As the world strives to end extreme poverty, HIV among many more, different stake holders will this year join hands in partnership with the House of Mandela in South Africa at the Global Citizen Festival due to take place on 2nd December 2018 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Top American, Jamaican and African acts including; Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Casper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams & Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, Wizkid and corporate leaders will be joined by more 100,000 Global citizens including activist and advocates who have taken action on the Global citizen social advocacy platform.
The Festival will be hosted by Naomi Campbell, Bonang Matheba, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Tyler Perry, and Forest Whitaker.
The Mandela 100 Festival together with the House of Mandela will serve as capstone event of Global Citizen’s year –long ‘’Be the Generation’’ Campaign inspired by the former South African leader Nelson Mandela.
This year, Global Citizen’s campaign aims to rally $1 billion in new commitments, with $500 million of that set to impact the lives of 20 million women and girls worldwide with focus on the first six Global goals of ending poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and life below water.
Kweku Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela, said, “My grandfather installed in me the need to use your voice and actions to champion the struggles of your community. He believed that poverty is man made and could be eradicated by our actions. I am proud to be a part of a movement that reflects this and use citizen power to drive real change.”
A number of world leaders are expected to also attend, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammed, who delivered the 2017 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, who both serve as co-chairs of the UN Secretary General’s Advocacy Group for the Sustainable Development Goals, Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development Gilbert F. Houngbo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, Chair of Power of Nutrition, and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“This significant event not only honours the legacy of one of the greatest global citizens of our time, but provides a powerful platform for youth around the world to make a positive and tangible contribution for people and planet,” said United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
“I am honoured to be a special guest speaker at the Festival and hope it truly inspires a youth-led movement to take action in both local and global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
