Nelson Mandela Museum

MUNICIPAL NEWS

Nelson Mandela Museum

A Gateway to the Wild Coast

Mthatha: In the Eastern Cape heartland, there lies a small village town of Mthatha, a home to Nelson Mandela Museum named after the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela.

The Museum offers a memorable cultural experience that gives insights into the life of Nelson Mandela, with guided tours and a heritage that follows his footprints within the geographical landscape of O.R. Tambo District Municipality.

Nelson Mandela Museum is more than a place that houses the physical artefacts of Nelson Mandela’s life, but serves as a centre of learning, a place where Nelson Mandela’s philosophy is spoken of and passed on to all who visit. It allows visitors to follow in the footprints of a man whose long walk to freedom began in the foothills that rise from the banks of the Mbhashe River in Mvezo where his umbilical cord is buried. It follows his journey to his second home in Qunu where he relocated after the banning of his father and his later move to Mqhekezweni after the death of his father. Nelson Mandela had the privilege of listening to and learning from his elders about the battles that took place in defence of the motherland and gained this knowledge under the guardianship of Regent Jongintaba of Mqhekezweni.

The museum’s existence is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s words, where he insisted that this museum should not just become a static collection, but a living memorial to his values and vision. The museum opened its doors ten years to the day after his release from prison on 11 February 1990 - a schedule 3 public institution which is an entity the Department of Sport, Art and Culture.

It is within his views that the museum continues to serve as a catalyst for development not just for the people of Mthatha, but for the benefit of the people of the Eastern Cape and South Africa. The museum serves as a Gateway to the incredible, unassuming combination of breathtaking coastline, precipitous and craggy cliff faces, wild and isolated beaches, quiet bays and green hills that rush headlong into deeply etched river valleys of the Wild Coast. This constantly evolving legacy is located in Mthatha, with its two main sites: The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre in Qunu, and the Bhunga Building in Mthatha.

The Bhunga building site of the museum in Mthatha is an ancient building that stood the test of time, from colonial times to homeland state and democratic governance. This building serves as a national and international symbol for viewing exhibitions on Nelson Mandela and an incredible collection of gems bestowed upon President Nelson Mandela from various institutions, statesmen, kings, queens, and ordinary people from different parts of the world. The building houses the Meaning of Mandela exhibition which strips back the layers of his life that reveal him as a comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator,

and finally, statesman. It shows the human values that underpin the man.

The site houses ‘Mandela and Luthuli: In Conversation’, the exhibition that brings the interactions and conversations between the Nobel laureates’ to life for ordinary people through a compilation of photographs and quotations from writings – all of which give this exhibition vital and inspiring insights. This historic site further boasts of a Special Library.

The second site, Nelson Mandela Museum Youth and Heritage Centre serves as a catalyst for South African youth’s economic and training development. The objective of its establishment is to run structured youth programmes based on human rights, freedom and democracy.

The geographical location of the youth and heritage centre inspires nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts to visit Qunu. The centre houses a sliding stone where he used to play with his peers, ruins of a rondavel where he was named Nelson on his first day at school, not far from the centre there is a family grave site, a church where he was christened and a residential place where he is laid to rest. It further boasts of accommodation facilities that includes executive rooms and chalets, a conference centre, restaurant, dining hall, sports hall, ablution facilities, sporting fields and exhibitions halls.

This multidimensional youth and heritage centre of the museum is currently undergoing a condition based maintenance that includes building, electrical, civil works and upgrading of the sewer system. The closure of the site has created job opportunities for the local community of Qunu and surroundings.

Educational Programmes

Nelson Mandela Museum hosts a myriad of educational programmes in the form of local youth and international youth camps. These camps are educational in nature as they are in sync with the curriculum of the Department of Education. The learners are introduced to leadership programmes where they are taught about ethical, accountable and responsible leadership.

Through the partnership with Anne Frank Haus in Lower Saxony County, Germany, the museum affords five South African students selected from different provinces an opportunity to travel to Germany for the International Youth Camp. The camp promotes social cohesion and racial and cultural tolerance as learners from diverse social, cultural and political backgrounds gather together for the duration of the camp.

Nelson Mandela Museum Travelling Exhibitions

Nelson Mandela Museum provides museums and libraries with an opportunity to loan its travelling exhibitions to interested institutions. Interested parties are given an opportunity to keep these exhibitions for a duration of six months.

Travelling exhibitions on offer:

• In conversation: Nelson Mandela and Chief Albert Luthuli Exhibition • “For Madiba with Love” Exhibition • Parenting a Nation Travelling

Exhibition • “Dear Mr. Mandela, Dear Mrs. Parks” children’s letters: global exhibition • Quilt Exhibition • Freedom Exhibition

Interested institutions can contact Collection & Conservation Manager Phumeza Mandela @ 047 501 9520

Opening times: Monday to Friday: 09h00 and 16h00 except Worker’s Day Saturdays: 09h00 to 13h00 Sundays: Closed. Only tours booked in advance allowed between 09h00 to 12h00 Telephone: 047- 501 9500 Fax: 047-532 3345 Email:info@nelsonmandelamuseum. org.za

For more about the museum, visit: www.nelsonmandelamuseum.org.za Please note that no pets are allowed in the Museum. However, working animals such as guide dogs for the blind are permitted.