Indie band to release Mandela song

4:49pm Monday 14th July 2008

A band is to release a song celebrating Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday after being encouraged to do so by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Archbishop Tutu had heard some of Manchester indie group International One's music and contacted them inviting them to record a song for Mr Mandela's birthday, a spokesman for the band said.

They are joined by members of the London African Gospel Choir and the Vox Choir on the single Inyaniso - meaning "the truth", which is to be released digitally on July 18, Mr Mandela's birthday.

Writer and frontman of International One, John Blaylock said of the song: "It was written taking some of the language of Mandela and the more modern words that come from our generation.

"We hope to engage the listeners by telling a story; the story of one man reaching many."

The band said that proceeds from the single will be given to Mr Mandela's HIV/Aids charity 46664.

The single will be launched on Mr Mandela's birthday with a live performance on social networking sites Bebo, Facebook, MySpace and Friction TV.