Happy 90th Birthday Nelson Mandela! In truly sharp contrast to my earlier posting today on Mr. Mugabe, Nelson Mandela represents all that is good and true in humanity, as well as Africa.

This weekend, Madiba, as he’s popularly known, celebrated his 90th Birthday in London’s Hyde Park. The event was attended by over 50,000 participants and the likes of Kenya’s own Suzanne Owiyo performed.

The event was organized to support Mandela’s HIV/AIDS charity 46664, named for the number assigned him as a onetime political prisoner. During his visit to London for the concert, Mr. Mandela uttered just four words of criticism on Zimbabew and Mugabe in a speech at a dinner, “tragic failure of leadership” – they were enough to make headline news. Mr. Mugabe, are you listening? yet? Maybe there is something you can finally learn from a respected African Leader that the world adores and takes seriously. Madiba is a living legend and true hero of Africa.

Below are excerpts from his speech at the concert:

“Twenty years ago, London hosted a historic concert which called for our freedom,”

“Your voices carried across the water and inspired us in our prison cells far away,” he said. “As we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete. Where there is poverty and sickness, including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done.

“Our work is for freedom for all. … We say tonight, after nearly 90 years of life, it is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now, I thank you.”