World AIDS Day 2007: 46664 in Jo'burg

This World AIDS Day I was invited to the 46664 concert in Johannesburg. 46664 was Nelson Mandela's prison number--466 was the number and 64 was the year that he went to jail. The Nelson Mandela Foundation uses that number to remind us of his struggle when we think about HIV/AIDS.

46664 is a campaign that raises awareness about HIV/AIDS and works to fight the spread of the disease. Every year on Nelson Mandela's birthday(July 18), there is a huge concert. The biggest in Africa! This year they decided to do it on December 1st, World AIDS Day. Very famous artists from all over the world go every year, from Bono to Oprah.  This year the artists were Peter Gabriel, Annie Lenox, Ludacris and many South African artists like Jozi, Malaika and Jamali. Like forty artists that played in one night.

The motto was, "It is in our hands," meaning that we are not victims of HIV/AIDS and if we want to change things, it is in our power to change them.

Before the concert, the 46664 did a campaign that I participated in. Like a road show with a theater group that visits townships across South Africa. We would do a play about disclosing and knowing your status and then
the community would ask questions and talk about the issues that affect them.

The concert was a lot of fun, we were in the VIP section and I felt important and beautiful. I bought a new wig for the occasion, wore heels and a new dress. Some artists even asked me what time I was on, thinking I was also a singer too.

There were very exciting moments during the show. But I did feel something strange. In between acts, they played clips and famous leaders would come out and speak about AIDS. I felt like those images on those big screens with infected people had nothing to do with me. It reminded me of high school. When they would show pictures of thin, poor orphans that look like they are dying, and try to scare you out of having sex. But it never works because young, South African, at-risk kids do not see themselves in those images. They cannot imagine that it can happen to them.

It also made me think of all the people that I know who are infected that look healthy, and I wonder how this hip and happening concert, with so much money can still use words and images that teenagers cannot relate to.

Although at moments it was very disorganized, it was still a great experience. I learned once more that what is killing South Africans is not HIV/AIDS but stigma. If people would change their attitudes about the disease, then that would be a cure. Even if you know your status, what is the use of knowing it, if people are not going to get help, go to the clinic or disclose because of fear.