- Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian musicians perform for free to celebrate Nelson Mandela
- Date: 19th December 2013
- Summary: VARIOUS OF ARTISTS PERFORMING ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: International Relations,Entertainment,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACX1NGO284MADJWSQKHFESN5A8
- Story Text: Popular Nigerian musicians pay homage to South African anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela in a tribute concert in Lagos. The concert, tagged "The Legacy Lives" was organised by Mo Abudu's network Ebony Life TV in collaboration with some of Nigeria's top music stars.
Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos on Wednesday (December 18) played host to a concert in honour of the extraordinary life of the late anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela.
The free open air concert was attended by hundreds of music lovers and people who wanted to pay tribute to Mandela, who was buried in his ancestral home in Qunu, South Africa on Sunday.
Nigeria's EbonyLife band covered various classic South African tunes, including Brenda Fassie's Vulindlela - a song about celebration.
The event tagged "The Legacy Lives; A Tribute Concert," was organised by Nigerian media personality and entrepreneur Mo Abudu and the Nigerian artistes that agreed to perform at no cost.
"The inspiration came from the fact that this man has given so much to Africa. He's given so much to everyone of us, you know there's a little piece of Mandela in all of us and sometimes we don't let the bigger piece take over, we still would not stand up and really fight for the things we believe in because we are afraid of certain things so you find that you let that other part rest and then the little bit of Mandela that's in you from time to time will raise up maybe in your living room when you're having a discussion about something that's really important but how many of us are ready to go to the streets, how many are ready to give up everything they own for what they believe in," said Abudu.
The second act of the night was songstress Waje, who performed a soulful composition. Many in the crowd took the time to think about Mandela's life and example to humanity.
Mandela, a Nobel peace laureate, who was held in apartheid prisons for 27 years before emerging to preach forgiveness and reconciliation, died aged 95 in Johannesburg on December 5.
Guests had a chance to sign a wall of commemoration with messages to the late leader.
"Mandela is someone that has inspired me greatly and inspired our world and is still inspiring even in death you know so that's exactly why I'm here and of course all the acts coming together, it's a good purpose for us to you know unwind and see if we can live the legacy that he left behind," Leke Adenuga, a photographer.
"I'm really excited because Mandela has been a huge part of me you know I've grown up to know him and he's been an inspiration to me in my life and being here, to me, it feels so good and I kind of feel that he's here right now and I'm so happy to be here and be a part of this as well," said Elohor Aisien, CEO of a modeling agency.
Mandela not only loved music, but he used it as a means to reach the people - like musical events to promote his 46664 AIDS charity - named after his old prisoner number.
Music was also an important tool used around the world to push for the release of Mandela from prison and to call fo an end to apartheid. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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