Free Mandela

All over Britain people celebrated Nelson Mandela’s release on 11 February 1990. These two young women were taking part in a vigil on the steps of Sheffield Town Hall.

Celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s release were held all over Britain. A torchlit open air party took place in Glasgow’s Mandela Place and hundreds arrived at town halls, and streets and gardens named after Mandela in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Ipswich, Liverpool, Bristol and Sheffield. This leaflet advertised a party in London’s Camden Centre organised by the Nelson Mandela Reception Committee.

Hundreds of people gathered at College Green, Bristol on 11 February 1990 to celebrate Mandela’s release.

This list of honours conferred on Nelson Mandela by British organisations was issued by the Nelson Mandela Reception Committee after Mandela’s release in February 1990. It includes honorary degrees, honorary life memberships, and roads and venues named after Mandela. Mandela was honoured by towns and organisations all over Britain, from Exeter in the south-west to Aberdeen in northern Scotland.

Leaflet advertising AAM T-shirts, posters and stickers with the slogan ‘Mandela Released! Free South Africa Now!’

Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 was celebrated by opponents of apartheid all over the world. But it was only a first step towards ending apartheid. This T-shirt was part of the attempt to ensure that anti-apartheid campaigners kept up their pressure on the South African government. The image of Mandela was an artist’s impression based on photographs taken before he was imprisoned in 1962. 

Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 was celebrated by opponents of apartheid all over the world. But it was only a first step towards ending apartheid. This T-shirt was part of the attempt to ensure that anti-apartheid campaigners kept up their pressure on the South African government. The image of Mandela was an artist’s impression based on photographs taken before he was imprisoned in 1962.