By Steve Purcell on
British newspaper The Mirror reported that Nelson Mandela is keen to reunite the Spice Girls for a charity party on July 28 to celebrate his 89th birthday.
A source was quoted as saying, “It would make Nelson’s day if the girls performed,” and confirmed that individual invitations have been sent to the former band members Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Melanie C and Melanie Brown.
Since his retirement from the South African presidency in 1999, Mandela has devoted his remaining years to peace and charity work through his Nelson Mandela Foundation, and his birthday has even been trademarked for charity.
His birthday celebrations have been accompanied in recent years by the peace-oriented Nelson Mandela Lectures, which have featured such guest speakers as Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai. In 2003, Mandela gave an hour-long address to a young audience of 2 billion on international music channel MTV concerning HIV/AIDS, the struggle for democracy, and reconciliation.
Other music celebrities invited to this year’s celebrations include Queen guitarist Brian May, Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel.
In related news, $27,000 was raised this week in a charity auction for the chance to have tea with Mandela.
Copyright © 2007 Look to the Stars
