MTN partners with African artists and joins global community to celebrate the life of a global icon with a sequel concert

MTN, in concert with leading artists from across the continent, will be joining the global community in celebrating the life and times of a remarkable humanitarian, a benevolent philanthropist, an accomplished revolutionary and a leading statesman on July 17 as part of the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day.

MTN has secured the services of leading artists from across the length and breadth of Africa who have volunteered their time to perform pro-bono at the annual second edition of the Nelson Mandela Tribute concert at MTN head office in Fairlands, Johannesburg.

By performing at the concert for free, the artists will be contributing to the ethos of selflessness that Madiba embodied. As a company with a footprint across Africa and the Middle East, MTN is hosting this concert which will be streamed live to millions of its subscribers in South Africa on MTN's digital platforms, to promote and foster African unity.

In the spirit of Nelson Mandela International Day of giving 67 minutes to a worthy cause, the concert will be broadcast for free over the MTN Music+ service and subscribers can watch the proceedings live on their mobile devices.

"MTN takes great pride in its South African heritage and is extremely grateful for the selfless work that Nelson Mandela and so many others did to lay the foundation for the country in which we live today," says Larry Annetts, Chief Marketing Officer: MTN South Africa.

With artists such as the Soweto Gospel Choir, PJ Powers, Gabriela, Danny K, Praiz, Anati, and many others, this year's edition of the MTN Nelson Mandela Day Tribute Concert promises to be even bigger and more exhilarating.

"MTN is a responsible corporate citizen that participates in projects and engagements that uplift the communities in which it operates and uphold Madiba's legacy. This concert is a great way of celebrating that," adds Annetts.

MTN has participated in Mandela Day activities since 2010. Since then, the operator has been implementing projects that strive to promote a people-centred approach and focus on fostering sustainable development in underprivileged communities.

Through its Foundation, MTN has invested substantially in the communities it operates in in the fields of education, health, entrepreneurship, and arts and culture across the country.

MTN will also be making a donation to a children's home in Taung in the North West province as part of a philanthropic drive that it is doing under the auspices of the Department of Communications and the South African Communications Forum. The home houses approximately 80 children with ages that range between three to 14 years.

The merchandise that MTN will donate includes toys for the children and 50 blankets, 100 caps, 100 T-shirts, 100 water bottles and 100 small cooler bags.

"We are always mindful of the socio-economic challenges affecting the communities in which we operate. We are emboldened by the ethos of altruism that Madiba has taught us. Through initiatives such as the Nelson Mandela Tribute Concert, we hope to use our pervasive platform and innovative solutions to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate," Annetts concludes.

Technology vendor, Huawei Technologies, is MTN's technology partner in this initiative. Says Yudi Rambaran, Huawei Director Product Marketing South Africa: "As Huawei we fully support the Mandela Day initiative and believe in partnering with our operators to give back to less fortunate communities. We celebrate Madiba's legacy and encourage the nation join in and get involved, doing their bit for those people who need our help and support."