The official Nelson Mandela Opus, a book documenting the life of the anti-apartheid icon and first black South African president, was unveiled in Houghton.
Mandela joins the league of iconic names in the opus collection which includes Sachin Tendulkar, Michael Jackson and Indian actor Shahrukh Khan.
According to Opus Media CEO Karl Fowler, the 50cm square book, weighing an incredible 37kg and 850 pages long, was the biggest the company had made.
“Mr Mandela’s story is one that touches the hearts and minds of many generations across the globe, and we hope that the official Mandela Opus will make a valuable and unique contribution to his legacy, and help educate and inspire people from all cultures around the world,” said Fowler.
Paying homage to the former statesman’s legacy, the book consists of exclusive written contributions from those who knew him best, including international icons such as Bill Gates, President Bill Clinton, Pope Francis and Sir Richard Branson.
The Opus is said to narrate the journey of Mandela through rare pictures, and features content from exclusive interviews with family members and his first cabinet.
The book chronicles his life from his birth to his 95th birthday with previously unpublished archive images, specially commissioned photos and beautiful illustrations.
Public Service Minister and guest keynote speaker at the event held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Lindiwe Sisulu said the book will ensure that the legacy of the anti-apartheid icon will never be forgotten.
Sisulu made reference to two other African heroes, Hannibal Barca and Shaka Zulu, whose legacies had dwindled with time because their stories had not been documented for following generations to read.
She explained that Hannibal, born in Carthage, the capital of what is now known as Tunisia, was an African man who had conquered Rome. “By the time he [Hannibal] died, nobody remembered who he was,” she said. “Nobody remembered he was an African because he left nothing behind to indicate that he had been there.
“Shaka is a man who created what is known as modern-day nation states in southern Africa and unless you dig him up in history, very little of him is known.”
Family members of Mandela, including wife Graca Machel, his daughter Makaziwe Mandela and grandson Ndaba Mandela, were present at the launch.
“We are excited about the Mandela Opus which is another way of taking Tata’s legacy to people all over the world,” said Ndaba. “There can never be enough ways of telling his story.”
