 action against HIV/AIDS.
Says Angelique: “I visited Robben Island just before the first 46664 concert and I understood that Nelson Mandela could not have spent all these years standing up for his continent just to let it be hurt by a disease that can be prevented and cured if there is a strong political will. That’s the message we will be sending this time: we will not forget about this until change is made!”
It will not be the first time that Peter Gabriel and Annie Lennox will be answering Nelson Mandela's call. They first joined Madiba on stage during the inaugural 46664 concert in Cape Town in 2003 and again when Madiba took his message to the Arctic Circle with a historic concert in Tromso, Norway, in 2005.
In the same year, Annie Lennox made another appearance for Madiba in George in South Africa.
The South African bands and artists who will perform at the 4664 World AIDS Day Concert between them account for millions of record sales each year and in their diversity reach out across the entire mixed population of the country some of them are:
Arno Carstens, Cassette, Danny K, Goldfish, Jamali, Johnny Clegg, Soweto Gospel Choir and Vusi Mahlasela. Jazz legend, Mahlasela said he felt honored for being chosen to perform in the concert. "It is indeed a great honor to be involved as an ambassador for Tata Madiba's 46664 campaign".
New campaign ambassadors, which include Robert de Niro and Will Smith, for 46664, performing artists and celebrity guests will still be announced.
46664 was the prison number of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, Cape Town where he was held in captivity. He was the 466th prisoner to be incarcerated on the island in 1964.
Nelson Mandela, known affectionately in South Africa by his clan name of Madiba, proclaimed that: “AIDS is no longer a disease. It’s a human rights issue”. This year the poster is an image of Madiba's palm with the words - It's in our hands.
The 46664 initiative, is an independent, non-profit entity based in South Africa and wholly owned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which focuses on raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and supporting the fight against the global pandemic.
If you can't attend the 46664 World AIDS Day Concert in Johannesburg, you can buy CDs T-shirts and DVD's from the website or make a donation.
Nelson Mandela Elder Statesman
Cannabis Tourism to South Africa
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |