New-York Celebrates Nelson Mandela 91’st B’day

Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday was celebrated by a concert at Radio City Music Hall last night (July 18) that included a rare performance by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mandela was too frail to attend the “Mandela Day” celebration, but he addressed the audience in a video. Mandela was a leading activist against apartheid in South Africa.

“Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort. Mandela Day is no different,” he said. “It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own community.”

President Barack Obama also delivered a video message. “From New York to Cape Town, people are celebrating this extraordinary man,” Obama said. “The story of his life can be summed up in Nelson Mandela’s own words, ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’”

Stevie Wonder led the finale by all the concert’s performers and actors Morgan Freeman, Forest Whitaker and Susan Sarandon among others. They sang Wonder’s hit “Happy Birthday.” The Soweto Gospel Choir sang backup throughout the night.

The concert also featured such prominent artists as Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Gloria Gaynor and a number of African artists, including Baaba Maal.

Eighties pop queen Cyndi Lauper performed an unlikely duet with rapper Lil’ Kim in a rendition of Lauper’s ‘80s hit “Time After Time.” Oddly, it worked.

Alicia Keys and African artist Angelique Kidjo swirled their hips singing “Afrika.”
Dressed in black trouser suit, Bruni-Sarkozy played guitar with UK musician Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics in a folk acoustic duet of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

“It’s not very good for dancing, but very good for dreaming,” the 41-year-old former nude model said before launching into her French hit “Quelqu’un m’a dit” (”Someone told me”).
Happy B’day Madiba!!!