Bono, U.K. artists write song honoring Nelson Mandela

Irish rock star Bono and U.K. musicians Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and the late Joe Strummer of the Clash have written a song honoring former South African president Nelson Mandela that will be performed at "Mandela S.O.S.," a February 2 benefit concert to raise money to fight HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The song is titled "48864" in honor of Mandela's prison number when he was jailed for 18 years on Robben Island--where the concert will be held--for speaking out against apartheid. The concert will be broadcast worldwide, with funds raised going to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and the Robben Island Museum. Performers will include Shaggy, Queen, Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, Jimmy Cliff, Coldplay, Ludacris, Deborah Cox, and several South African artists.

"The concert will focus on the growing impact that AIDS has had on human life, not only in South Africa but throughout the world," Mandela said. "We must never allow those who are infected and affected by AIDS to become statistics."