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| Mandela joins stars at London gig | Mandela joins stars at London gig |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nelson Mandela has joined music stars on stage at a concert in central London celebrating his 90th birthday. | Nelson Mandela has joined music stars on stage at a concert in central London celebrating his 90th birthday. |
| Mr Mandela told the crowd: "We are honoured to be back in London for this wonderful occasion." | |
| Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox and Queen are among those taking part in the Hyde Park event. | Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox and Queen are among those taking part in the Hyde Park event. |
| As well as marking the former South African president's birthday, the concert is raising funds for Mr Mandela's HIV/Aids charity 46664. | As well as marking the former South African president's birthday, the concert is raising funds for Mr Mandela's HIV/Aids charity 46664. |
| Mr Mandela arrived on stage flanked by stars of the show, including Geri Halliwell and Leona Lewis. | |
| Reporter's log: All the latest news from Hyde Park | |
| He said: "Many years ago there was a historic concert which called for our freedom. Your voices carried across the water and inspired us in our prison cells far away. | |
| "Tonight we can stand before you, free." | |
| He added: "But even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work isfar from complete. | |
| "Where there is poverty and sickness including Aids, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all." | |
| Amy Winehouse was among those who performed at the gig | |
| He added to applause: "Friends and those watching all around the world, pleasecontinue supporting our 46664 campaign. | |
| "We say tonight after nearly 90 years of life, it's time for new hands to lift the burdens. It's in your hands now, I thank you." | |
| Earlier, actor Will Smith kicked off the concert with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, announcing: "The party begins now." | Earlier, actor Will Smith kicked off the concert with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, announcing: "The party begins now." |
| He quoted singer Peter Gabriel as once saying: "If the world could only have one father, the man that we would choose to be our father would be Nelson Mandela." | He quoted singer Peter Gabriel as once saying: "If the world could only have one father, the man that we would choose to be our father would be Nelson Mandela." |
| 'Great man' | |
| Leona Lewis was one of the biggest hits of the night, singing her ballad Bleeding Love as well as Better In Time. | Leona Lewis was one of the biggest hits of the night, singing her ballad Bleeding Love as well as Better In Time. |
| The X Factor winner said: "When I was younger I remember my aunty and grandmother used to tell me stories about this incredible, wonderful, great man, Nelson Mandela. | The X Factor winner said: "When I was younger I remember my aunty and grandmother used to tell me stories about this incredible, wonderful, great man, Nelson Mandela. |
| "We used to sing songs about him. It's incredible to sing here today at his 90th birthday celebration. I feel so honoured, I just can't begin to explain." | "We used to sing songs about him. It's incredible to sing here today at his 90th birthday celebration. I feel so honoured, I just can't begin to explain." |
| Razorlight also performed, with frontman Johnny Borrell speaking out against the situation in Zimbabwe. | Razorlight also performed, with frontman Johnny Borrell speaking out against the situation in Zimbabwe. |
| Leona Lewis was popular with the audience in Hyde Park | Leona Lewis was popular with the audience in Hyde Park |
| Formula One star Lewis Hamilton introduced the Sugababes, describing it as an "honour and a privilege" to be at the concert. | Formula One star Lewis Hamilton introduced the Sugababes, describing it as an "honour and a privilege" to be at the concert. |
| The Sugababes, who prompted the crowd to wish Mr Mandela "Happy Birthday" sang their hits Push the Button and About You Now. | The Sugababes, who prompted the crowd to wish Mr Mandela "Happy Birthday" sang their hits Push the Button and About You Now. |
| Lennox, who performed at the Free Nelson Mandela Wembley concert 20 years ago, took to the stage wearing a T-shirt saying "HIV Positive". | Lennox, who performed at the Free Nelson Mandela Wembley concert 20 years ago, took to the stage wearing a T-shirt saying "HIV Positive". |
| In a message to Mr Mandela, talking about HIV and Aids, she said: "We must do something to prevent a virtual genocide upon your people." | In a message to Mr Mandela, talking about HIV and Aids, she said: "We must do something to prevent a virtual genocide upon your people." |
| Gabriel then introduced rapper Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier. Gabriel said the performer had the "potential of a young Bob Marley". | Gabriel then introduced rapper Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier. Gabriel said the performer had the "potential of a young Bob Marley". |
| Other performers include Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Simple Minds. | Other performers include Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Simple Minds. |
| Momentum | Momentum |
| Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr performed his song Mandela Day 20 years ago at Wembley Stadium, when Nelson Mandela turned 70 and was still being held in jail in South Africa. | Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr performed his song Mandela Day 20 years ago at Wembley Stadium, when Nelson Mandela turned 70 and was still being held in jail in South Africa. |
| "We wrote a song for that occasion called Mandela Day, and within the song is the lyric 'Mandela's free'. People were saying, 'doesn't Jim know that Mandela's not free?'. | "We wrote a song for that occasion called Mandela Day, and within the song is the lyric 'Mandela's free'. People were saying, 'doesn't Jim know that Mandela's not free?'. |
| "But I guess what we were saying, at the time, was that we felt the momentum was coming and we did feel there would be an end to apartheid and that Mandela would be freed. | "But I guess what we were saying, at the time, was that we felt the momentum was coming and we did feel there would be an end to apartheid and that Mandela would be freed. |
| "We didn't envisage 20 years later coming to Hyde Park and celebrating his 90th birthday. So this a much more joyous occasion," he told the BBC News channel. | "We didn't envisage 20 years later coming to Hyde Park and celebrating his 90th birthday. So this a much more joyous occasion," he told the BBC News channel. |
| Razorlight's Johnny Borrell got political on stageMany African artists have also flown in for the birthday gig, including Papa Wemba of DR Congo, and South African singers Loyiso and Kurt Darren. | Razorlight's Johnny Borrell got political on stageMany African artists have also flown in for the birthday gig, including Papa Wemba of DR Congo, and South African singers Loyiso and Kurt Darren. |
| The concert began at about 1830 BST (1730 GMT) and is expected to last four hours. | The concert began at about 1830 BST (1730 GMT) and is expected to last four hours. |
| Families have travelled from across the UK, including Andrea Hawker from Sussex and Debbie McElhatton from Surrey, both of whom brought their daughters. | Families have travelled from across the UK, including Andrea Hawker from Sussex and Debbie McElhatton from Surrey, both of whom brought their daughters. |
| "We came to be a part of the excitement," said Mrs McElhatton. | "We came to be a part of the excitement," said Mrs McElhatton. |
| Her daughter Louise added: "We thought it would be good fun to see loads of different artists and different types of music." | Her daughter Louise added: "We thought it would be good fun to see loads of different artists and different types of music." |
| The 46664 charity was named after the prison number which Mr Mandela was given during the 27 years he spent behind bars for his stand against South African apartheid. | The 46664 charity was named after the prison number which Mr Mandela was given during the 27 years he spent behind bars for his stand against South African apartheid. |