Free Mandela Concert

Free Mandela Concert. The Free Mandela Concert was a historic event held at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on June 11, 1988, to demand the release of Nelson Mandela from Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, South Africa. The concert was organized by the Anti-Apartheid Movement and featured performances by renowned artists such as Sting, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, UB40, and Simple Minds. The event was attended by 72,000 people and was broadcast live to an estimated global audience of 600 million in United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and other countries, including Canada, Germany, France, and Italy.

Introduction

The Free Mandela Concert was a significant moment in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, which had been gaining momentum since the 1960s with the help of organizations like the African National Congress and individuals such as Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. The concert was held on the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela, who had been imprisoned for 25 years for his fight against Apartheid in South Africa. The event was supported by prominent figures like Desmond Tutu, Bishop Trevor Huddleston, and Mandela's wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as well as organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the International Defence and Aid Fund. The concert also featured messages from Harry Belafonte, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dennis Hopper, among others, highlighting the global support for Mandela's release.

Background

The Anti-Apartheid Movement had been working tirelessly to raise awareness about the injustices of Apartheid in South Africa, with the help of organizations like the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party. The movement had gained significant support from countries like the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Sweden, as well as from international organizations like the United Nations General Assembly and the European Economic Community. The Free Mandela Campaign had been launched in 1980, with the goal of securing Mandela's release from prison, and had gained widespread support from individuals like Muammar Gaddafi, Fidel Castro, and Yasser Arafat. The campaign had also been supported by organizations like the African Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity and the Pan African Congress.

The Concert

The Free Mandela Concert was a star-studded event that featured performances by some of the biggest names in music at the time, including Tracy Chapman, Hugh Masekela, and Miriam Makeba. The concert was hosted by Tony Hollingsworth and featured a message from Nelson Mandela's daughter, Zindzi Mandela. The event was also attended by prominent figures like Neil Kinnock, Glenys Kinnock, and Ken Livingstone, as well as representatives from organizations like the TUC, the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats. The concert featured a range of musical genres, from rock to pop to jazz, and included performances by artists like Aswad, The Alarm, and The Specials. The event was also supported by BBC Radio 1, ITV, and Channel 4, which broadcast the concert live to a global audience.

Impact and Legacy

The Free Mandela Concert had a significant impact on the Anti-Apartheid Movement, helping to raise awareness and mobilize support for Nelson Mandela's release from prison. The concert was seen as a major success, with estimates suggesting that it reached a global audience of 600 million people, including viewers in China, India, and Brazil. The event also helped to put pressure on the South African government, led by P.W. Botha, to release Mandela from prison. The concert's impact was felt globally, with organizations like the United Nations Security Council and the European Parliament passing resolutions calling for Mandela's release. The event also inspired other concerts and campaigns, including the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute and the Free South Africa campaign, which featured performances by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, and Youssou N'Dour.

Organization and Participants

The Free Mandela Concert was organized by the Anti-Apartheid Movement in collaboration with a range of organizations, including the African National Congress, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the International Defence and Aid Fund. The event was supported by a range of sponsors, including BBC Radio 1, ITV, and Channel 4, as well as organizations like the TUC, the Labour Party, and the Liberal Democrats. The concert featured a range of participants, including Sting, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, UB40, and Simple Minds, as well as messages from Harry Belafonte, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dennis Hopper. The event was also attended by prominent figures like Desmond Tutu, Bishop Trevor Huddleston, and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as well as representatives from organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The concert's success was due in part to the efforts of organizers like Tony Hollingsworth and Jerry Dammers, who worked tirelessly to bring the event together. The event also featured performances by artists like Aswad, The Alarm, and The Specials, and was supported by organizations like the African Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity and the Pan African Congress.

Category:Concerts