Drake gets SA history lesson

International Canadian hip hop rapper and BET Best Male Hip Hop Artist award winner Aubrey Drake Graham, known simply as Drake, is currently on a visit to South Africa.

The Hotline Bling muso will soon be leaving again.

The hit singer is believed to be shooting a music video in South Africa and accepted an invitation from Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe to visit the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton, Johannesburg.

Fans gathered outside the centre to get a glimpse of their hip hop idol, who later gave a small speech of gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception and reminded the youth that, if he could make it, anyone else could too. He wanted to inspire the youth of South Africa and around the globe to achieve their dreams.

“I encourage the youth to make the future as bright as you possibly can” Drake said.

Here is a short video here of Drake walking down the garden area of the Nelson Mandela Centre, with a short sample of his address too.

The auditorium at the centre was packed with media and children from the Nelson Mandela Foundation and schools in surrounding areas, who waited close to three hours for the superstar to arrive.

On arrival, Drake was ushered into the centre’s “vault”, also known as Nelson Mandela’s office, where he took a brief tour before being rushed by adoring fans. The Grammy winner, who has worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Kanye West, participated in a special walk at the centre’s vault to learn more about Mandela and South Africa’s history in honour of the 40th anniversary of June 16.

Upon welcoming Drake, Minister Radebe said: “We welcome you to South Africa. My daughter explained that you are the number one rapper in the world.”

“We are all young and have goals and should achieve them.

“If I can dream it, you can do it. I encourage you to do it for yourself and your family, your country, because it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

Radebe then handed him a Mandela T-shirt and said: “We hope to see it in your next video.”