Zain stands tall at historic concert honouring Nelson Mandela at 90

The event was not short on emotion. It was the famous statesman's final public appearance but of equal importance was the fact that it raised much-needed funds for charity, primarily through Mandela's 46664 campaign and the motto, "It's in our hands".

Some 50,000 people - including former US President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Robert de Niro and Forest Whitaker - packed into Hyde Park, to pay tribute to a man who is considered one of the world's most beloved leaders.

The crowd also came to hear global pop superstars such as Amy Winehouse, Queen, Will Smith, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Razorlight, the Sugarbabes, Leona Lewis, Sharon Corr, Simple Minds, and Eddy Grant, all of whom gave of their time to raise money to fight AIDS, poverty and other social causes across the continent and throughout the world.

Earlier, Zain Group CEO, Dr Saad Al-Barrak, presented Mr Mandela with a symbolic gesture of a traditional Arab Dhow. "Nelson Mandela has shaped modern Africa. His contribution is well known and stands as an example to those who are embroiled in fighting oppression and injustice," declared Dr Al-Barrak. "Likewise, the Zain Group, through its subsidiary Celtel and the innovative introduction of the historic one network system that now links many African countries through an advantageous tariff system, has changed the way Africans communicate on a social and economic level. In doing so, we too have helped change the face of this great continent forever."

The momentous concert also featured significant contribution from some of Africa's best known artists, many of whom were individually sponsored by Zain, through its African subsidiary Celtel, which is committed to promoting African arts and culture. They included legendary Nigerian hip hop star 9ice, Madagascar's D'Gary, Bebe Cool from Uganda and Kenya's Suzanna Owiyo.

Other African artistes performing at the show included Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mabuze, multi-South African Music Awards winner Loyiso, Kurt Darren, Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal, the Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir, and the Aids orphan choir The Children of Agape - the subject of the award winning film feature We Are Together.

Zain gave people across Africa and the Middle East the chance to participate in the event by offering its mobile phone networks to well-wishers wanting to send text messages wishing Nelson Mandela a happy birthday. All the money raised from this will be given to the 46664 campaign.