• News
• Calendar
• Newsletter
• Newsarchive
• MKI in the media

Stars come out at World Aids Day Gala Concert, December 2011

A star-studded cast of talented musicians entertained the audience last night, Thursday 1 December, at the yearly World Aids Day Gala Concert, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and presented by Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Africa  Centre for HIV/Aids Management.

A highlight of this year’s event was the presentation of the Africa Centre Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of HIV to Emeritus-Archbishop Dr Desmond Tutu. Also, an award was presented to the best student of the Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management (PDM), offered by the Africa Centre, as well as a visually impaired student who completed the course with great success.

This year’s event – the seventh World Aids Day Gala Concert – was a formal dress event “with a touch of red”. The concert honours unsung heroes and salutes individuals and organisations who have contributed to the fight against HIV/Aids. It also commemorates the 23rd World Aids Day.

Prof Jan du Toit, Director of the Centre, and SU Rector, Prof Russel Botman, welcomed the audience before the musicians took to the stage. Well-known comedian and TV/radio presenter Soli Philander was the Master of Ceremonies.

Among the stage stars were the international recording artists Prof Jimmie Earl Perry, who also directed the event and is head of the Educational Theatre and Arts division of the Africa Centre. Prof Perry is the first UNAIDS Special Goodwill Ambassador to South Africa and have been involved with the Centre for several years.

After the welcome address, Prof Perry shared the stage with well-known South African songstress Vicky Sampson and the Voices of Love Ensemble performing Season of Love.

Singers like tenor Eddie Atherton, operatic soprano Arlene Jafta, the Dutch X-Factor winner Sharon Kips and the Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang popular songs. They were accompanied by the Mike Campbell Rhythm Orchestra.

A youth choir of 20 members from the Franschhoek area performed under direction of Lynette Petersen, while Larry Joe, who released his debut album Crazy Life last year after recording it in the Douglas prison, wowed the audience with his voice.

Popular songs like You’ve got a friend, Hero, Sampson’s African Dream and Lean on me were sung.

The magician Wolfgang Riebe also had the audience in awe with his tricks.

Three HIV positive women who fight against the stigma of Aids, Vuyiseka Dubula from the Treatment Action Campaign, Nombeko Mpongo and Toni Zimmerman spoke about living a positive, happy and healthy life, despite being infected by the virus.

In presenting Tutu with his award, Prof Botman described the archbishop as “someone very special to all of us” and “an international icon of justice”.

“He has close ties with Stellenbosch University: he was a  driving force behind the Desmond Tutu TB Centre and the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology at the University, and has been awarded an honorary doctorate at Stellenbosch for his efforts.”

“Tonight, we wish to honour him for being a ceaseless campaigner for the plight of all those infected and affected by HIV/Aids in South Africa,” Prof Botman said.

Since its inception ten years ago, the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management’s unit for teaching, research and community interaction – an initiative of SU’s HOPE Project – has developed the most comprehensive and largest HIV/Aids management training programme in the world. The Educational Theatre and Arts division has attained unparalleled success with education, awareness, prevention and voluntary testing across the country.