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Post by Admin on Jan 8, 2014 16:55:08 GMT
U2's Bono and The Edge paid tribute to Nelson Mandela on Monday night at an intimate gathering honoring the duo at the Sunset Marquis. Bono wrote the song " Ordinary Love" -- U2's first song in three years -- for The Weinstein Co.'s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring Idris Elba as the former South African president, who died last month at age 95. The song is about two people trying to stay together while dealing with personal and political struggles. Bono said that when he was writing the song, he was inspired by the love letters that Mandela sent to his wife, Winnie, while he was imprisoned on Robben Island. Mandela producer Anant Singh sent the letters to the singer. "It didn’t feel appropriate to write an anthem for this movie," Bono said. "We found a theme of common decency that inspired us, and it’s a plea for a common decency in a marriage."
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Post by Admin on Mar 4, 2014 16:58:42 GMT
Prince Harry stepped in for the Queen to attend a memorial service in honour of the late Nelson Mandela on Monday morning. Dressed immaculately in a navy suit and matching blue tie, Harry, 29, was spotted arriving at Westminster Abbey to represent his 87-year-old grandmother. Almost 2,000 people attended the service, including David Cameron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Idris Elba, who played Mr Mandela in the biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Harry was pictured walking into the abbey alongside the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who conducted the ceremony. Earlier on in the day, Dr Hall announced that a memorial stone to honour Mr Mandela would be placed in the abbey. The former South African statesman, who was the nation's anti-apartheid hero and first black president, passed away aged 95 last December. Archbishop Tutu spoke of Mr Mandela's influence and legacy, telling the congregation that the late leader, who had spent 27 years in prison, had gained worldwide respect and admiration. "He made us believe that all, each one of us, we are made of goodness," said the archbishop. "We are made for caring, we are made for loving, we are made for compassion, we are made for laughter, for peace. His remarkable constancy under suffering stands as an example to everyone. In addition, his capacity for forgiveness and his generosity of spirit show what humanity at its best can achieve."
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Post by Admin on May 18, 2014 21:51:20 GMT
The man who gained infamy around the world for his horribly wrong sign language at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service is making a comeback. Thamsanqa Jantjie’s nonsensical interpretations of speeches from U.S. President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren - at one point he signed the phrase ‘hand me the scissors’ - made global headlines in December 2013 for all the wrong reasons. Cashing in on the fraudulent interpreter’s notoriety, an Israeli company has now hired him to be the face of its product in a new advertising campaign. The advertisement for Livelens, a social livestreaming app that recently raised US$2 million, has Mr Jantjie poking fun at himself. ‘Hi, I’m Thamsanqa Jantjie from Nelson Mandela’s funeral,’ he says at the start of the commercial. ‘Believe me, I’m a real sign language interpreter,’ he says, as a female voiceover verbalises the sign language as having said: ‘I speak signed language – not.’ Mr Jantjie has been treated in a psychiatric facility since his appearance at the Mandela memorial, and the ad campaign will undoubtedly raise questions about the morality of Livelens exploiting a person with mental illness. But Livelens CEO Max Bluvband attempted to justify his company's decision by saying that giving money to a person with mental illness was a good thing. ‘I am really, really sorry for what happened,’ he says on a stage that appears to resemble a press conference. His apology is tongue-in-cheek, as is the rest of the video, and is followed with a pop-out box of him allegedly signing: ‘Me, famous celebrity.’ ‘Now I do campaign for money,’ he admits. Mr Jantjie does not address the reason behind his fake sign language interpretation at Mandela’s memorial service during the advertisement.
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Post by Admin on Jul 4, 2014 21:55:19 GMT
Rare original Nelson Mandela art has gone on sale ahead of the world leader's first birthday since his passing in July. The event takes place at the World Museum Liverpool from July 3-6 and is part of the UK’s International Festival for Business. It will be a rare opportunity to view his artwork - The Long Walk to Freedom Collective, at Liverpool Contemporary Arts Fair. The drawings and handwritten motivations by Nelson Mandela to accompany the works are of great historical significance. The collective is being presented exclusively at the Fair by the prestigious art house, The Belgravia Gallery from London. In advance of an event with the Nelson Mandela family & Graca Machel later in the year to launch the Nelson Mandela Opus publication, which features 30 pages on the art collection by Nelson Mandela, Belgravia Gallery are exhibiting three original works at the Liverpool Contemporary Art Fair, along with lithographs based on his time on Robben Island. The organisers spent time with Mandela prior to his passing, and want to help continue his vision to raise funds for his foundation, supporting children with HIV. Images include a pastel drawing by Mr Mandela done in 2002 featuring the map of Africa with many colours – indicative of the ‘rainbow nation’ Mr Mandela loved so much. Also on show will be a colourful drawing of his home town, Qunu, where he was laid to rest in December 2013. Art Fair Co-Director, Shirley-Ann O’Neill said “This will be a rare opportunity to view and buy original Nelson Mandela’s art. Over 7,000 visitors are expected to attend the event over three days, appealing to commercial buyers, private collectors, as well as experienced and novice art enthusiasts. Visitors can also buy and view art from over 50 leading galleries including Visual Art, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass Work and much more.
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Post by Admin on Jul 18, 2014 21:17:30 GMT
Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly on the brink of starting a legal war after a signed photo of him and the late Nelson Mandela emerged online - which he claims he's never seen. The actor is seen posing next to former South African president Mandela in the snap, which is being sold online for $25,000, and it's thought it was taken around the time he was filming 2006 movie Blood Diamond. It appeared on the website of autographs dealer Moments in Time this week, but Leo claims he has never seen it, the New York Post reports. An inscription on the top right corner reads: “To Leo DiCaprio, Best Wishes, Mandela, 4-8-07." The website claims it owns the image rights, but keeps its source close, according to the New York Post. But Leonardo wants the photo back, and his lawyers are reportedly considering taking legal action.“The photo is clearly not their property,” a source told the news site. “He wants the picture. His lawyers are considering action.” The city of Detroit plans to mark Nelson Mandela’s birthday with remembrances of his 1990 visit to “Motortown” and the unveiling of a street renamed in his honor. The tributes come Friday for the former South African president and global statesman who died Dec. 5 at the age of 95. Events include a one-block “Walk to Freedom” from city hall to Atwater Street, which will be renamed “Nelson Mandela Drive” at the riverfront. The United Nations has declared Friday Nelson Mandela International Day. Mandela made the Detroit stop shortly after leaving prison and before his election as South Africa’s first black president. He spoke of listening in prison to “the sound of Detroit, Motortown” – a reference to the music being churned out of Motown Records.
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