KEYS, LATIFAH, LIL KIM PLAY MANDELA CONCERT: Artists celebrate South African leader's birthday at Radio City Music Hall. (Video)

Scroll down to watch Lil Kim SINGING a duet with Cindi Lauper

       The tribute, held Saturday night, included a diverse collection of musical collaborations that ranged from pop to disco to gospel, reports The Associated Press.      

       France's first lady Carla Bruni made her American stage debut at the show paired with Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart as her husband, President Nicolas Sarkozy, sat cheering in the audience. She paid homage to Mandela's social activism by covering Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," calling it a song by another famous activist (scroll down for performance).

       From an early performance by disco queen Gloria Gaynor to the star-studded finale led by Stevie Wonder, the crowd was on their feet for most of the night.       

       Latifah performed a booming rendition of "There's a Light" that ended with thunderous applause. She originally recorded the song for the 2007 movie, "Hairspray."      

       Among the eclectic collaborators were Aretha Franklin, who joined Josh Groban for his "You Raise Me Up." After the song, Groban told the crowd that performing with Franklin was "the thrill of a lifetime."

       Keys and African artist Angelique Kidjo performed the spiritual "Afrika." Rapper Lil' Kim's (SINGING) duet with Cyndi Lauper offered a stripped-down rendition of Lauper's "Time After Time." (See the performance below.)

       Before the show, the rapper spoke of how Mandela inspired her, saying: "He was very instrumental in my experience in prison." Lil' Kim spent a year in prison on conspiracy and perjury charges.

       African artists such as Suzanna Owiyo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Sipho Mabuse, and the Soweto Gospel Choir played backup for the night and were part of the one of the strongest performances, notes The AP.      

       Mandela could not make the festivities, but the South African freedom fighter appeared last year for a concert in London's Hyde Park to celebrate his 90th birthday. Since then, Mandela's doctors advised that he no longer travel internationally. The concert Saturday, therefore, culminates the first ever "Mandela Day" as a means of honoring his inspiration by observing the day annually.

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