Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - November 30, 2003
Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town was filled to capacity with 45000 people as musicians like Bono, Johnny Clegg and Bob Geldof sang for those infected with the HI virus.
Former South African president, Nelson Mandela -- who gave his prison number to the campaign -- told the screaming crowd that action had to be taken to prevent Aids sufferers from being reduced to statistics.
"I was imprisoned on Robben Island where I was supposed to be reduced to a number. People infected with HIV are in danger of being reduced to numbers unless we act. They too are serving a prison sentence of life," he said.
Geldof said all the artists had answered Mandela's call to do something about the disease.
"We are here because a frail old gentleman summoned us and you cannot refuse him anything."
Geldof said it did not matter how much or how little money was raised from the concert because Aids was now simply another medical condition.
"If the problem is medical the solution is political. It is unacceptable that rich people can develop drugs but poor countries cannot. Aids lays waste to entire countries. It takes out workers, teachers, nurses, doctors, mothers, fathers and the children and the children and the children."
US pop sensation Beyonce Knowles started off the concert with an explosive performance with a troupe of dancers. During her set Knowles advised young women to believe in themselves. "Ladies let me tell you there is nothing sexier than being confident and taking care of yourself."
She went on to perform American Prayer with U2's Bono and The Edge. Bono said the song could be a prayer for any nation and called for the stigma attached to Aids to be removed.
"This is an appeal to the churches to open your doors to break the stigma that goes with Aids."
South Africans were seen sobbing in the crowd as local music legend Johnny Clegg performed Asimbonanga -- his tribute to Mandela. Clegg later told journalists that one of the main objectives of the concert was to get governments to channel more funds towards fighting Aids.
"Raising Aids to a human rights issue alleviates the disease. If it has a 10% impact it will affect the way governments look at their budgets ... that is what we hope to achieve," he said. - Sapa
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