Joan Baez Honors Late Czech President

American folk singer Joan Baez speaks passionately about Nelson Mandela while performing in Prague at a concert marking the first anniversary of the death of Vaclav Havel. Elly Park reports.

Published

5 months ago

Categories

Entertainment, World

Topics

Celebrity, Europe

People

Nelson Mandela, Elly Park, Joan Baez, Vaclav Havel

Places

Czech Republic, Prague

Transcript

American folk singer Joan Baez was in Prague for the first anniversary of the death of Czech dissident and later president Vaclav Havel. The singer performed at his commemorative concert and said that she regularly visits the city. SOUNDBITE: Joan Baez, Singer, saying (English) "I usually come fairly often and it is all based on my friendship with Vaclav Havel which started many years ago, a few months before the Velvet Revolution." Havel is isn't the only politician Baez has become close to. She also performed at Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert in London and also attended his 90th birthday celebrations. She said that both men share similar qualities. SOUNDBITE: Joan Baez, Singer, saying (English) "Mandela and Havel had very similar lives in some way and some ways of knowing that if they stayed with their principles that they would pay a price and I think they knew what that price would be and that's where the courage comes in. The singer has released more than 30 albums to date and has also been a successful activist -- playing a key role in setting up Amnesty International in the United States.