Handwritten Letter & Artwork by Nelson Mandela Launched as NFTs for Mandela Day

July 21, 2022

By Sharan Kaur Phillora

Some artworks and a handwritten letter by Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and Nobel prize winner who served as the first black president of the nation and spent nearly three decades in prison, are set to be sold as NFTs.

Here’s what we know:

The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Glorious Digital partnered to launch ‘Nelson Mandela NFTs’ for the auspicious Mandela Day, on July 18. According to reports, the NFT partnership would grant Glorious Digital access to personal documents, photos, and much more.

Tim Harper, Chief Executive, Glorious Digital, said, “To be entrusted with Mandela’s archive, legacy, and messages of togetherness, optimism, leadership, equality, freedom and hope, amongst others, is an honour and a privilege.”

The NFTs honour the stellar legacy of Nelson Mandela, the great Nobel Peace Prize winner. These NFTs would explore Nelson Mandela’s life, representing the deep positive impact of his work on the world.

The NFT edition drop “My Robben Island”, is named after the Robben Island prison, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail.

The NFT consists of five vivid watercolours painted by Mandela after he stood down as president in 1999, along with The Motivation, a handwritten text that explains his visualization of the harsh island prison. All six works bear his signature.

Nelson Mandela or Madiba, the former South African President, is synonymous to democracy, courtesy of his peaceful struggle. His efforts to end the Apartheid landed him in prison for 27 years, from 1962 to 1990.

Nelson Mandela won the first ever general elections in South Africa in 1994, to be the first ever black president of South Africa.

About the author

Sharan Kaur Phillora’s thirst for knowledge has led her to study many different subjects, including NFTs and Blockchain technology – two emerging technologies that will change how we interact with each other in the future. When she isn’t exploring a new idea or concept, she enjoys reading literary masterpieces.