As part of the celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, the exhibition Mandela - Leader, Comrade, Negotiator, Prisoner, Statesman opened at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg in 2008. It aimed to bring Mandela’s remarkable story to a museum audience and to convey something of the epic quality of his life. Mandela’s extraordinary life is explored through six themes - character, comrade, lea
der, prisoner, negotiator and statesman. In each theme, the narrative is presented through evocative large-scale exhibition panels, supported by films and displays of original artefacts. The exhibition has received an overwhelmingly positive response and today enjoys a permanent place within the Apartheid Museum. Since it’s inception, the exhibition has travelled both locally and internationally, receiving accolades around the globe. The Martin Melck House in Cape Town is fortunate enough to play host to a mobile version of Mandela and work is underway to create a version of the Apartheid Museum for Cape Town visitors.
