South Africa's Freedom Day Concert on the Square
an evening of music, thanks & celebration

• Freedom Day Concert on the Square celebrating 7th anniversary of democracy in South Africa.
• Free thank you concert to the people of the UK with special ticket hotline.
• Concert benefits the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund & The Prince’s Trust.
• Kick off to ‘Celebrate South Africa’, a month of arts, culture and innovation in London.

South Africa takes centre stage in the heart of London on the evening of Sunday 29^th April 2001 with the ‘South Africa Freedom Day Concert on the Square’ - an opportunity to celebrate with the people of the UK, South Africa’s hard fought for and won freedom and democracy.

South Africa House, home of the High Commission, will host a free live concert to mark the seventh anniversary of South Africa’s ‘Freedom Day’ weekend, the date of South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. The concert takes place in front of Nelson Mandela and gives thanks to the people of the UK for supporting the people of South Africa’ in their long walk to freedom and democracy.

This concert celebrates the strength of partnerships between the UK and South Africa and these are reflected in the quality and diversity of artists confirmed to perform at this unique and special concert. A dynamic mix of South African and international artists are planned and the list will be added to in the run up to the concert.

The Corrs, Mel B, Baba Maal, Hugh Masekela, REM, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dave Stewart & Friends, Atomic Kitten, Lisa Roxanne, Beverley Knight & Mandoza.

"I warmly welcome the opportunity that our Freedom Day Concert presents to acknowledge the extraordinary courage and humanity of our people in overcoming the apartheid system. It underlines that together we are building a new and vibrant democracy with human rights firmly at its core. Please save a seat for me in the Square on April 29^th so that I can join in the celebrations and demonstrate the deep affection I have personally for the people of the UK."

Ticket wristbands to the Concert on the Square are free, but can only be gained by calling the ticket hotline number on 0906 617 2904. Calls to this number will result in a donation to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and The Prince’s Trust. For safety reasons concert numbers will be restricted and there will be no entry to the Square and concert without a ticket wristband.

"REM are looking forward to sharing the bill with some great South African artists such a fabulous location in the heart of London. I can't think of a more fitting way of demonstrating the real changes in South Africa today, by performing outside the South African High Commission, symbolic of many years of protest, which eventually have achieved real change."

During the years of apartheid, South Africa House became an international focus for the support and solidarity of millions of people. The compassion and determination of South Africa’s friends in the UK and internationally, contributed significantly to establishing lasting peace and democracy in South Africa. The staging of this concert in Trafalgar Square on such a truly symbolic and memorable date as the Freedom Day weekend is an example of the modern and confident nation that South Africa has become.

"We are delighted to have secured agreement to stage this one-off event in central London and intend that it will be not only be wonderfully symbolic of what we have achieved, but also an opportunity for whole families to celebrate together. Freedom Day is of great significance to South Africa and I cannot think of a more suitable place in which to gather and make our presence felt! We hope many people will join us on the 29^th April."

This free concert benefits The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and The Prince’s Trust and will take place in front of an audience of up to 30,000 people. Straight TV will produce a 90-minute highlights programme for UK and international broadcast so that as wide an audience as possible can watch the concert. Channel 4 will transmit the show the following Sunday 6^th May.

"For many years Londoners have had a special relationship with South Africa in the struggle to release Nelson Mandela and to end the apartheid regime. The South African High Commission and Trafalgar Square have always played a focal part in this and so I am delighted that the GLA, along with Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police, have been able to assist the South African High Commission in making the Freedom Day Concert on the Square possible."

The concert is being made possible due to the support of the GLA, Westminster Council, the Metropolitan Police, London Transport and the emergency services.

In order to apply for up to 20,000 passes, people must call the Ticket Hotline: 0906 617 2904 stating the number of passes they require (to enable family attendance there is a strict maximum of 4 passes per caller). Calls on this Hotline cost sixty pence per minute. Every call will result in a donation to the two beneficiary charities, which also benefit from the TV broadcast.

Applicants calling to request passes for disabled persons will be asked to redial on 0870 735 1999 to speak directly to a representative. The lucky pass winners will be randomly selected after this line closes on Thursday 19^th April. Those lucky enough to be allocated passes for this event, will receive their passes by no later than 23^rd April.

Freedom Day date is the 27^th April and commemorates the anniversary of South Africa’s first free and democratic elections. This year marks seven years of freedom and democracy for all in South Africa. The South Africa Freedom Day on the Square kicks off ‘Celebrate South Africa’ a month long festival of arts, culture and innovation in venues across London (see separate press release).

The Corrs, Mel B, REM, Dave Stewart & Friends, Beverley Knight, Lisa Roxanne & Atomic Kitten

Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mandoza, Baba Maal (Mali)

The Celebrate South Africa press office on 020 7389 0537.

CAD images of Trafalgar Square in concert set-up are available on CD and Beta SP.

Source: Press Release by Department of Foreign Affairs, 5 April 2001