Director of Ceremonies
Curators of this exhibition
Ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to begin by welcoming all of you to this important occasion - the official opening of the Nelson Mandela Exhibition one of the highlights of the South African Season in France, this year.
This exhibition is one of many activities that we as South Africa will be show-casing to French audiences over the next few months.
As we open this important exhibition we do so a few days after we marked 50 years since President Mandela, the father of our democratic nation, first arrived on Robben Island as a prisoner.
We recall that it was on the 27th of May 1963, when Mandela was transferred to a bitterly cold Robben Island, where he faced the harshest of his periods in prison.
We are also opening this exhibition in the year in which we mark 50 years since the infamous Rivonia Trial.
As we know, this trail resulted in the long term imprisonment of President Mandela and other veterans of the South African struggle for liberation including Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada and Dennis Goldberg.
This display, therefore, offers us an opportunity to reflect on some of the most critical phases in Mandela’s and indeed South Africa’s long walk to freedom.
But we did not undertake this journey alone, we had support from around the world, including that of the French people.
Therefore it is fitting to share Mandela’s proud legacy, with you.
I recall Mandela’s words at a banquet in honour of President Jacque Chirac in 1998, when he said; “Our victory (over apartheid) was also the victory of the French people, who helped sustain us in our struggle for freedom by their active and unselfish support.”
He went further to say; “Even after we achieved democracy, France has been there to ease our re-entry into the world economy. She has lent a helping hand in our efforts to improve the lives of our people, so that our freedom should gain real meaning and so that our once divided nation should achieve lasting unity and peace.”
Director of Ceremonies, it is these deep and historic bonds of friendship and solidarity that we seek to strengthen through this exhibition and generally through our participation in the South African Season.
We must emerge from the Season stronger in our resolve to work together towards the rebirth of the African Continent. This draws particular significance during this year where we celebrate fifty years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union.
Equally we must work together in our collective quest for a more just, caring and equitable world order.
Director of Ceremonies, I am sure I speak on behalf of all of us gathered here today when I say Tata Madiba continues to be a symbol of hope and inspiration to all those working for peace, reconciliation, justice and equality throughout the world.
Long live President Nelson Mandela!
It is my honour to declare this exhibition officially open.
Thank you.
