Zain to sponsor inaugural ‘Mandela Day’ celebration in New York
- A special charitable concert in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday at Radio City Music Hall on July 18
- Celebrating the idea ‘that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’
- Performances by renowned African and American artists with the support of world figures, expected worldwide viewership of over one billion
Bahrain, 2 July 2009
Zain, the leading mobile telecommunications in Africa and the Middle East announces that it will sponsor the first ‘Mandela Day’ concert which will be held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on July 18, 2009, Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday to raise funds for his foundations. The concert, which will feature some of the world’s most famous musicians, is being staged by 46664 – a campaign named after Mandela’s Robben Island prison number which champions his humanitarian work - with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The event is also designed as a call around the world for people to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s inspiration, values and establish the date in the annual calendar as one dedicated to ‘celebrating the idea that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’. It is also an occasion for many of the world’s most powerful and instantly recognizable figures to pay their tributes to one of the world’s most loved leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and icon of freedom, Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela, as he turns 91 this year.
As famous actor Robert De Niro said, “When Nelson Mandela speaks we all must listen.”
Announcing the sponsorship Zain Group CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak said, “Mr. Mandela is an iconic statesman whose sacrifice and leadership has had an enormous impact on humanity. Honoring him by raising funds for his foundation is in line with Zain’s global ambitions and corporate social responsibility philosophy.”
Zain was also one of the main sponsors of Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations that were held on July 1, 2008 in London’s Hyde Park and Zain customers across Africa raised more than US$ 85,000 for the Nelson Mandela Foundation through a fundraising competition, during which members of the public were invited to SMS their birthday greetings to the former South African president.
Tim Massey, International Director of 46664, said, “Mandela Day is about creating a movement for positive change and establishing one day to reflect upon, celebrate and make manifest the values that guide Nelson Mandela.”
The celebrations are backed by world figures including President Bill Clinton, Forest Whitaker, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and many others have all committed to attend. Further invited guests include France’s First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy making a rare concert appearance, as well as Italy’s Zucchero, a 46664 ambassador artist who has given support at each of the prior concerts.
The event will bring together a raft of major music names from the US and Africa to perform under the banner of Mandela Day. Special performances will be done by celebrated African artistes including Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Chris Chameleon, Freshly Ground, Emmanuel Jal, Loyiso, Sipho Mabuse, Vusi Mahlasela, Thandiswa Mazwai, Susanna Owiyo will help kick off first “Mandela Day’ Celebration.
Other artists specially invited to perform at the Saturday night 91st birthday concert include Dave Stewart and friends, Queen Latifah, Josh Groban, TLC, Cyndi Lauper and Jesse McCartney and Grammy Award winners Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Wyclef Jean. All the artistes will be sharing the stage and performances with the Soweto Gospel Choir.
The concert will also feature numerous unexpected appearances, with several major artists keeping silent about their involvement in order to take both Mr Mandela and the audience by surprise.
The concert is the culmination of a week-long series of events in New York City in celebration of the first-ever Mandela Day. The activities include a Ralph Applebaum designed exhibition of Mr. Mandela’s life and the work of his many 46664 ambassadors, as well as the gala fundraising dinner, both at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall.
46664 will also be working with partner organizations, other city authorities and community associations and volunteers across the globe to create a worldwide series of Mandela Day events to honour Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy. ENDS
Notes to Editors:
About Zain
Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to 64.7 million active customers as at 31 March 2009. In terms of country footprint, Zain is the 3rd largest mobile operator in the world with a commercial presence in 24 countries.
Zain operates in Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine (currently operating as Paltel Group), Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In Lebanon, the company manages ‘mtc-touch’ on behalf of the government. In Morocco, Zain owns 31% of Wana Telecom through a joint venture.
Zain offers innovative services in its markets such as ‘One Network’, the world’s first borderless mobile telecommunications network enabling customers when abroad to receive calls and sms without charge and to make voice and data calls at local rates throughout 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East. This service allows a customer to top up airtime in their home country or from more than 1,000,000 outlets within Zain’s ‘One Network’ footprint.
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). Zain is listed in the Financial Times’ Global 500 Index which ranks the world’s largest companies based on market capitalization (http://www.ft.com/reports/ft5002008). Zain aims to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by end of the year 2011. For more, please visit www.zain.com or email info@zain.com
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). Zain is listed in the Financial Times’ Global 500 Index which ranks the world’s largest companies based on market capitalization (http://www.ft.com/reports/ft5002008). Zain aims to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by end of the year 2011. For more, please visit www.zain.com or email info@zain.com
About 46664 (http://www.46664.com)
46664, the campaign that bears Mr. Mandela’s Robben Island prison number, was originally launched to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Working alongside the other Mandela organizations, it is now expanding its focus to champion Mr. Mandela’s broader humanitarian work. A centrepiece of 46664’s activities will be the celebration of Mandela Day each year, and funds raised from Mandela Day will support the ongoing work of 46664 and the Nelson Mandela charitable organizations.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation through its Centre of Memory and Dialogue contributes to the making of a just society by promoting the values, vision and work of its Founder. As custodian of Nelson Mandela’s historic papers, the Centre of Memory makes his life and times accessible to the world. The Dialogue program provides a safe space where disadvantaged communities, policy makers and non-governmental organizations enter into dialogue aimed at finding solutions to critical social issues such as poverty and AIDS. The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which houses Nelson Mandela’s personal office, embodies the spirit of reconciliation, ubuntu, and social justice. Its work is a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life. More information can be found at www.MandelaDay.com
