Beyonce led an all-star line-up including Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Usher in Johannesburg at a concert to honor the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela on Sunday.
The concert was the climax of a year of events celebrating the centennial of Mandela’s birth in 1918, and part of a campaign to tackle poverty, child malnutrition and boost gender equality.
This year’s Global Citizen Festival was held at Johannesburg’s 94,736-capacity FNB stadium and saw Beyonce perform several of her hits as well as a duet with Sheeran.
Thousands of music fans, many of whom had received free tickets to reward their activism and campaigning work, flocked to the stadium hours before the concert began.
“I’m proud to be part of the global citizen movement because they are trying to make a positive impact on people’s lives—especially women’s and children’s issues,” said Nokthula Khuzwayo, 23, from Soweto.
“I loved Dbanj’s performance and of course Queen B and Jay-Z, even though it was a brief one.”
As well as a constellation of global stars that also included Pharrell Williams and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted fellow heads of state from Ghana, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.
“We are here to act in one voice,” said Ramaphosa.
Beyonce’s performance of her smash hit “XO,” during which she wore a flowing pink-red dress and paid tribute to Mandela, drew an outpouring of emotion from the crowd.
