Context (Field collection)
This item was purchased on 15 May 2000 from the outdoor market on Shortmarket Street, Cape Town. Similar scarfs showed the image of the current president, Thabo Mbeki. Stall holder, Nariema Nazier, stated that the Mandela scarves were extremely popular. In fact the scarf purchased for UCMAA was the last on the stall that day, all others having rapidly sold out. Retailer: Mnandi Textile and Design, 90 Station Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.

This object was collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by MAA's Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update MAA's South African collections.
Event Date 15/05/2000
Author: maa

Context (Production / use)
The use of clothing to depict group affiliations has long been a cultural phenomenon. Such items have commonly been worn to display images and slogans in association with group allegiance, political support, cultural identity and personal agendas. At the time of research (March to May 2000) a number of museums in South Africa had displays of clothing, especially T-shirts, relating to aspects of South African history. At MuseuMAfricA in Johannesburg, the 'Road to Democracy' exhibition displayed T-shirts with the slogans; 'Stop Apartheid', 'People's Education for People's Power NECC' and 'Support the Miners' Strike. A Living Wage. National Union of Mine Workers'. These slogans were also accompanied by powerful images. Many of these objects formed part of the material culture of the struggle. At the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzberg, another exhibition was entitled: 'Sisonke - Symbols and Identity'. The display was based on concepts of symbols and identity in material culture. The clothing in this display included T-shirts, scarves and caps. Items such as these were used as symbols of resistance, to express political association, labour solidarity, common identity and goals. The various items of displayed clothing belonged to the African National Congress, the United Democratic Front, the Pan-Africanist Congress, the Inkatha Freedom Party and COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions).
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Other)
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Qunu, Transkei, South Africa. As a young man he studied law and became involved in the struggle against apartheid. He joined the African National Congress in 1942 and served the organisation in many roles over the following years. He was incarcerated by the apartheid regime and spent almost 30 years as a prisoner, before being released on 11 February 1990. A few years later he became South Africa's first democratically elected President on 10 May 1994 and served in that post until June 1999, when he retired from public office. As an international figurehead famed for his self-less fight against racism, Nelson Mandela is viewed with awe and deep respect. The following statement made by Mandela during the Rivonia Trial is a classic of the struggle: 'I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die'. In South Africa he is affectionately and respectfully known as Madiba, which is the clan name from the region of his hometown of Qunu in the Eastern Cape. His hallowed status is reflected in a popular postcard which depicts him as a superhero called Madibaman, flying through the air in a superman outfit with a large 'M' on his chest. The title of the postcard is, 'Here comes the fearless Madibaman'. (See an example of this postcard in MAA's archives). More information about Nelson Mandela can be found on the following web sites: www.freedom.co.za/madiba.html; www.anc.org.za/people/mandela.html;
www.obs.us.com/obs/english/books/Mandela.
The ANC was founded in 1912 in response to the racist and undemocratic conditions of South African politics. For thirty years, from 1960 to 1990, it was a banned organisation under the apartheid regime. It came to power in April 1994 following the country's first democratic elections and is the majority party in the present South African government. (For more information about the ANC see its official website at:
www.anc.org.za).
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
Large square-shaped scarf in green, yellow, black and white. At the centre is a large image of Nelson Mandela on a white background, with his signature to the right and his name in capital letters beneath. This is surrounded by a border of green and yellow shapes on a black background, which in turn is bordered by square outer bands in white, black, green and yellow. A series of ANC logos run along the edges of the scarf. In two opposite corners are smaller images of Mandela, while the two other corners have large ANC logos. The logo is composed of a shield, a hand-held spear, a flag and a circular image. The outermost edge of the scarf is green.
Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa