Statue of Nelson Mandela, Parliament Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson Mandela |
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| Artist | Ian Walters |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Location | London, SW1 United Kingdom |
The Nelson Mandela statue is a bronze sculpture in Parliament Square, London. It honors Nelson Mandela, who was a former President of South Africa. He was also a famous activist who fought against apartheid, a system of unfair racial separation. The idea for the statue came from Donald Woods in 2001. After Woods passed away, his wife and Lord Richard Attenborough helped raise money for it. The statue was officially revealed on August 29, 2007, in Parliament Square.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue is about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. It is made from bronze, a strong metal. The base it stands on is shorter than the bases of other statues in Parliament Square. An English artist named Ian Walters created the statue. It cost about £400,000 to make. Ian Walters had also made a smaller statue of Mandela before.
The Story Behind the Statue
The idea for a statue of Nelson Mandela in London came from Donald Woods. He got approval from Mandela himself in 2001. Woods first wanted the statue to be near the South African Embassy in Trafalgar Square. Fundraising for the statue began officially on March 24, 2003.
In 2004, Ken Livingstone, who was the Mayor of London at the time, supported the idea. He wanted the statue in Trafalgar Square. He said it would show a world without empires. However, the local council did not approve the plan for Trafalgar Square. They said it would block events and change the square's design.
The Mayor tried to appeal this decision, but it was not changed. The council suggested placing the statue somewhere else. In April 2007, a new spot was chosen. The statue would be placed in Parliament Square. This square already has statues of other important people. These include Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill.
The statue was unveiled on August 29, 2007. Gordon Brown, who was the British Prime Minister, led the ceremony. Nelson Mandela himself was there with his wife, Graça Machel. Mandela said it was a dream come true to have a statue of a black man in Parliament Square.
In June 2020, the statue was temporarily covered. This was done to keep it safe during protests in London.
