Mandela makes recording debut spoken-word vocal in song composed in his honour

CAPE TOWN - Former South African President Nelson Mandela has recorded a spoken-word vocal for a song composed in his honour by Irish musician John Hughes.

According to the Telegraph, Mandela made his recording debut on a track called ‘The Mandela Suite’.

Hughes had met the 92-year-old while managing The Corrs, who played at a South Africa Freedom Day concert in London in 2001.

He heard him tell the assembled musicians: “Music is a great blessing. It has the power to elevate us and liberate us. It sets people free to dream, it can unite us to sing with one voice. Such is the value of music.”

Hughes decided that he wanted to set those words to music, saying: “I didn’t even write down what Mandela had said because I didn’t need to. Every word he said stuck in my head.”

“There he was, a man who had spent 27 years as a prisoner of conscience, invoking music as having the power to bring freedom. I wanted the whole world to hear that,” he added.

The song, which features lyrics translated into 10 different African languages, will be released on March 28. (ANI)