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Named after Nelson Mandela’s infamous prison number, this 3-CD collection was recorded at last years’ Cape Town charity event for HIV/AIDS awareness. As the brainchild of Mandela himself and Eurythmics frontman David Stewart, it comes as little surprise that the event’s line-up ran the gamut from stalwarts Jimmy Cliff and Peter Gabriel to relative newcomers Beyonce and Ms. Dynamite.
Though the CD neatly showcases some highly underrated and interesting African acts (Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour, The Soweto Gospel Choir and Yvonne Chaka Chaka), it’s pretty much a case of MOR overload, as Eurythmics, Queen and U2 wheel out their familiar medleys. While the objective of the event, no doubt, is to appeal to as broad and impartial a demographic as possible, it’s a shame that some artists didn’t take the opportunity to try something different.
Flying the green, white and gold on the day were Bono, The Corrs and Bob Geldof, and the album throws up a few Irish duets – The Corrs are teamed with Queen and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (the results of which are an arresting marriage of Celtic/African soundscapes), and Bono teams up with…pretty much everyone else.
Still, not only is the cause a very worthy one, but the project also offers a wonderful insight into the often-overlooked terrain of African music.