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Nelson Mandela Celebrates 91st Birthday

Nelson Mandela turns 91 today, and — according to Bloomberg News — he is spending the day at his home in Johannesburg.

Nelson Mandela is celebrating his 91st birthday at home in Johannesburg today with a visit from President Jacob Zuma and the whole executive of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress.

The former president met more than 90 well-wishers, including former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, in a marquee erected in his garden, Mandela’s foundation said in an e-mailed statement.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison for seeking to overthrow the apartheid state and emerged to become president after the nation’s first all-race elections in 1994. Since retiring in 1999, he has become increasingly frail and has scaled back his public appearances, spending some time raising funds for charities he established.

Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and others are performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York tonight, in honor of Mandela and what’s been dubbed “Nelson Mandela Day.”

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