Mandela Family to lead events promoting diversity in the city
“To think that all the way in Liverpool, what my dad stood for in life still resonates with a lot of people today, emphasises that rarely is social and political transformation an individual effort; often it is a result of an accumulation of forces.” Dr Makaziwe Mandela
In celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, Mandela8, Liverpool BID Company, Torus Group and The Big Help Project will host the Mandela Family for the official opening of the Nelson Mandela Memorial and a series of events exploring how the city’s business community can become more diverse, and how the qualities Nelson Mandela exemplified can be part of the city’s business culture. The events, marking the tenth anniversary of the death of the visionary leader, will also explore business partnerships between Liverpool and South Africa.
Nelson Mandela International Day, on Tuesday 18 July 2023, shines a light on the legacy of a man who changed the 20th century and helped to shape the 21st. The day is used as a moment to renew the values that inspired Nelson Mandela, and to examine how his values should inspire us to take action and make a change.
Mandela8 was established to commemorate the life of Nelson Mandela through the creation of a permanent memorial in Princes Park, Liverpool 8. This summer it will be unveiled to coincide with Mandela Day.
The events will include;
The official opening of the memorial in Princes Park
An audience with the Mandela Family at Liverpool Everyman Theatre. A public event and panel discussion hosted by Marcus Ryder MBE and including Dr Maki Mandela & Tukwini Mandela.
A dinner with North West civic and business leaders, hosted by Downtown Liverpool in Business at Hope Street Hotel
Liverpool BID Company will also be supporting businesses to take up the “Mandela Day campaign, as championed by the Mandela family. Nelson Mandela spent 67 years of his life fighting for social justice and human rights and on Mandela day we ask you to do an act of kindness for someone else or in your community, to support the campaign.
Dr Makaziwe Mandela
“The Mandela8 Memorial to my Father Nelson Mandela is a moving and truly inspirational tribute to the sacrifices he and his comrades made to rid South Africa of the violent apartheid system. Being involved in this journey seeing the stones made and installed has been a very emotional experience for myself and my daughter Tukwini. To think that all the way in Liverpool, what my dad stood for in life still resonates with a lot of people today, emphasises that rarely is social and political transformation an individual effort; often it is a result of an accumulation of forces. We are looking forward to officially opening the memorial.”
Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair Mandela8
“We are delighted to be with Dr Maki and Tukwini again when they officially open the memorial. It will be a significant and emotional moment to see the memorial open and being used as an outdoor classroom to educate people and continue to seek harmony, love and peace in the world based on Nelson Mandela’s values that are still relevant today.
We want people from all over the world to visit the memorial and for its educational properties to be realised by people of all ages across Liverpool and beyond. We are truly grateful to all our partners.”
Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company
“We are proud to be welcoming the Mandela family to Liverpool and for them to lead this series of events, in partnership with Mandela8 helping to shape the city for the future. Our business community should reflect the rich diversity of Liverpool and we continue to work and learn to drive that forward”.
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson
“Liverpool is immensely proud of our relationship with the Mandela family. It’s a connection that greatly enriches our civic life and helps to promote a wider understanding of the universal themes of social justice – lessons which are as apt today as they’ve ever been. The unveiling of the memorial at Princes Park on Nelson Mandela International Day will be a red letter day for the city and will further cement the bonds we already have and treasure. It’s heartening to see so many people and organisations involved in this event and underlines how much of an inspiration the great man himself continues to be.”
Cath Murray-Howard, Chief Operating Officer for Torus Group
“Torus Group continues its commitment to collaborate with and build upon diverse neighbourhoods and we are thrilled to once again be part of the momentous work being undertaken by Mandela8. As we celebrate the official opening of the Nelson Mandela Memorial, a milestone that Torus is delighted to have supported, we are reminded of the pride taken in championing initiatives that drive community growth.
“Teams across the Group are dedicated to continue the support being delivered through projects that enhance opportunities, and together, see the memorial as a symbol of unity, resilience while working towards a brighter future for all.”
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronLiverpool is preparing to welcome back the family of revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela.
The former President’s eldest daughter Dr Makaziwe ‘Maki’ Mandela and his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela, are travelling to the city to make their mark on artwork which will form part of the city’s permanent Nelson Mandela memorial in Princes Park.
The completed memorial will include a ‘Freedom Bridge’, a pavilion and 32 cylindrical stone-works inscribed with inspirational Mandela quotes. These pedestals represent the oil drums used to grow an allotment on the rooftop of Pollsmoor Prison where Mandela was held for part of his prison sentence. During their six-day trip, the family will visit Crosby Memorials to personally inscribe one of the stone drums.
They will also take part in a series of celebratory and commemorative events including:
The day before the Mandela’s arrival, Liverpool will officially mark Mandela Day (18 July) which will see hundreds of school children parade down Princes Avenue into Princes Park. They will also take part in a number of activities including a picnic, and plans are in place for litter picks, wildflower sowing and a mini-beast-hunt. This day also sees the city host the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay which will also be paraded down the Avenue by nominated baton bearers.
Dr Maki and Tukwini last visited the city in February 2019 to give their blessing to the Princes Park location for the memorial which it is hoped will be completed by the end of the year.
The work will reflect Nelson Mandela’s love of gardens and horticulture along with his struggle for freedom, equality and humanity. The spaces will be used for future activity in the park, acting as a focal point and an area to visit, reflect and educate.
Liverpool City Council made Nelson Mandela Freeman of the City in 1994.
The visit is being organised by Toxteth-based charity Mandela8 which commissioned the official memorial. The charity is working in partnership with Liverpool City Council and other supporters include Heritage Lottery Fund UK, Uniglobal Union, Unison North West, FACT, The Sovini Group, MSB Solicitors, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and housing and regeneration group Torus, the Torus Foundation and the repairs and maintenance company owned by Torus, HMS.
Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela said:
“We hold a special place in our hearts for Liverpool and its people, and we are really excited to return to see the memorial being made and be involved in a range of special events to celebrate our father and grandfather’s legacy. It is really important that now, more than ever, hope and aspiration is a key part of the legacy we continue to fulfil. We want to share that message with Liverpool when we visit.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said:
“It will be a real honour to meet Dr Maki and Tukwini in person and spend some time with a family so committed to achieving equality and devoting their lives to peace.
“They have a strong affinity with Liverpool and they are keen to be involved as work on the memorial progresses, and their visit gives us the chance to re-emphasise our solidarity and support to the Mandela legacy.
“The city council has been working closely with Mandela8 for a number of years and it will be wonderful to see work on elements of the memorial take shape in what will be a lasting tribute to Nelson Mandela’s unforgettable humanitarian achievements.”
Sonia Bassey, Mandela8 Chair said:
“Mandela8 is absolutely delighted to host Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela again after so long. We are really looking forward to showing them around our wonderful city again and making sure they get to meet as many people as possible this time. We have arranged a fantastic programme to celebrate their return and the making of our memorial.”
Cath Murray-Howard, Chief Operating Officer from Torus Group said:
“Torus is proud to be associated with such a seminal event, Mandela8 has for many years been a close partner as so many of our tenants live in the area. The Torus Foundation, based in the Fire Fit Hub, Toxteth will support all the celebratory events by working with all colleagues on many wonderful activities.”
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronA message from our Chair, Sonia Bassey, MBE:
Following recent advice and direction by Government regarding Covid-19 that large gatherings should not take place and recent school, university and public venue closures, we have taken the decision to postpone Mandela Week and the Mandela family visit.
In agreement with Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela and our partners and sponsors we will be organizing the visit to take place during July 2021, government guidelines permitting.
All our efforts at this time should be directed at our vulnerable and elderly in society and our health and emergency services.
Our programme for the visit included all schools across the Liverpool City Region, a range of public events across Cheshire and Merseyside and two major celebration events so understandably these cannot take place at this time.
Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela said: “We are sorry we cannot be with you in July this year. It is important that we take all our Governments advice seriously and stay safe. We look forward to being with you all next year in Liverpool and you have a heartfelt and sincerest best wishes for you and your families during this difficult time”.
Your health and wellbeing remain our greatest priority and Mandela8 are currently revising a range of activities we are committed to so that people can still take part via social media or digital solutions. These include our Roots and Wings Young Leaders Programme and our National Heritage Lottery Fund Memorial and Legacy Programme.
We would like to thank you, our sponsors and funders for your ongoing support and want you to stay safe and look out for each other.
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 Patron2020 will comprise of a special visit by the Mandela family to Liverpool to celebrate a week of activities to mark what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 101st birthday.
The visit will coincide with the official opening of the Mandela8 Nelson Mandela Memorial in
Prince’s Park, Liverpool 8, and the celebration of Mandela Day, which charitable organization Mandela8 will celebrate as part of a week-long series of events and celebrations.
Mandela8’s initial vision is to see a permanent memorial that functions as a unique performance, conversation and contemplation space established in Prince’s Park to celebrate, commemorate and pursue the legacy of Nelson Mandela’s outstanding achievements for humanity.
The memorial will also be a focal point and catalyst for community development and cohesion through a series of creative commissions and collaborations with widespread community and educational engagement and participation.
Dr Makaziwe (Maki) Mandela and Tukwini Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter, took part in an official three-day visit to Liverpool in February this year to commemorate the 29-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison at a reception hosted by the city, and to officially mark the start the works on site for the memorial.
The idea of Mandela Day is that everyone has the ability to make an impact and do something in their own way to change the world and the world of those around them.
July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day, now more widely known as Mandela Day, and was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, to acknowledge his values and dedication to the service of humanity and struggle for international democracy and peace throughout the world.
The day remembers Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace and reconciliation. ‘Madiba’, as Nelson Mandela was fondly known, was one of South Africa’s greatest heroes.
Not only is he loved and respected as one of the greatest leaders in South Africa, he is also admired and respected around the world.
Liverpool has its own special relationship and connection with Nelson Mandela.
When Liverpool became aware of apartheid and Mandela’s incarceration, community activists, unions and the city came together to support the Free Nelson Mandela Campaign, and took a solid stance against apartheid.
Liverpool is built on strong political and social values and has experienced oppression, but not on the scale of South Africa.
So when awareness of the brutality of apartheid in South Africa became known in Liverpool, the city united to support Mandela, the ANC and South African people.
Mandela was gifted the freedom of the city in 1994 and a civic reception was held there in his honour 20 years later.
Mandela’s fight for justice began in 1942, and for 67 tireless years, he continued to fight for social justice and human rights.
The Mandela Week programme is designed to enable individuals and groups to give 67 minutes of their day – one minute for every year – to help someone else, ideally on Mandela Day or in that week.
Dr Maki Mandela said: “What good deed are you going to do today for someone that will make their life better?”
Words by Rodney Hinds, published in The Voice (Dec, 2019)
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