Reflections on the remarkable speech

Through recordings of the man himself we mark what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday with a look back at his 1963–64 trial, where he fought for justice and his life with one of the most remarkable speeches of all time.

Speakers include 

Mandla Langa
South African writer, poet and journalist who, alongside Nelson Mandela, wrote Mandela’s posthumous memoir, Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years. Born in Durban, he was arrested in 1976 and went into exile, living in Botswana, Mozambique, Angola and the United Kingdom, where he was the ANC’s Cultural Representative. His novels include The Lost Colours of the Chameleon which won the 2009 Commonwealth Prize.

Margie Orford
Journalist, film director and author of fiction and non-fiction. She grew up in Namibia and South Africa, and wrote her final exams in prison while detained during the State of Emergency.

Salil Tripathi (Chair)
Journalist; chair, PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee; senior adviser, Institute for Human Rights and Business.

Rob Perks
Curator of Oral History, British Library

With live music performed by Vani Entertainment

We regret that George Bizos is no longer able to travel to London to participate in this event

In association with the South African High Commission, London

Image: Mandela addressing crowds at the Rivonia Trial. Photo by Peter Magubane.

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