Happy Birthday Madiba!

To turn 90 is a feat in itself but to have lived the life of Nelson Mandela and turn 90, is definitely worth paying tribute too. for those of you not in the know, the person responsible for changing South Africa will turn 90 on July 18th. To kick of this event, a celebration with other dignatories was held in his honor in London. This was followed by a concert in Hyde Park to raise funds for his charity "46664" - his AIDS charity. 46664 is the number that Mandela wore on his shirt while in prison on Robben Island.

Nelson Manadela should always be honored - what he has done for my country, has not been matched by any other African or third world developing nation. Its just a pity that those that have tried to continue his legacy have done such a poor job.

In 1994, Mandela was freed from prison after 27 years. He was elected president in South Africa's first multiracial elections in 1994, ushering in an era of optimism and reconciliation after years of international isolation and internal brutality. I clearly remember the mood in South Africa at the time of of the elections. There were those that bought 100's of cans of canned food, candles and batteries, thinking that civil war would take place at the end of aparthied and there were those that partied in the street.

On the night of the 26th of April 1994, friends of mine at the University of Cape Town ushered in the new South Africa with a party with an old/new south africa theme.. After a good dinner at one of our friedns homes, we all drove to the Parlimentary Buildings in Cape Town and waited to count down the minutes to enter the new South Africa. Some of us were interviewed by CNN - we were one of few multi-racial groups - we were all filled with a deep sense of optimism.. for a country that was isolated from the rest of the world for close to 30 years.

I am glad that Mandela was honored in London. The outdoor show in London's Hyde Park, hosted by actor Will Smith comes 20 years after a 70th birthday concert at London's Wembley Stadium helped press South Africa's apartheid authorities for his freedom.

Happy birthday Madiba, I wish we could still have you as President of South Africa - if only we could have someone like you lead our country into the first world, help alleviate the deepening racial tension and narrow the gap between the haves and have nots.