46664 was the prison number of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, Cape Town. Mandela was kept prison for 27 years on the Island and was the 466th prisoner to be imprisoned there in 1964. In November 2002 Mr Mandela gave his prison number 46664 to Dave Stewart (musician and record producer) of Eurythmics. Mandela gave his number so that it could be used to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa. Since then, this number has been used to raise money for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The first thing that Dave did was to ask his good friend Joe Strummer to write lyrics for a song for 46664. Joe Strummer was lead singer of the legendary band, The Clash. Dave then came up with the idea of trying to get Mr Mandela's prison number to work as a telephone number and web site in order to create a new way of donating and bringing awareness to Mr Mandela's appeal. The result was 46664: 'Give 1 Minute of Your Life To AIDS.'

Dave completed the song with Bono (the lead singer and principal lyricist of the Irish rock band U2⁾. They recorded it together as the first of a series of co-writes for the campaign. This song, 46664 (Long Walk to Freedom), soon became the anthem of 46664. The first concert was held in Cape Town on 29 November 2003 in Greenpoint Stadium in aid of 46664. The concert delivered the 46664 message to more than 2 billion people in 166 countries through radio and television announcements.

Under the guidance of Nelson Mandela, 46664 is the driving force behind the Nelson Mandela charitable organisations. 46664's aim is to raise awareness of the global HIV AIDS pandemic. 46664 also aims to raise funds to support the ongoing 46664 campaign and HIV/AIDS projects throughout Southern Africa.

Mission for 46664

46664 supports the global anti-AIDS movement. Just as the world united to defeat the apartheid regime in South Africa, the world is uniting against AIDS. The artists of 46664 give voice to the responsibility of every one of us to end the stigma associated with AIDS.

46664 recently unveiled its 2007/2008 campaign which will build on its past achievements and expand its outreach activities to communities and schools to engage the youth most affected by HIV AIDS.