The award-winning exhibition at the Cape Town City Hall honouring Nelson Mandela’s legacy is garnering recognition for promoting local history and heritage.
December marks exactly one year since the Nelson Mandela in Cape Town – Legacy Exhibition opened to the public at City Hall. Featuring interpretive panels, and audio-visual and interactive displays, it recognises former president Nelson Mandela’s history and the country’s long struggle for liberation.
It also recognises the invaluable contributions of other Capetonians who were involved in the liberation struggle, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Cissie Gool and Ashley Kriel.
Since its opening on 10 December 2021, on International Human Rights Day and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in Sharpeville by Mandela, it has welcomed over 4 800 visitors and is now a multi-award-winning initiative. This includes primary and secondary school learners who have been able to experience its immersive education programme, launched on 24 February 2022.
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
Planned, curated, and installed by the City’s Environmental Management Department, it is in a league of its own.
In October 2022, the exhibition won first prize at the Cultural Affairs Awards by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. It was in the Museums, Heritage and Geographical Names category and took top honours for its contribution towards the promotion of local history and heritage.
In November 2022, it won an accolade for Local Government Commitment at the National Heritage Council of South Africa’s 9th Annual Golden Shield Heritage Awards held in Polokwane, and was praised for making an outstanding contribution through an innovative programme that “educates, interprets or promotes public awareness of heritage and history”.
Alderman Eddie Andrews, City of Cape Town Deputy Mayor and MayCo member for Spatial Planning and Environment, hailed the exhibition as “world-class” and praised its contribution to building “social cohesion and understanding”. “It’s impossible to visit this exhibition and not be moved”.
MANDELA’S CAPE TOWN CONNECTION
A three-strong team from the Environmental Capacity Building Unit of the department is stationed at the exhibition, working with four interns who assist on a rotational basis. Marc Smith, Heritage Education Officer – who helps to manage the daily operation, education programme and outreach, and has been involved in the co-curation of the permanent and temporary exhibitions – believes the most striking aspect of the exhibition is the fact that the display looks closely at Mandela’s time and ties to Cape Town.
“It also leaves one with a sense of hope that extends beyond the walls of the exhibition and leaves visitors with the message that it is up to all of us to carry Mandela’s legacy forward and make positive contributions in our communities. The fact that so many visitors have identified themselves as well as friends and/or loved ones in the historic photographs and footage we have on display is remarkable and the team appreciates this very much,” says Smith.
Not only is the exhibition free, but it is very central, which adds to its allure. “It is within walking distance of other heritage sites and exhibitions such as the Castle of Good Hope, the Grand Parade, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the District Six Museum, Church Square, Iziko Slave Lodge and the Company’s Garden,” he says.
BEHIND THE SCENES
When one considers the work that went on behind the scenes to bring the exhibition to life, its success is gratifying. When it was being conceptualised, attention to detail was key, from the colours selected to the launch date.
Specialist consultants were appointed to do research, source images, secure video footage and artefacts, and interview people who were present when Madiba was released from prison. The lesson plans were outsourced to educational experts.
Cape Town-based interior design and project management firm One Design & Development, owned by Anlo Neethling, was in charge of the overall concept, design and execution. Neethling worked with Pierre Smith and Katharine McKenzie to present the information in an interactive and immersive way.
“We were inspired by traditional Xhosa patterns and created a unique design and bespoke font which was used throughout the project. The soft colours we used in the interior and printed works were inspired by the colours of District Six,” says Neethling.
INTERESTING ELEMENTS
Neethling says the team considered various elements, especially how the history of South Africa and the Mother City intertwined with that of Nelson Mandela. Here, in his own words, is how it all came together.
The reception: For the reception, we created a custom pattern with keywords from his speech woven into the design. This pattern was incorporated in the shape of Table Mountain set on a gold backdrop. The reception desk, manufactured out of sandstone, resembles Table Mountain.
Entrance: Upon entering the exhibition, the viewer is greeted by a full-sized mural depiction of the crowds greeting Mandela as he stepped onto the balcony to deliver his speech. The exhibition then continues with a short timeline of his early life. We then explore his multiple visits to Cape Town before he was imprisoned with a recreated set built of the Westminster Restaurant in District Six where he enjoyed many Cape Malay meals.
Incarceration years: The exhibition then leads you into an enclosed tunnel symbolising his years spent underground evading arrest. The tunnel leads into a modern to-scale interpretation of his prison cell on Robben Island with artefacts and letters on display.
Other role players: We then focus on the role of many brave Capetonians, who contributed to the struggle against apartheid, with a display of protest posters, typically used at the Grand Parade across from the City Hall. We then concentrate on his release through various audio and visual materials and artefacts. This leads us into a theatre room, symbolic of the Grand Parade, with a video of his speech on the day of his release.
End of the exhibition: The final section of the exhibition is about his Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) negotiations, the presidency, and final years. We end off with a projection of the constitution, the living part of his legacy, onto the visitor as they leave the exhibition on their way to view the statue.
IMAGES: Nelson Mandela in Cape Town – Legacy Exhibition