T he legacy of Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, is celebrated in a series of exhibitions promoted by the Brazil Africa Institute in partnership with renowned South African institutions such as the Apartheid Museum and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Through a rich collection of images, videos, and historical records, audiences are invited to reflect on Mandela’s message of reconciliation, justice, and leadership — one that transcended borders and transformed the world.
The first exhibition in Brazil took place in 2018, during the global celebrations marking the centenary of Mandela’s birth. Titled Mandela: From Prisoner to President and developed by the Apartheid Museum, the exhibition had previously traveled to countries such as Sweden, Argentina, France, and Peru, reaching over 1.1 million visitors worldwide. Presented in Brazil by the Brazil Africa Institute, the show was met with enthusiasm and contributed to strengthening cultural ties between Brazil and South Africa.
In 2024, the Brazil Africa Institute renewed its tribute with the launch of the unprecedented exhibition Mandela – Ícone Mundial de Reconciliação, held in exclusive collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, based in Johannesburg. Featuring 50 photographic panels, the exhibition offers a multifaceted look at Mandela’s life — from his childhood and youth to his political activism, years of imprisonment, and historical presidency. The exhibition debuted at Brasília International Airport and was later presented at the São Paulo Cultural Center (CCSP), accompanied by guided tours, educational programs, and thematic seminars.
More than a visual biography, Mandela – A Global Icon of Reconciliation invites the public to delve deeply into Mandela’s spirit of resilience and generosity. Curated by Christopher Till, the exhibition highlights the global reach of Mandela’s leadership and his timeless call for dialogue, forgiveness, and collective action. Designed to resonate with audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, the exhibition contributes to the promotion of a culture of peace.
The Mandela Legacy
The contemporary history of South Africa can be divided into two phases: before and after Nelson Mandela. The prior refers to the time when the country, to tolerate the regime of racial segregation known as apartheid - for nearly four decades - was considered by the international community a State outside the law. The later start in 1990 when Mandela after spending 27 years in prison (for their opposition to this nefarious regime) is free and confuses the world to seek reconciliation between the 'races' Polarized of South Africa, defending the principles of construction the nation and cooperative governance.
In fact, Nelson Mandela, as result of their ability to drive South Africa during the period of its rebirth was recognized as a benevolent international negotiator and peacemaker par excellence. The result is that Mandela did what seemed impossible: changed the minds of millions of people. Not just in Africa but around the world. Thus, Mandela wrote his name in the recent history of humanity with the simplicity of the great men, resulting in the recovery of the prestige of South Africa as a major power in Africa.
Several honors have been rendered to the South African leader, even as the Nobel Prize for Peace, and certainly many still are attributed it.
