PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Millions of children to salute Mandela
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - More than 12 million school children around South Africa are to sing a special happy birthday song to former President Nelson Mandela to celebrate his 93rd birthday 18 July, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said.
The Minister said students at individual schools were expected to hoist the national flag in the morning, sing the national anthem and watch a brief presentation on Mandela.
Motshekga, who was speaking at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation in Johannesburg Tuesday, urged all South Africans to join the children in celebrating the event.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) has arrived in South Africa for a historic two-week tour.
KSB holds the distinction of being the only choir to have sung on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
The "Happy Birthday, Madiba!" Concert Tour will honour Mandela through song and community service.
Mandela has asked that, on his birthday, his fellow South Africans perform 67 minutes of community service.
KSB has decided to travel to South Africa during the hero's birthday month, and on each day of the concert tour, the boys will perform 67 minutes of community and musical service, as requested by Madiba.
"Nelson Mandela is one of the few, true heroes alive today. It's important that the boys know who he is, and what he stands for. He stood up for South Africans and in doing so, stood up for us all," said Steven Fisher, the choir’s Associate Music Director.
The choir will sing in concerts throughout the country, including on Robben Island, Cape Town, where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years.
The choir consists of 160 members between the ages of 8 and 18 from diverse backgrounds.
It has performed internationally at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, and the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia as well as in venues throughout Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Monaco, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile and Antarctica.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 13July2011
The Minister said students at individual schools were expected to hoist the national flag in the morning, sing the national anthem and watch a brief presentation on Mandela.
Motshekga, who was speaking at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation in Johannesburg Tuesday, urged all South Africans to join the children in celebrating the event.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) has arrived in South Africa for a historic two-week tour.
KSB holds the distinction of being the only choir to have sung on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
The "Happy Birthday, Madiba!" Concert Tour will honour Mandela through song and community service.
Mandela has asked that, on his birthday, his fellow South Africans perform 67 minutes of community service.
KSB has decided to travel to South Africa during the hero's birthday month, and on each day of the concert tour, the boys will perform 67 minutes of community and musical service, as requested by Madiba.
"Nelson Mandela is one of the few, true heroes alive today. It's important that the boys know who he is, and what he stands for. He stood up for South Africans and in doing so, stood up for us all," said Steven Fisher, the choir’s Associate Music Director.
The choir will sing in concerts throughout the country, including on Robben Island, Cape Town, where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years.
The choir consists of 160 members between the ages of 8 and 18 from diverse backgrounds.
It has performed internationally at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, and the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia as well as in venues throughout Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Monaco, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile and Antarctica.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 13July2011
