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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The Nelson Mandela statue in Glasgow's Mandela Place will be unveiled on Friday, 9th Oct. at 4pm.This is a public event and all friends are welcome. Marah Louw will sing, just as at Mandela's Glasgow visit on 9th Oct. 1993 (pictured) bit.ly/glasmandstory bit.ly/Mandelaschools bit.ly/NMSMFdon

Marah Louw sings and dances on stage with Nelson Mandela when he visited Glasgow in 1993 to accept the Freedom of the City and of eight other UK local authorities.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

45 years ago on 4th Aug. 1981 Glasgow awarded its Freedom to Nelson Mandela. He was still on Robben Island so it was accepted by Dr. Alex Ekwueme, then Vice-President of Nigeria, from Lord Provost Michael Kelly. See John Stevenson's video of 5 years ago at mandelascottishmemorial.org/40years

Lord Provost Michael Kelly presenting the award to Dr. Alex Ewueme

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

50 years ago on 19-6-76 a meeting of Anti-Apartheid activists constituted the Anti-Apartheid Movement Scottish Committee. After a year of an informal co-ordinating committee a more formal structure was necessary. The new body worked for 18 years, until apartheid ended and ACTSA Scotland was formed

Original minutes of the meeting to adopt the constitution of the Anti-Apartheid Movement Scottish Committee, 50 years ago.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

16th June is the 50th anniv. of the shooting of protesting children in Soweto, sparking the Soweto Uprising, and also the 40th anniv. of the re-naming of Nelson Mandela Pl., then home of the apartheid S. African Consulate. Mandela Pl. will be the site of the statue of Mandela from 9th Oct. 2026

Glasgow Lord Provost Robert Gray, Essop Pahad (African National Congress) and Bailie Patricia Chalmers at the naming ceremony of Nelson Mandela Place 16th June, 1986

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

On 26th & 27th April 1994 South Africa held its first free non-racial election, ending whites-only rule, electing a new Government and making Nelson Mandela the country's President. The 26th was for infirm voters and was also the day for exiles to vote abroad - including in Glasgow City Chambers.

A facsimile ballot paper used in voter education in advance of the election.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

On 11th Feb 1990 Nelson Mandela was freed to a joyous welcome. In Glasgow a huge crowd celebrated in Mandela Place, where our new statue will soon honour Mandela and his lessons for social justice. Our schools resource pack "When Mandela danced in the Square" is at bit.ly/Mandelaschools

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

On 9th Oct.1993 Nelson Mandela came to Glasgow to accept the Freedom of Glasgow and 8 other councils. We hope the same date in 2026 will see the unveiling of his statue in Mandela Place. Maquettes by the 5 shortlisted sculptors will be on show next month. Bookings link soon here & at bit.ly/NMSMF

Mandela dancing with Marah Louw on the stage in George Square from which he addressed a crowd of thousands, and where Marah sang before they spontaneously began to dance, to the roars of the crowd.

Poster for the public rally in George Square. A2 reproductions available at bit.ly/mandelaebay

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

That concert included the world premiere in Glasgow City Halls of "I will wait", Wally Serote's poem set to music by Scottish composer Bill Sweeney (pictured), commissioned by NALGO trade union. Community venues across Glasgow then hosted a huge number and variety of S. African cultural groups.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

23-09-1990 saw the opening day and launch concert of the Sechaba International Conference and Festival of Cultural Resistance to Apartheid in Glasgow by the Scottish Anti-Apartheid Movement,STUC and ANC with Govan Mbeki as keynote speaker and a two-week programme of cultural events of all kinds.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Five great sculptors are shortlisted for creating a tribute to Nelson Mandela in Mandela Place, Glasgow. Paul Ferriter, Hector Guest, Alan Herriot, Kenny Hunter and David Mitchell will create maquettes for a public consultation in November. See bit.ly/NMSMF for more info. Donations welcome there too

Mandela salutes a large crowd in George Square, Glasgow, 9 Oct. 1993, after a ceremony conferring the Freedom of Glasgow and 8 other local authorities on him, all originally given in absentia while he was still imprisoned. Glasgow was first in the world, in 1981.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

We remember the Soweto children shot down by police on 16June1976 at a mammoth peaceful protest, and the 1000 others killed in the resulting year-long uprising. It mobilised a generation. On the 10th anniversary in 1986 the Glasgow home of the apartheid Consulate was renamed Nelson Mandela Place.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Jim Kerr sang "Mandela Day", and the 25 Nelson Mandela Freedom Marchers were sent off on their walk to London.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

On 12th June 1988 30,000 people marched through Glasgow with the Anti-Apartheid Movement and rallied on Glasgow Green to call for the release of Nelson Mandela for his 70th birthday. Oliver Tambo, Trevor Huddleston, Alan Boesak, Andimba Toivo ja Toivo, Abdul Minty and others addressed the crowd.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

We are at the STUC Congress in the Caird Hall, Dundee, till Wednesday with our ACTSA Scotland and NMSMF stall. If you are attending Congress look by and see us in the exhibition hall.

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Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation @mandelasmf.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Condolences on the death of Sam Nujoma who fought for Namibia's freedom from apartheid S. African occupation, and then was first President of free Namibia. Brian Filling was Chair of Anti-Apartheid in Scotland, which campaigned on Namibia for many years and hosted the 1987 visit.

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