I am 90 – One week celebrating a lifetime

The Royal Albert Hall and 46664 will be hosting an exhibition of exclusive, specially commissioned photographs, taken during Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to London in June this year to celebrate his 90th birthday. I am 90 is part of the Royal Albert Hall’s exhibition series, reflect.

The celebrations formed the backdrop of the wider campaign to promote Nelson Mandela’s global charities, which aim to heighten international awareness of the catastrophe of HIV / AIDS and educate younger generations on the prevention of a disease which has now become, in Mr Mandela’s own words, a human rights issue.

During his stay in London, Nelson Mandela met privately with world leaders, politicians and members of the Royal Family. Many of these friends, admirers and ambassadors of his charities, were also entertained at a private birthday fundraising dinner in Hyde Park. Some 500 guests attended the landmark celebration and were addressed by Bill Clinton, Gordon Brown and Forrest Whittaker.

The week culminated in a hugely successful, sell-out concert in Hyde Park which included performances from Will Smith, Jamelia, Annie Lennox, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Amy Winehouse, the Sugababes, Eddy Grant and many more.

The extraordinary events of this historic week were captured on camera by one of the world’s most celebrated portrait photographers Terry O’Neill along with a few select photographers namely Richard Young, Dave Benett, Mark Yeoman, Gareth Davies, Gareth Cattermole and Dave Hogan.

46664 will now be exhibiting a selection of these pictures that tell the story of this “One Week Celebrating A Lifetime” and which intimately illustrate the incomparable regard in which Nelson Mandela is held by those around him and by the public at large.

The first exhibition will be held in London at the Royal Albert Hall before going on to tour worldwide.

The exhibition is running from 16-28 September. For more information, go to 46664.com/iam90 and Royalalberthall.com.