Chicago is ramping up to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday and embrace his message of freedom and equality. The festivities titled “Chicago Jazz Philharmonic: Hope in Action” will take stage on July 21, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago, in collaboration with co-chairs Mrs. Maggie Daley and the South African Consul General in Chicago, Pearl Nomvume Magaqa. The concert is free to the public and will be emceed by Chicago’s own Bill Kurtis.

Chicago Sister Cities International has three Sister Cities relationships in Africa, including Accra, Ghana; Durban, South Africa; and Casablanca, Morocco.

See below press release:

CHICAGO CELEBRATES NELSON MANDELA’S 90TH BIRTHDAY
The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Presents Free Performance at Millennium Park

Chicago, Ill. May 19 — Chicago is ramping up to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday and embrace his message of freedom and equality. The festivities titled “Chicago Jazz Philharmonic: Hope in Action” will take stage on July 21, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago, in collaboration with co-chairs Mrs. Maggie Daley and the South African Consul General in Chicago, Pearl Nomvume Magaqa. The concert is free to the public and will be emceed by Chicago’s own Bill Kurtis.

Orbert Davis, well-honored jazz trumpeter, composer and artistic director of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic (CJP) has composed a piece exclusively for this grand celebration, inspired by Nelson Mandela. The creation weaves jazz, classical and South African melodies inspired by Mandela’s universal message of peace and unification. The musical suite will feature special guest performances by various global celebrity musicians. This presentation is part one of a concert series titled “HUMANITY”, a collection of free concerts from CJP.

“As an inspiration for this piece, I drew from various emotional moments in Nelson Mandela’s life and his amazing triumph in becoming South Africa’s first Black President. The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic comes from the many parallels I can draw between Mandela’s ideals of perseverance, leadership, and his mission for diversity, reconciliation and equality,” says Orbert Davis.

The South African Consul General Pearl Nomvume Magaqa states, “It is a unique opportunity for Chicagoans to participate in opening this birthday gift presented to Nelson Mandela by the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and to celebrate his eventful life.”

Bill Kurtis, notable Chicago citizen and media personality explains, “Nelson Mandela is one of the most inspirational figures of our time, an embodiment of Gandhi’s words that, ‘Everyone has a message. Our lives are our message.’”

Generous support to-date has been received through the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, the Joseph & Yvonne Stroud Foundation, the South African Consulate General in Chicago, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Millennium Park www.millenniumpark.org and Alpaytac, Inc. www.alpaytac.com. This event is not associated or affiliated with Nelson Mandela or the Nelson Mandela Foundation.