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The recent controversy about Bono's alleged comments and sparked by Steve Hofmeyr's online refutations, have left us thinking about U2's long association with things South African. We passed the hat of memories around the table and came up with a quick list:
U2 has a long association with South Africa going back 25 years.
The first overt link to South Africa’s legacy that we can remember was Bono's song, "Silver and Gold", written to support the Artists United Against Apartheid collaboration in 1985. The anti-apartheid song received wider recognition when it was included as a live version on U2’s 1988 album Rattle and Hum.
Silver and Gold video
Fast forward ten years and U2 visits South Africa for the first time with their massive PopMart Tour. The final show of the two year tour was played at the old Johannesburg Stadium on March 21 1998. Here Bono opens I still haven’t found what I’m looking for with Shosholoza.
In 2003 Bono and The Edge participated in Nelson Mandela’s 46664 concert in Cape Town.
Bono performs American Prayer with Beyonce.
2007 Mandela 90 Concert Happy Birthday
Bono and The Edge perform Happy Birthday for Nelson Mandela during the “46664 Nelson Mandela at 90” concert on June 27th, 2008 from Hyde Park, London, England.
One of the highlights of the 360° World Tour is an introduction to the epic “Where the Streets Have No Name” by South African icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
What are your "South African" U2 moments? Share in the comments section below.
U2 has a long association with South Africa going back 25 years.
The first overt link to South Africa’s legacy that we can remember was Bono's song, "Silver and Gold", written to support the Artists United Against Apartheid collaboration in 1985. The anti-apartheid song received wider recognition when it was included as a live version on U2’s 1988 album Rattle and Hum.
Silver and Gold video
Fast forward ten years and U2 visits South Africa for the first time with their massive PopMart Tour. The final show of the two year tour was played at the old Johannesburg Stadium on March 21 1998. Here Bono opens I still haven’t found what I’m looking for with Shosholoza.
In 2003 Bono and The Edge participated in Nelson Mandela’s 46664 concert in Cape Town.
Bono performs American Prayer with Beyonce.
2007 Mandela 90 Concert Happy Birthday
Bono and The Edge perform Happy Birthday for Nelson Mandela during the “46664 Nelson Mandela at 90” concert on June 27th, 2008 from Hyde Park, London, England.
One of the highlights of the 360° World Tour is an introduction to the epic “Where the Streets Have No Name” by South African icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
What are your "South African" U2 moments? Share in the comments section below.
