July 18, 2008 Nelson Mandela celebrates 90th birthday Play video

(NECN: Qunu, Johannesburg) - Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday Friday surrounded by grandchildren and relatives in the rural southeastern village he calls home.

Yet, the man who has become an icon for peace remained keenly troubled by the demoralizing poverty still faced by so many of his countrymen.

Accompanied by his wife, Graca Machel, a smiling Mandela walked into his private lounge in the large home he built in Qunu, then sat in his favorite yellow armchair and addressed a small gathering of reporters.

His message was simple - the wealthy must do more.

"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," Mandela said.

Mandela said he was fortunate to have reached 90, but in the countryside and in the towns "there is a lot of poverty."

"I am happy that I have lived until now because there not many people who look after themselves and who can live for such a long time, and I am happy that I am still alive," he said.

"It is not easy to talk about the ten years of my marriage," he said, referring to his third and current wife Graca Machel, "except to say that I am happy to have had a wife like her."

Outside Mandela's house, local women danced and sang to celebrate.