Archives

Delve into the archival and repository resources of the Named after Nelson project, featuring collections from the Archive at the Centre of Memory (ACoM) and the Named after Nelson Archive.

Archive at the Centre of Memory

The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Archive at the Centre of Memory preserves a wealth of materials chronicling Mandela’s life and legacy, including personal papers, official records, and artifacts. The Named after Nelson project utilised the archive as a foundational resource for the exhibition to provide depth and authenticity. The project linked Nelson Mandela’s legacy to the graphic heritage narratives explored in the places named after him that were explored. Visit the archive here.

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Rationale: The Nike Air Shoes was chosen from the archive to represent Mandela Village in Hammanskraal as a symbol of the community’s vibrant sporting culture. This selection reflects the village’s emphasis on sports as a unifying and empowering activity, with facilities like the Mandela Sportsground playing a pivotal role in fostering local talent and community pride.

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Rationale: The 2010 FIFA World Cup Medal was chosen from the archive to represent the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein as a symbolic connection to Mandela’s pivotal role in bringing the World Cup to South Africa, as well as its significance in uniting diverse communities. The bridge serves as a physical and metaphorical link between different parts of Johannesburg, embodying his vision of bridging divides. The 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first held on African soil, exemplified Mandela’s belief in sport’s power to inspire and unite people.

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Rationale: The invitation to the Annual Lecture and Nelson Mandela’s 87th birthday celebration was chosen from the archive to represent the Nelson Mandela Theatre in Braamfontein to underscore the theatre’s historical significance as the venue for the 2005 Annual Lecture, which coincided with Mandela’s 87th birthday celebration. Furthermore, it exemplifies the theatre’s role in fostering dialogue on social justice and commemorating Mandela’s legacy.

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Rationale: The Nelson Mandela Foundation office design was chosen from the archive to represent the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton to highlight the building’s physical embodiment of Mandela’s legacy through serving as a hub for preserving and promoting his life’s work. By featuring the design plans, it emphasises the intentionality behind each design aspect of the building in promoting their mission to foster dialogue, memory, and engagement.

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Rationale: The ANC Election Poster of 1994 was chosen from the archive to represent the Nelson Mandela Park in Mamelodi to reflect Mandela’s deep love for children and his enduring vision of hope and unity. During the park’s opening in 1996, Mandela expressed his heartfelt wish for the place to resonate with the laughter of children, embodying his belief in creating environments that nurture joy and community.

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Rationale: The pencil and ink drawing of Madiba, 85 and Still Dancing! was chosen from the archive to represent the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton since it aligns with the prominent six-meter bronze statue situated in the square, which portrays Mandela joyfully performing the “Madiba jive”.

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Named after Nelson Archive

Hosted on Loughborough University’s institutional repository, the Named after Nelson Archive offers an open-source, CC BY-NC 4.0 licensed collection of photographs taken with varied motivations but a shared sense of inquiry. Documenting how places named after Nelson Mandela look today, the images were curated from hundreds, evolving through analysis and synthesis to capture a sense of character. Multiple visits were sometimes required as new narratives emerged. This educational resource highlights the graphic heritage of the urban places explored, supporting research and learning as well as acting as a digital exhibition. Visit the archive here.

The maps below illustrate the global geographical spread of engagement with the Named after Nelson archive, showcasing data on views and downloads. They highlight how audiences from diverse regions interact with the archive’s resources. For real-time data and further insights into the archive’s reach, the maps are available here.

The map below visualises the geographic distribution of views of the Named after Nelson archive resources as of 08 December 2024. The top ten countries engaging with the archive include: 1) United States of America 17011; 2) Latvia 873; 3) France 843; 4) United Kingdom 499; 5) Ireland 495; 6) Belgium 413; 7) South Africa 317; 8) Singapore 269; 9) Germany 148, and 10) Hong Kong 119. The resources have been viewed 21579 times in total.

The map below visualises the geographic distribution of downloads of the Named after Nelson archive resources as of 08 December 2024. The top ten countries engaging with the archive include: 1) United States of America 2101; 2) Singapore 373, 3) Latvia 333; 4) United Kingdom 235, 5) France 117, 6) Indonesia 93; 7) Australia 60; 8) Canada 57; 9) New Zealand 56, and Ireland 52. The resources have been downloaded 3,573 times in total.

Photographers behind the lens

Celeste McKenzie

Celeste McKenzie is a social documentarian who uncovers the stories of communities, highlighted by her notable ethnographic study on the Khomani San. Her work is rooted in deep engagement to bridge diverse audiences to the intricate stories defining human experiences, paralleling the exploration of urban graphic heritage.

Alet Pretorius

Alet Pretorius combines photojournalism with visual storytelling to capture the essence of varied environments. As a freelance photographer and lecturer, her work spans publications and educational institutions. Her documentation of significant cultural sites, like the Nelson Mandela Theatre and Mandela Village, reflects her commitment to preserving historical narratives through photography, echoing the documentation of urban heritage.

Robert Harland

Robert Harland uses photography to document the macro, meso, and micrographic scales at which cities and urban places function through their graphic objects. He documents urban character by observing visual qualities that define why and how places look the way they do. His use of photography plays an essential role in facilitating collaboration between those seeking to define urban graphic heritage.

Fidel Thabang Mosupye

Fidel Thabang Mosupye brings a personal touch to his photography and video work, focusing on significant life events and community narratives. His local insight, especially in projects like the photo documentation of Nelson Mandela Park in Mamelodi, showcases his dedication to capturing authentic stories, aligning with the broader effort to document personal and communal identities in the context of urban heritage.

Yolandi Burger

Yolandi Burger investigates urban graphic heritage, place branding and commemorative spaces within a South African context. Her work emphasises the impact of graphic heritage on shaping urban identities and emotional ties to places. Through photo documentation, she explores the narrative power of commemorative spaces, offering insights into cultural preservation and the dynamics of urban places.

Everardt Burger

Everardt Burger is researcher in the field of civil engineering with a keen interested in urban planning and design. He is an informal photographer and local guide for the research team. His unique blend of technical expertise and visual storytelling enhances the project, through marrying urban planning and design with the cultural and social fabric of urban places.

Market Photo Workshop Graduates

Market Photo Workshop Graduates Tsepiso Mahooe, Matsediso Dichaba and Khaya Njabulo Malinga documented the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein during an informal workshop with Alet, Celeste and Yolandi. Their participation brought innovative perspectives to the project, showcasing the bridge’s significance through their lenses. Their contributions highlight the importance of individual perspectives in capturing urban narratives.

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