Charity celebrating Mandela's legacy marks decade of work

10 hours ago

Angela FergusonNorth West

News image — Among the exhibits will be signed lithographic prints based on Mandela's charcoal sketches

PA Media Nelson Mandela grins as he dances on stage at a concert in Leeds in 2001. There are singers behind him with a backdrop of green, blue and orange colours celebrating African culture. — Among the exhibits will be signed lithographic prints based on Mandela's charcoal sketches

A new exhibition in Liverpool will showcase the work of a city charity, organisers said.

Taking place at St George's Hall, Liverpool's Mandela Story will highlight the work of Mandela8 over the past decade.

Sonia Bassey, chair of Mandela8, said the exhibition, taking place during Black History Month, is a chance to reflect on the last ten years of campaigning "carried out in Nelson Mandela's name" and an opportunity to "look forward to the future with optimism".

She added: "The fight against apartheid in South Africa was a source of hope and inspiration for many of us in Liverpool and continues to be to this day."

Mandela8 A group of people are sitting on 32 cylinders located in an area of woodland surrounded by trees. — The Mandela8 charity installed a memorial to Nelson Mandela in Princes Park in Liverpool

Kate Melvin, Liverpool City Council's senior visitor experience and engagement manager, said the exhibition will celebrate Nelson Mandela's legacy and highlight "the rich contribution of Liverpool's Black community to the city's history and culture".

The charity installed a permanent memorial to Nelson Mandela in Princes Park, Toxteth in 2023.

Vandals pushed the stone structure into the lake days after its 2025 reopening, but it was repaired and given a new home at the entrance to the Mandela memorial garden.

Nelson Mandela's daughter, Dr Makaziwe Mandela, said: "The Mandela8 Memorial to my Father Nelson Mandela is truly inspirational."

A set of signed lithographic prints based on charcoal sketches by Nelson Mandela, accompanied by a handwritten motivational statement, will be among the artefacts on display in the exhibition.

A council spokesperson said they were gifted by Dr Makaziwe Mandela to Mandela8 in recognition of the charity's work.

The free exhibition runs in the Stable Gallery at St George's Hall until 31 October and is open from Monday to Saturday.

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