Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Celebrations

Nelson Mandela is turning 90 in July, and we will give you an overview of all the celebrations taking place in his honour around the world

Here are the latest scoop we have on events surrounding the Nelson Mandela Birthday Celebrations for 2008: (more information coming soon)

In August 2007 in London’s Parliament Square, a Statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled in honour of the most famous South African in the world, Nelson Mandela.

Cape Town’s Annual Suidoosterfees in February started Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations extra early this year, with a concert celebrating Madiba’s birthday.

Nelson Mandela 90th birthday 46664 Concert
A 46664 concert will be held in honour of Nelson Mandela in London on 27 June 2008.

The inspirational revolutionary-turned-peacemaker has long regarded London as a second home. It was this city, under Ken Livingstone's GLC, that led the worldwide movement to free him during his twenty-seven years in captivity, and it is here that he has decided to celebrate his ninetieth birthday.

There are no details yet of the ticketing and line-up details, but we can expect some pulse-raising South African music, alongside some of the protest bands that took up his cause, and the cause of liberty worldwide, during South Africa's long walk to freedom. Fingers crossed for a reformed Specials AKA to sing 'Free Nelson Mandela' as a grand finale.

Stars playing at the Mandela Birthday concert celebrations are rumoured to include the Rolling Stones, Annie Lennox and U2 star Bono as well as Queen with Robbie Williams taking the place of legendary frontman Freddie Mercury. The Spice Girls are also rumoured to perform at the Mandela Concert.

There will be a concert held in Cape Town on the 18th of July for Madiba’s 90th birthday. Many world leaders and foreign dignataries will be attending the celebrations. One of the performances is the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven by "Orkest van het Oosten" (orchestra of the east"), the Orchestra of Overijssel, a province in the east of The Netherlands. Gauteng Choristers will perform the vocal part of the symphony.

Only the Nelson Mandela Foundation and its sister organisations are allowed to organise festivities around Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday on 18 July 2008.

Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Celebrations : Stay put for all events relating to the great former statesman’s Birthday on the 18th of July. We will give you a good overview of all events celebrating Madiba’s Birthday.

For more information on Nelson Mandela, and his birthday celebrations as well as Mandela related things to do in Cape Town, subscribe to our Editor’s Picks Newsletter and stay informed.

Molo Says: “It’s amazing to think that South African Icon Nelson Mandela is turning 90 this year! CapeTownMagazine.com wants to honour him and you can be part of it!

Congratulate Nelson Mandela: Send us an SMS on +27(0)78 606 7505 or email the Editor with good wishes for Madiba for his Birthday. We will feature the best messages on our homepage a week before and on Madiba’s 90th Birthday.”

Here are all the events though the year for the Celebrations for Nelson Mandela's birthday.

• March to July: Madiba in the News
• March-November: Mandela’s Leadership and Vision
• 27 June: Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday 46664 concert
• June: Launch of Special Edition Madiba Bangles
• June: Children’s Parliaments in Africa
• 5 July: Launch of ‘Hunger for Freedom’
• July: Launch of a Mandela Rhodes Foundation
• July 2008: Nelson Mandela: The Authorised Comic Book
• 12 July: Sixth Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture
• August: “Portrait of Mandela”Tour
• August: Launch of The Malibongwe Dialogues
• 18 September: 46664 Charity Event at the Royal Albert
• 24 September: Opening Exhibition on Mandela’s Life
• 30 November: World Aids Day 46664 Concert
• December: First Annual “Promise of Leadership"