From a prisoner to president, Nelson Mandela has been a messiah for the black South Africans. Fondly called as Madiba, he would always be remembered as the anti-apartheid hero who went on to become the first black president of South Africa. Here is a list of places where one can pay tribute to the man who has significantly changed the world.
1. Mandela House Museum
The Mandela House Museum, located on the Vilakasi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, South Africa is the place where the former president resided from 1946 to 1962. This museum hosts some original furnishings and memorabilia including photographs, citations given to Nelson Mandela and the world championship belt given to Mandela by Sugar Ray Leonard. This museum received the world heritage site tag in 1999. This is one of the most popular place where one can remember the legend.
2. Robben Island
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. Five miles off the coast of Capetown, lies Robben Island where he spent 18 precious years of his life. This prison was later converted into a museum and also is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the 17th to the 20th centuries, Robben Island has been a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment.
3. Parliamentary square, London
Located at one of the most prestigious place in London, the parliamentary square in London is famous for the nine feet tall bronze statue of the South African president. This statue was unveiled in 2007 which was built by the famous English sculptor Ian Walter. This is a place which is usually flocked by the tourists to salute the anti-apartheid hero.
4. Liliesleaf Farm
The Liliesleaf Farm in Johannesburg is one of the biggest tourist attractions in South Africa. This farm was the location where many prominent African National Congress leaders were arrested, leading to the Rivonia Trial, which also includes Nelson Mandela. Nowadays Liliesleaf Farm is a museum.
5. The Voting Line Statue
The voting line statue situated at the Donkin Reserves, Port Elizabeth is a pretty unusual sculpture. It’s a 38metre long metal sculpture of South Africans connected together to make a simple Voting Line. To give it that distinct coastal flavour, there are even a couple of black metal seagulls hovering about the voters’ heads. At the end of the queue is a metal cut-out of Nelson Mandela standing tall and victorious, his fist in the air.
