Nelson Mandela Foundation, South Africa
A Long Walk to Freedom

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achive. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

- Nelson Mandela

He is the epitome of freedom. Of the black man and woman's struggle for equality, but in years to come he will be remembered not so much for what he did, but for what he prevented others from doing. Having personally endured the brutality of apartheid, he never forgot the value of forgiveness. His greatness must not be measured merely by his ability to resist, but also for his capacity to embrace. He was prepared to die, but he fought for his people's right to live. There are many examples in history of revolutionary leaders, but few rebels have also had the wisdom and grace to successfully lead the community at the end of the revolution. That is Madiba's greatest gift to the world. He fought against oppression, but he never stooped to treating his oppressors the way they had treated him. In forgiving his oppressors, he rose above oppression itself.

the exhibition traces Mandela's life through childhood, young adulthood, his legal career, struggle against apartheid, imprisonment, release and presidency. It incorporates historical photographs and documents, comic drawings, films, slideshows, symbolic objects and a replica of Mandela's cell on Robben Island. Using readings by Mandela from his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom", the show is a first person account of the life and struggles of one of the most remarkable people in contemporary history.