Mandela is 90

Manchester band writes birthday song

21 June 2008 - Manchester band International One have told 6 Music they thought it was an honour to be asked to write Nelson Mandela's official birthday song.

The former South African president turns 90 today. International One were asked by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to write the song.

The band have been recording their debut album at Chapel Studios' in Lincolnshire, with Dan Swift (Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Futureheads), and have been on a small UK tour.

The song 'Iyaniso' was written after Archbishop Desmond Tutu approached the band and all the proceeds go to Nelson Mandela's AIDS charity 46664.

Singer John told 6 Music what happened when they met the Archbishop: "It was a real nerve wracking moment, but as soon as he came in, he put us at ease straight away.

"He's got a lot of charisma, a lot of character. He said it's great to see a young band like us rejecting drugs and writing charity singles."

"It was a mad all night writing session" - John, International One

The band weren't given much time to write the track, as John explains: "The record label phoned up and said we had to write a song for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which I thought was joke.

"But it was true! Such were the demands on us that we had to write something in 24 hours. So it was a mad all night writing session and then we came out with the song 'Iyaniso'.

John says this song is Archbishop Desmond Tutu's personal birthday gift for Nelson Mandela "We have all given our signature in a presentation pack which he is going to pass onto Nelson Mandela. Personally I think he is just trying to save a few quid," he joked.


Ruth Barnes