Inspirational tribute – in the remarkable story of Mandela
A MAJOR exhibition in London is set to provide visitors with a thought-provoking new insight into the remarkable story of Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition, which opens at Waterloo’s Leake Street Gallery today, gathers together a wealth of fascinating items, including many that belonged to the late South African leader.
And yesterday Mandela’s grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, was among the guests at a special preview of the tribute to his grandfather’s life and legacy.
He has previously said that the project “succeeds in quintessentially depicting the man and the legend whose struggle and sacrifice has captivated the hearts and minds of millions around the world”.
Speaking last year, he added: “This exhibition is truly an inspiration and an inspired effort – I believe that everyone who sees it will agree that the legacy lives on and that the dream will never die.
“London and the United Kingdom more broadly was home to many South African exiles and activists in the antiapartheid struggle.”
The exhibition is split into different “immersive” zones, each dedicated to a different stage of the life of the political activist and prisoner who became South Africa’s first black president.
It also includes contributions from the likes of musicians Jerry Dammers and Neneh Cherry as well as former Labour MP Lord Peter Hain, who forged a close friendship with Mandela.