Live global webcast for Aids gig

Nelson Mandela asked for special songs to be penned

Nelson Mandela's Aids Day Concert has been webcast globally in what was expected to be the world's biggest charity event on the net.

The concert kicked off the 46664 campaign to raise HIV/Aids awareness through music.

Each song performed by stars including Queen, Bono, Ms Dynamite and Beyonce can also be downloadable for 69p.

The concert featured a special song, 46664 Long Walk to Freedom, by Joe Strummer, Bono and Dave Stewart.

Online debut

The organisers expected the live webcast of the concert from Cape Town would be seen by the biggest online audience ever.

PERFORMING ACTS Bono Queen Moloko Ms Dynamite Peter Gabriel Eurythmics Beyonce Paul Oakenfold Youssou N'Dour Anastacia The Corrs Jimmy Cliff Watershed Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ready D

A host of top music stars from around the world, including a number of African acts, performed at the concert.

46664 was the prison number of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, Cape Town where he was held in captivity for 18 years.

Mr Mandela asked Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and the late Joe Strummer to write lyrics for a song which included the number.

The Eurythmics star finished the song with Bono earlier this year, and it was recorded as the first in a series of tracks penned especially for the campaign.

Another song due to have its debut online during the concert is a track by Queen, Invincible Hope, which features samples of Mr Mandela's voice.

Global collaboration

The overall aim was to make the concert the most widely distributed and broadcast programme on HIV/Aids ever, reaching a global TV, radio and online audience of about two billion.

Major net service providers and music portals around the world collaborated with net company Tiscali to show the concert for free.

It was streamed by Tiscali in the UK, in 14 European countries and South Africa, while other major net service providers and broadcasters like BBCi, Real Networks and MTV Online showed it too.

As well as raising money from tracks downloaded after the concert, there will also be a DVD and CD of the gig.

Tracks can also be ordered by telephone around the world.