Winnie Madikizela Mandela was a woman of great courage and personal strength. She was known to her supporters as a mother of the nation and an undisputed heroine of the Struggle.
She was the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela and fought alongside him for the liberation of those oppressed by the then apartheid system of governance in South Africa.
Working with my colleagues Cristina Salvoldi and Lungisa Kala on this sculpture, we wanted to capture the energy and vibrance of her character. It was decided that she should be depicted holding hands with the sculpture of Nelson Mandela that had previously been sculpted by South African sculptor Barry Jackson. She was unveiled, having been joined to the statue of Mandela, on 14 February 2019
The sculpture forms part of The Long March to Freedom at Century City, Cape Town. This is an installation that will eventually see an outdoor procession of more than 400 life-size bronze figures honouring individuals who fought for democracy, against oppression in South Africa – the heroes of the liberation struggle.
Long March to Freedom website
Sculptures copyright to The Long March to Freedom / National Heritage Project Company.
Images of sculpture in situ credit: The Long March to Freedom / National Heritage Project Company.
Medium: Bronze, Height: 1.85m