Free Mandela

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.

While it celebrated Mandela’s release, the AAM stressed that apartheid remained. It asked its supporters to campaign for the release of all political prisoners and to press the de Klerk government to take measures to end the killings in the townships.

Crowds welcomed Nelson Mandela to London in April 1990, on his first visit there after his release from prison. On 16 April he attended a concert at Wembley stadium held in his honour, and thanked the people of Britain for campaigning for his freedom.

A week of music and poetry in venues all over London led up to the second Mandela Wembley concert on 16 April 1990.