andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Rapper 50 Cent says that he was “enlightened” after visiting with former ANC (African National Congress) leader and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

50, who is currently on tour in Africa with his group G-Unit got the opportunity alongside MTV to meet Mandela.

He and other members of G-Unit also toured the notorious Robben Island prison where Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

“To endure so much and still be as peaceful as he is when you actually see him, I guess you got options, and they can either drive you to become an animal, or you can become what he’s actually become. I mean, there’s a huge significance to Nelson Mandela and his struggle,” 50 said.

Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, Queen, the Sugababes and Congolese musician Papa Wemba are some of the many artists slated to perform at a concert for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration in London, England next month.

The concert comes almost 20 years after the June 11th, 1988 concert at London’s Wembley Stadium calling for Mandela’s release from prison.

Organizers are selling exactly 46,664 tickets.

The number symbolizes Mandela’s prisoner number at the Robben Island prison, 466, the year he was imprisoned, 1964 and the name of his charity 46664, which raises money for HIV/AIDS awareness and promotes ways to prevent the disease.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mandela said,

“You all know that I am supposed to be retired but when you retire it means that you can have time for birthdays. My friends and the charitable organizations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them.”

Other celebrities who will be attending the three day celebration include Robert de Niro, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Forest Whittaker and Will Smith.

Organizers have not announced the names of all the performers saying they would like to keep some element of surprise for Mandela and the audience.

There have been rumours however, that Amy Winehouse, Eminem and U2 will also be performing.

Mandela actually turns 90 on July 18th.

Nelson Mandela will host an international concert to raise AIDS awareness among youth on Dec.1 – World AIDS Day – in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It will be the fifth in a series of concerts, dubbed the 46664 campaign, organized by the former South African president and civil rights leader. The concerts have raised about $3 million to date for AIDS awareness.

The first 46664 concert was held in Cape Town on Nov. 29, 2003. Past performers have included U2, Queen, Beyoncé, Bob Geldof and Annie Lennox.

“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 at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday.

The concert is expected to feature both local and international talent. The lineup of about 30 to 35 artists will be announced in the coming days.

Besides the Johannesburg concert, a 46664 concert will also be held in London on June 27, 2008 to mark Mandela’s 90th birthday.

The 46664 campaign is named for Mandela’s inmate number during the 27 years he spent in prison for his struggle against apartheid. He has continued to use the number in his work for various social issues.