July 17, 2008 – After nearly six months of celebrations for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, ranging from exhibitions and dialogues to reunions with former comrades and the Annual Lecture delivered by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf last week, the activities will continue.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s sister organisations, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Institute, have also hosted various birthday activities, including a Youth Parliament, the launch of the 46664 bangle and a birthday messages campaign, among many others.
As Mr Mandela prepares to celebrate his birthday tomorrow in Qunu with his family and friends, and for a private party on Saturday, the Foundation is pleased to announce upcoming events in honour of Mr Mandela. Also tomorrow, on his birthday, the Nelson Mandela Institute will hold an ilima lokufunda (a work party) to paint, fix and tile the Phangindlela Junior Secondary School near the town of Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape.
On August 2 the African National Congress will hold a mass rally; on August 21 a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled outside Drakenstein Prison (formerly Victor Verster Prison), from which he walked free on February 11, 1990; and on August 23 the Department of Arts and Culture will host a concert in Johannesburg featuring South African musicians.
No birthday should be without a nice surprise and on August 20 the Mandela Rhodes Foundation will announce an education-related birthday present for Mr Mandela.
“We acknowledge with gratitude this outpouring of love and affection for Mr Mandela and his values and ask that as we remember him on his birthday and before we enter this last phase of birthday celebrations, people use this time to integrate some of his principles into their own lives,” said Achmat Dangor, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.