Mandela exhibit coming to Grand Rapids Public Museum

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — More than 150 different pieces that detail Nelson Mandela’s life will be on display starting Saturday at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Some are artifacts that have not been displayed outside of South Africa.

Mandela: The Official Exhibition first opened in London in 2019. The curator said its stop at the Grand Rapids Public Museum will be the seventh or eighth stop in the United States.

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The exhibit follows the life of Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, a freedom fighter and humanitarian. You can learn more about his childhood, what inspired him to be a leader, see what life would have been like for him while incarcerated at Robben Island Prison for 27 years, see original letters he wrote, famous clothing he wore and more.

Sara Hougan, the curator of the exhibit, worked with Mandela’s family and assistant to curate some of the displays, as well as traveling to South Africa to speak with people who knew Mandela and his childhood. She hopes the exhibit will inspire people to learn more about Mandela and how his teachings can help bring change today.

“Making sure that you treat people the way you want to be treated. I think that’s a message we’ve heard all of our lives, and it’s something that Nelson Mandela lived by and just really celebrating who he was, which is just really an amazing, inspirational person we can all learn from,” Hougan said.

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The exhibit runs until May 26. Tickets are included with general admission.

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