NELSON Mandela’s grandson, Ndaba Mandela, has called off his visit to Liverpool this weekend, where he was due to be the star attraction at National Museums Liverpool’s sixteenth annual Slavery Remembrance Day event.

We hope that people who have booked to attend the (Ndaba) lecture will join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking evening

Ndaba Mandela, recently named as one of BET television's '28 men of change', was due to deliver the Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Lecture in Liverpool on Friday. NML was only informed about the cancellation on Tuesday.

He has cited family reasons for calling off the visit to Liverpool, but the three day programme, which has been taking place in the city since 1999, will continue as planned with a new keynote speaker.

In a statement posted on its website NML said: “Unfortunately, Ndaba Mandela, who was due to speak at this year’s Dorothy Kuya Slavery Remembrance Lecture on Friday, is now unable to attend.”

SlaveryNational Museum Liverpool Slavery Exhibit

Ndaba was invited to the event by Liverpool poet and event producer Malik Al Nasir of Yesternight Productions, and scheduled to present a series of events in the city including the UNESCO Slavery Remembrance Day commemorations and Liverpool International Music Festival’s commissioned event The Revolution Will Be Live at S. George’s Hall.

He was also scheduled to visit local children at the Greenhouse Multi-Cultural Play and Arts Project in Toxteth and meet The Mandela Foundation committee, which is working to develop a permanent memorial in Liverpool to Nelson Mandela.

NML said the lecture will instead be delivered by British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker, David Olusoga.

An NML spokesman said: “We are grateful to David for stepping in, to deliver the lecture at such short notice. We’re sure his lecture will be of great interest following his recent acclaimed BBC documentary Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.

David OlusogaDavid Olusoga will replace Ndaba Mandela

We hope that people who have booked to attend the (Ndaba) lecture will join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking evening, not forgetting the meaning behind this important occasion, which is part of a weekend of events, culminating in Slavery Remembrance Day itself on Sunday 23 August and the Walk of Remembrance.”

As well as remembering those lost through the transatlantic slave trade, Slavery Remembrance Day is also seen as a reminder in modern times of the threat of racism and discrimination in today’s society.

The main day of activity centres on Slavery Remembrance Day itself, on Sunday. The walk starts at noon and proceeds through Liverpool city centre with the Libation ceremony  starting at 1pm at the Albert Dock. Everyone is free to join the walk. Following the Libation, a variety of events will take place at the International Slavery Museum including commemorative arts and crafts activities.

Slavery Remembrance Day is organised by National Museums Liverpool in partnership with Liverpool City Council.

PANEL: David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he’s a multi award-winning documentary maker and is the presenter of the BBC 2 series - The World’s War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire and Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners. He has also appeared on numerous BBC live events and is a regular presenter on The One Show.

Olusoga is currently writing a new history of slavery entitled  5,000 Years a Slave, and a new history of the British colonisation of Tasmania entitled White Slavery and the Black War. David has written for The Guardian, The Observer, The Nation and BBC History Magazine.

Events include:

  • Friday’s event at the Dr Martin Luther King Jnr building at the Albert Dock will open this year’s event with a performance by the choir Sense of Sound. Doors open at 5pm and the lecture will start at 6pm. Tickets are free but booking is essential for this free event. Booking details to follow shortly at: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/srd
  • Saturday 22 August: Family events from 1-4pm at the International Slavery Museum
  • Sunday 23 August: Poets Against Apartheid - The Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron, featuring poets Malik Al Nasir, Tayo Aluko and Jean Binta Breeze, with accompaniment of the Nicky Brown Gospel Choir

Details about all Slavery Remembrance Day events: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/srd