Macy Gray, Bono, Youssou N'Dour, Eve, Shaggy, Busta Rhymes... they're all heading for South Africa in February for what promises to be one of the greatest rock concerts of all time.
A kaleidoscope of stars - international and local - have confirmed they will be present at the historic Mandela SOS HIV/Aids concert on Robben Island on February 2, as well as perform at a second concert on the mainland.
Also invited, but not yet confirmed, are legends Elton John, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Michael and Janet Jackson, The Clash, Sting and Dave Stewart (formerly of The Eurythmics).
While details are still being negotiated, it is understood that the island concert will take place on the soccer fields between the prison block and the nearby Muslim kramat, on the site that apartheid prisoners held their "mini-Olympics" sports days.
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Part of the negotiations will involve the provision of extra vessels to supplement the two Robben Island ferries in taking the stars, their crews and the lucky few thousand spectators to the island's shores.
On the mainland, Green Point Stadium is being considered as a possible venue.
Both concerts are expected to run from midday until late at night, so performers will have to be raced from one venue to the next as they finish their acts.
Organisers Real Concerts and American-based Epop Productions have confirmed the appearance of Macy Gray, Eve, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, U2's Bono, Youssou N'Dour and Femi Kuti, along with local stars Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Vusi Mahlasela, Johnny Clegg and Bongo Maffin. Bono and Stewart will write a song specially for the event.
The concerts, which will mark the 20-year period since Mandela left the island, will be broadcast to more than 120 countries. The proceeds will go to The Nelson Mandela Foundation, UNAids, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Robben Island Museum.
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