JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Legendary trumpeter and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela made a surprise appearance on stage at the FNB Stadium to mark U2's first show in South Africa on Sunday.
Masekela joined in to bring a unique African jazz vibe to 'Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'.
Twenty one years after Nelson Mandela gave a speech in the same stadium, the day after his release from prison, when U2 played 'Pride (In The Name of Love)', the huge screens over the stage were illuminated with Mandela's image, along with excerpts of that famous speech.
Bono sang a new lyric:
February 13 1990
Words rings out in a Jo'burg sky.
Free at last to live your life
The Lion of Africa and his pride…
The concert elicited a record-breaking audience – the largest crowd ever for a sporting or entertainment event in South Africa.
Bono borrowed Desmond Tutu's phrase when he christened the crowd as 'Rainbow people' at the top of the show, according to the band's website. "We know Jo'burg has a night life," he said, introducing 'Crazy'. "We know Jo'burg needs to go a bit crazy…"
The 2009 images of the popular uprising in Iran, which have accompanied Sunday Bloody Sunday on the tour so far, gave way to images of people power in Egypt in light of recent events. "Change of heart comes slow…" sang Bono.
"I'm sure you know the good news of Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi is to Burma what Madiba is to this country… a beautiful spirit."
As for South Africa, "this place just feels like the future," said Bono, visibly amazed at the overwhelming reception for the band's first dates here since PopMart in 1998.
— Crystal Lynn Huntoon
