Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - December 1, 2003
More than 30,000 people, among them Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson, filled Cape Town's Greenpoint Stadium on Saturday for the show, part of Mandela's 46664 campaign, named after his old prison number.
With a giant bronzed image of his face as a backdrop, Mandela came on stage dressed in a black shirt with the number emblazoned on his chest.
"For the 18 years that I was in prison on Robben Island I was supposed to be reduced to that number," Mandela said. "Millions infected with HIV/AIDS are in danger of being reduced to mere numbers if we don't act now. They are serving a prison sentence for life."
The concert, broadcast live on the Internet, is part of an appeal to governments to declare a global AIDS emergency.
Artists, including The Corrs, Anastacia and Annie Lennox, performed. Gabriel and the Soweto Gospel Choir silenced the crowd when they performed Biko, a tribute to anti-apartheid icon Steve Biko.
Brian May from Queen performed the song 46664, featuring Mandela's voice saying: "The struggle is my life. I will continue to fight."
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