As she prepares to perform at the forthcoming Global Citizen Festival on Saturday, Beyoncé penned an appreciative letter to the late Nelson Mandela, published in the South African newspaper Sowetan.
“I first met you in 2004 for the 46664 AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town, and the impact you have had on my life resonates with me today and every day,” the singer opens her letter. “Your kindness and gratitude for every experience, and your ability to forgive are lessons I have learned and will pass on to my three children.”
This year’s festival celebrates the former South African president 100 years after his birth. Mandela passed away back in 2013. Bey is performing alongside her husband JAY-Z in Johannesburg on a lineup that also features Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Kasey Musgraves, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Usher, Wizkid, and more. The charity running the festival hopes to raise $1 billion for poor women and children around the globe.
Read Beyoncé's full letter below.
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