The life-sized statue of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined the other 100 iconic resistance leaders at the Long March to Freedom site on Thursday 23 March in commemoration of Human Rights Month.
The unveiling took place in Century City at the iconic Long March to Freedom monumental site of life-size bronze statues, telling a 350-year story of South Africa’s liberation history through the lives of the persons represented.
Tutu became statue number 101 at the expansive open-air exhibition. Some of those depicted are well known – Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Beyers Naude, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Luthuli, O.R. Tambo, to name but a few.
The family of the late Archbishop attended the unveiling with the Arch’s son Trevor and daughter Thandeka, as well as his grandchildren.
Various people addressed the crowd, including Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Janet Jobson, CEO of Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Alderman Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor, Nocawe Mafu, deputy minister of the department of sports, arts & culture and Dali Tambo.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Speaker of the National Assembly delivered the keynote address. In her very moving speech, Mapisa-Nqakula highlighted key moments in Tutu’s life, including his speech when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 10 December 1984, while in exile.
The statue
Tutu, who lived in Milnerton towards the end of his life, is clothed in his trademark purple gown, with open arms and a large smile, and stands out among the rest of the procession. The project was also part of a skills-transfer and empowerment programme for young artists.
“Archbishop Tutu’s extraordinary life filled with courage, love and a passion for justice is celebrated here with this beautiful statue in his honour,” says Chris Blackshaw, CEO of the Century City Property Owners’ Association.
“We look forward to local, national and international visitors coming through to Long March to Freedom with renewed interest to see the likeness of the Arch in remembrance of all that he stood for and the vital role that he played in our country’s history.”
“It had always been planned to include Desmond Tutu in a place of high honour as soon after his sad passing as possible,” said Dali Tambo, CEO of the National Heritage Project NPC, developers, owners, and operators of the Long March to Freedom.
“Local and international visitors ask daily why he isn’t included, and our answer is always – we have the design, but we don’t have the funds to complete the statue. We are deeply grateful, as the rest of the world will be, that Woolworths SA stepped in and agreed to cover the costs of making the bronze.
“It is our belief that adding this iconic and much-loved individual to Long March to Freedom will raise its profile and encourage other corporates to follow the Woolworths lead and support the ongoing existence of this incredible exhibition” adds Tambo.
“Woolworths has assisted Long March to sustain for two years now and we are very happy to see that support culminate in the making of this very beautiful tribute to the Arch. He was a man who occupied a unique position – without being appointed or elected, guided by his faith – as a global moral conscience and human role-model,” he said.
Janet Jobson, CEO, Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, said they were “thrilled that the Arch is going to be so honoured and included in Long March to Freedom! We are looking forward to collaborating going forward, telling the story of the Arch and all the stalwarts who preceded him.”
The sculpture is created by Cape Town artists Cristina Salvoldi and Tania Lee, and cast by the Loup Fine Art Foundry.
