Amnesty International and Cape Town International Airport have joined forces to create a timepiece artwork to honour Nelson Mandela which will also coincide with the 25th anniversary of his release from prison.

The artwork which will be a specially designed tapestry will be placed at the Cape Town Airport. It will measure 3 meters by 6 meters and be hung in the “meeters and greeters” section of the International Arrivals Hall at Cape Town Airport. Cape Town is also the city where Mandela spent most of his jail time after being arrested by the apartheid government.

The tapestry will serve as a tribute to his lifelong journey to attaining human rights. The tapestry, which will be called the Flying Madiba will be seen by all passengers arriving at the Cape Town Airport. Cape Town Airport is proud to be partnered in this collaboration and believes that the tapestry will become a famed sight at the airport. Cape Town Airport is South Africa’s second largest airport and is the flight entry point into the Mother City. Housing Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Winelands, it is a popular destination for international tourists who will be greeted by the tapestry when they land at the airport.

The Mandela tapestry is brought about by Amnesty Internationals – Art for Amnesty project. They have asked artist Peter Sis to design the tapestry and Atelier Pinton to do the weaving. The project will be funded by such international artists as Yoko Ono, Sting, Bono & Edge of U2, Peter Gabriel, and John Legend who are famous supporters of Amnesty International. They have vetted a keen interest in the project. John Legend has said that Madiba is an enduring inspiration to him and so many others, and a shining beacon of revolution, righteousness and reconciliation. His fellow partners have expressed similar feelings.

1990 South Africa

The Flying Madiba tapestry has received applause from the Nelson Mandela foundation. It will be unveiled in December with a dedication ceremony that will coincide with International Human Rights Day. Amnesty International is a worldwide group dedicated to human rights. Globally they have 7 million members and are committed to ending human rights abuse. They also seek out justice for those who have suffered any type of human rights abuse. The Flying Madiba tapestry funders are the famous supporters of its Art for Amnesty project.

Amnesty International hands out its most prestigious “Ambassador of Conscience” award to a deserving individual when they see fit. Nelson Mandela was the 2006 recipient of this award. Amnesty International sees the tapestry as a constant reminder to the human rights legacy of Nelson Mandela.