Mandela the celebrity magnet

Geri Halliwell clutching his arm and the rest of the Spice Girls cuddling him for the picture, Nelson Mandela stood grinning.“These are my heroines,” the South African president said when he met what was then the world’s hottest pop band in 1997. “I don’t want to be emotional, but it’s one of the greatest moments in my life.”Feted by the world’s biggest names in entertainment, sport and politics, his own star often shone brighter than those in his company.Celebrity fascination with Mandela dates back to his 27 years of imprisonment, when outdated photographs were the only public images that the world had of him.Songs like ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ and ‘Bring Him Back Home’ climbed the 1980s charts and a 70th birthday tribute was broadcast to hundreds of millions of people around the world in 1988.After his release in 1990, the appeal of the man fondly known by his clan name Madiba only grew larger.The Madiba magicFree of the stuffiness usually inbred into politicians, Mandela was equally at home bantering with celebrities or tackling the world’s issues on the global stage.With an ability both to inspire and delight, his calls for tolerance were blended with a penchant for breaking into a gleeful shuffle dance in public and wearing colourful shirts.Few stars were immune to the “Madiba magic” and a photo opportunity with one of the world’s most recognisable personalities was seen as an essential part of a stop in South Africa.His rock star-like 85th birthday drew guests ranging from U2 frontman Bono to actor Robert de Niro. Another close friend was U.S television queen Oprah Winfrey, who played messenger for then senator Barack Obama, and built a girls’ school after an idea kindled over tea at Mandela’s rural village home.Yet when faced with overcome admirers, Mandela also knew how to turn on the charm with trademark humility.“I love you so much,” an emotional Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron, born in South Africa, said at his side.“I love you too, you know,” was Mandela’s simple reply.Canadian singer Celine Dion even named one of her twin boys Nelson after meeting him an occasion she prepared for by taking a history course.A skillful fundraiser and campaignerA skillful fundraiser and campaigner, Mandela drew stars from Beyoncé to the late Amy Winehouse to perform for his AIDS efforts.In 2004, aged 85, he told the world “don’t call me, I’ll call you” while announcing that he was stepping out of the public eye.Growing increasingly frail, his last star-studded mega-bash was a 90th birthday concert in London in 2008.Mandela made his final scene-stealing public appearance at South Africa’s 2010 World Cup final.At home, he was known in many hearts and minds as “father” or “grandfather” and the famous sometimes spoke of him with kindred intimacy.Supermodel Naomi Campbell reportedly called him her “honorary grandfather”.

Leisure

Mandela the celebrity magnet