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Years ago, R. Kelly recorded a song called “Soldier’s Heart,” which was dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

So it was only right that Kelly performed the song on the day that Mandela died, at the age of 95. R. Kelly did a live rendition on the The Arsenio Hall Show last night, and the singer revealed that he actually played “Soldier’s Heart” for Mandela himself some years ago.

When speaking on that experience, Kelly said:

“He just nodded his head, man. He was very happy and very honored — as I was to be in his presence — when I started performing the song on his piano. It was an unbelievable moment for me, man.”

Kelly was on the show promoting his new Black Panties album, so he also performed tracks “Shut Up” and “When a Woman Loves.”

Watch Kelly’s Nelson Mandela tribute above, and check out his other performances below.