Mandela’s village prepares for his 90th birthday

In the provincial capital of Mthatha, youngsters put the finishing touches to birthday greetings on a length of wall along Nelson Mandela Drive. "Your people salute you. Happy birthday, Madiba," the sign read, using the clan name by which South Africans affectionately refer to Mandela.

Outside the local museum, a stage was being erected and banners hung bearing pictures of Mandela as a young and older man.

At Mandela's home, cars and catering vans shuttled in and out during the day and a large tent went up behind the two-story house.

The homestead, which includes some of the only green fields visible for miles, stretches from the main national highway down to a large dam. A small herd of cattle graze nearby.

Choir to perform for Mandela
Up on the hillside, it seemed the only lesson of the day at the Nkalane Junior Secondary School was Mandela's birthday.

In the classroom where the choir was practicing, the respectful greeting: "Happy Birthday, Tat'u (father) Mandela" was written neatly on the chalkboard.

The choir of children of all ages, who expected to perform for Mandela on Friday, chose traditional songs praising the former president as a great man and tunes that were sung by activists during the fight against apartheid.

Yaneliswa Khandawuli, 16, wrote a poem for the occasion, dedicated to the "hero of the heroes."

"Nelson Mandela changed our lives," she said. "All of us, black and white we are now the rainbow nation. I love him very much."

Khandawuli wished Mandela a long life and a happy day. But she really wished for something for herself.

"I don't want God to take him away from us," she said.

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