Johannesburg is the word for Beyoncé and Jay Z as the famous couple is set to headline the Global Citizen’s Festival honoring Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy in South Africa. With what would have been Mandela’s 100th birthday right around the corner on July 18th, the Carter’s couldn’t have picked a better time to participate.
Considering Beyoncé’s previous politically risqué Black Panther Super Bowl performance and Jay Z’s WOKE lyrics on the 4:44 album, these two artists are not ignorant of the times we’re living in. That combined with their huge youth following, their presence at this event, could bring about a worldwide awareness to the truly political tumultuous time in South Africa, mirroring Mandela’s revolution. Given the rising racial tensions of the political climate in the United States under Trump’s presidency, juxtaposed with Mandela’s commitment to overthrow the National Party’s white-only government and his participation with the African National Congress (ANC), the Carter’s participation in this event could potentially spark a revolution in the United States.
Mandela’s participation in the ANC has played a MAJOR role in the recent South African motion to confiscate land from white farmers, as it owns two thirds of parliament. As a result land is currently being seized from white farmers and given back to black South Africans, a far cry from what was occurring less than 25 years ago, when racial segregation, and political and economic discrimination against non-whites ruled the day.
Set to take place on December 2nd at the FNB stadium, the Global Citizen’s Festival aims to end poverty, eliminate hunger, provide good health care, quality education, gender equality, clean water, sanitation and life below water; all goals that tie directly into Mandela’s philanthropic endeavors. Joining the Carter’s will be Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams, Usher and Wizkid, just to name a few, with Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, and Forest Whitaker, among the hosts.
FreshNewsNow 