46664 – The Concert

It’s no secret (except perhaps to our government) that the HIV/Aids pandemic is the greatest humanitarian disaster to take place in our lifetime. We all have different ways of responding: giving money to Aids orphanages, wearing a red ribbon and lighting a candle, or perhaps just to turn away and pretend it doesn’t exist.

Former president Nelson Mandela has chosen to do more, donating his prison number — 46664 — to an international campaign using high-profile musicians to spread the Aids awareness message. The campaign first came to prominence with the 46664 concert in Cape Town last year, but the release of a commemorative double DVD and triple-pack of CDs shows the organisers haven’t run out of steam just yet.

One very good reason to spend your money on at least one of the products is the fact that all the money raised goes directly towards Aids prevention work by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

But it’s not just about that warm fuzzy feeling you get to soothe the pain of giving money away. 46664 was a brilliant concert, as anyone who attended can testify, and this is a superb way to relive those memories.

If anything, it’s probably even better on screen. I don’t know about you, but my 46664 concert recollections include sore feet, a lot of waiting, irritation with the silly backstage presenter, and screaming my lungs out at some tiny stick figures on stage (and I was only halfway back, so I don’t know what the people behind me saw!).

Despite all of this, everyone who attended will agree that it was an amazing event, featuring a surfeit of high-profile musicians such as Youssou N’Dour (a definite highlight for me), Yusuf Islam, Queen, Johnny Clegg and the compulsory pop-culture tartlet Beyonce. There were also some historic collaborations, with the most successful probably being Ladysmith Black Mambazo and The Corrs.

There has been criticism — notably from ThisDay reviewer Gail Smith — that the African musicians were sidelined in favour of the international artists, and she certainly has a point. On the other hand, the product is designed to appeal to the international market as well as South Africans, and we all know how insular American audiences can be.

Let’s face it, we’re not immune from criticism either. The concert was attended mainly by Capetonians and most didn’t know who Baaba Maal was or what he was doing on stage — despite the fact that he is one of the pre-eminent African artists of our time. The rest of us just thought it was really cool that all these big names were performing for us, in humble Green Point Stadium. How can we expect other people to give our artists the recognition they deserve, when we don't even know their names?

While the concert is available in its entirety on DVD, the CD version has been divided into three chronological parts — African Prayer, Long Walk to Freedom, and Amandla — each with its own distinct flavour. The sound quality is amazing, and any of the individual CDs would make a superb souvenir.

However, if you’re reluctant to shell out for the whole bundle, it’s probably best to go for the DVD. This includes a background documentary on the preparations for the concert, interviews with the artists, 12 one-minute films by visual artists, and footage detailing Aids prevention efforts.

And if you really aren’t interested in either but would still like to help, you can donate money via the website www.46664.com.