Thousands of fans joined former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, Bono, Beyonce, Anastacia and Annie Lennox in the fight against AIDS concert.

The event forms a part of Mandela's anti-AIDS campaign called 46664—the numbers refers to his prison number.

The former South African president has been lobbying governments to declare HIV/AIDS a global emergency.

The situation in his homeland is particularly worrying. AIDS is bleeding the country with more than five million of its 45 million people being infected.

"46664 is a vital campaign to help us fight a tragedy of unprecedented proportions that is claiming more lives than the sum total of all wars, famines and floods. AIDS is no longer just a disease, it is a human rights issue," said the South African leader.

Among the bands that performed at the concert were U2, whose lead singer Bono has been friends with Mandela for years. Bono has written songs against the former apartheid regime in South Africa.

"Not just a President for Africa, Mandela is a president for anyone anywhere who loves freedom," said Bono.

"AIDS is a medical problem, but political grandstanding is killing people", he added.