Well, it would have been rude not to. After announcing a big 90th birthday bash in his honour two days ago, organisers have today revealed that Nelson Mandela will indeed be attending his June 27th Hyde Park party. Those conceding that, yes, Nelson lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa, and that true, he’s one of few people that can call themselves an international icon of peace and equality, but are unable to stomach the idea of Johnny Borrell in that white baby-suit outfit again, will be pleased to hear the gig’s main purpose is raising awareness of the five and a half million South Africans currently living with HIV/AIDS.

The day's events will raise dosh for Mandela’s 46664 campaign, a cause that takes its name from the former South-African President’s prison number when he was confined on Robben Island. As far as the line-up goes, there’s a lot of the same old benefit-gig fodder, but organisers have promised a variety of South-African musicians to compliment the MOR and not the purely the Ladysmith Black Mambazo tokenism that Damon Albarn and others so objected to at Live 8 and Live Earth. Down to play the event are Queen, the Sugababes, Dame Shirley Bassey, Razorlight, Jamelia and two of The Corrs.

That’s right, just two of the Corrs. Come on guys, it’s Nelson-bleedin’-Mandela.

Image courtesy of Pantone801's Flickrstream.