In July we are never short of celebrations across the country, and on Thursday Mandela Day centenary celebrations were held at Mandela Square at Sandton City.
Here celebrated photographer Erhardt Thiel has designed the iMadiba Project conversation station. The bench-like structure is the size of Mandela’s Robben Island prison cell. The bars face the giant bronze statue of him, making it more personal when you peer through the bars - it’s as if he is walking towards you.
Shoppers couldn’t help but snap themselves next to the statue, which now has the number 100 next to it.
Buskaid launched the ceremony by performing popular songs. The square was decked out with Mandela quotes and there was a board where people could write their birthday wishes to him.
Television personality Maps Maponyane steered the ship to the unveiling and from there philanthropist and businesswoman Carolyn Steyn shared her memories of when they hosted Madiba at her home, now the Saxon Hotel.
Thiel refers to the area he designed as a conversation station, where he hopes people will have candid discussions about where we are as a country and what needs to be done to move us forward. He said we are not even close to what Madiba envisaged.
“I call it the iMedia Project it’s a global interactive, participative arts project, creating conversations for change. It’s a big vision that I have of turning the smallest museums into the world’s largest museum. It’s based on Nelson Mandela’s Robben Island prison cell.
“You can look at the sculpture, as people sit on it at the moment, and ask: ‘Is it a monument, is it a sculpture, is it an art installation, is it a bench?’
“I wanted to create something that will outlive me. Maybe it’s because I’m 50 years old, Madiba is 100 years, and I know I’m not going to be be here for long but I could create something that could outlast us. It’s specifically for the next generation because the people who had the privilege to shake Madiba’s hand and to be in his presence, to be truly inspired one-on-one with the wise man, will also one day not be here. Hopefully, the iMadiba project can live into that.
The event ended with lunch at a restaurant. Businesswoman Johanna Mukoki, model Rosette Ncwana and brand influencer Tshepi Vundla gathered to share in the festivities.