Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Biography

Nelson Mandela was seen as a light for social justice. He was a key leader of the fight against apartheid in South Africa, which was a system of white supremacy. Mandela was part of the South African Communist Party and the African National Congress. He co-founded the militant group Umkhonto we Sizwe (‘spear of the nation’) to carry out acts of sabotage. In 1962, Mandela was imprisoned for these activities and would not be released until 1990.

Whilst in prison he further protested over racism, as people of colour were treated differently to white people in his prison. During and after his imprisonment, Mandela worked to negotiate an end to apartheid.

He became the first president of South Africa 1994-1999 and the first Black head of state.

Context

In 2001, Mandela visited Leeds to re-open the gardens with a crowed of over 5000. Whilst opening the gardens Mandela was made an Honorary Free Man of the city. He famously said Liverpool instead of Leeds in his opening speech and reminisced that the gardens reminded him of “childhood and the happy days associated with it”.

he gardens were damaged by a water-fight organised over social media in May 2008. The gardens now have no pond or running water in them but still have foliage and the ‘Both arms’ Statue, along with plaques dedicated to Mandela.

The statue and garden

Date Erected:
Officially opened: 10th December 1983 as part of the Civic Hall Gardens. Opened again by Mandela himself: 30 April 2001. Re-imagined: 2004

Artist:

• Both Arms (2001): Kenneth Armitage
• Gardens (2001): John Thorpe
• Garden re-imagination (2004): Antonia Stowe

Commissioned / funded by:
Each aspect of the gardens commissioned and funded by the Leeds City Council.

Format and materials:
Ornamental Garden and 'Both Arms' Statue. The statue is made up of Bronze. The Gardens themselves are made up of white stone.

Location:
The gardens and the ‘Both Arms’ statue reside at the Civic Hall Gardens at Millennium Square.

Description:
The ‘Both Arms’ statue depicts a very large pair of hands, 16' high, reaching out into the open, almost as if they are offering a hug. The arms have green stripes on them and there are plaques at the side on the adjacent wall, dedicated to Mandela:

• Left: the opening of the original garden by Nelson Mandela himself in 1983
• Right: the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994
• Centre: the rededication of the relocated garden in 2001.

The Gardens have plants from both South African influence (King Protea and Arum Lily) and English influence (White iris and Marsh Marigold) and reflect the warmth of South Africa with the more temperate English climate.

Sources

• Nelson Mandela Gardens.
• Leeds Libraries. (2020). Hidden Nature, Hidden History: Mandela Gardens.
• Leeds Library & Information Services. (2001). Nelson Mandela in Millennium Square.
• Rogers, K. (2021). Official Opening of Nelson Mandela Gardens in Millennium Square, Leeds.
• Wainwright, M. (2001). ‘Mandela triumphs in heart of Yorkshire: South African statesman says gardens bearing his name remind him of childhood, as thousands turn out to greet him in Leeds’. The Guardian (London, England).

[Image (taken in 2018) by 'Chemical Engineer' via Wikimedia Commons]