Madiba’s 87th birthday festivities to celebrate the living legacy

Nelson Mandela’s 87th birthday celebrations from 11 to 23 July will give every South African as well as people around the world the opportunity to honour his living legacy.

Announcing the birthday plans at a media briefing in Johannesburg today, the Nelson Mandela Foundation (the Foundation) said that Professor Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Kenyan Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife, will deliver the Nelson Mandela Lecture as part of the festivities.

Nelson Mandela and the speakers from the 2003 and 2004 lectures, Bill Clinton and Desmond Tutu, will attend this year’s event, which takes place in Johannesburg on 19 July.

Says the Foundation’s chief executive John Samuel: “The lecture has developed into a prestigious public address, giving a platform for the world’s most prominent leaders and thinkers.

“It provides an occasion to celebrate and deepen Madiba’s legacy, as well as providing a forum for the critical consideration of the most urgent social challenges facing us in the 21st century. We hope the lecture will contribute to developing a deeper understanding of what the world can do to address those challenges.”

Samuel also told the media about a range of other activities that will highlight Madiba’s life and work, and give a chance for all South Africans to celebrate his birthday.

Next week a number of 46664 Ambassadors will be introduced to the public. The number 46664 refers to Mandela’s prisoner number when he was first incarcerated on Robben Island. 46664 is now the name given to the Foundation’s global HIV/AIDS awareness and fund raising campaign.

As part of the campaign, some of the world’s biggest names in music, film, TV, politics and sport have been asked to get involved by becoming 46664 Ambassadors. To date, 35 prominent people have accepted Nelson Mandela’s Call to Action to work in their respective fields and spheres of influence to support the 46664 campaign.

[A full list of 46664 Ambassadors accompanies this news release.]

The new 46664 Ambassadors are Dozi (musician), Leanne Manas (Morning Live presenter) and Kim Engelbrecht (actress).

At the same media briefing, the SA Rugby Union (Saru) outlined plans for the celebrations of the former president’s birthday when the Springboks play Australia in the Nelson Mandela Plate on 23 July at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

“Along with millions of rugby fans, players, managers and administrators across the country, Saru will be celebrating Madiba’s birthday at the Ellis Park game,” said Saru President Brian van Rooyen.

“We accepted the invitation to participate in the celebrations with open arms, as Madiba is a great friend of SA rugby. The whole stadium will sing and celebrate the life of a great ambassador of South Africa.

Source: www.nelsonmandela.org