Bust of Nelson Mandela, Royal Festival Hall, London

The Bust of Nelson Mandela, created by sculptor Ian Walters in 1982, is located at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Originally made from bronze resin, it was unveiled on 28 October 1985 by Oliver Tambo, President of the African National Congress. A bronze replacement was cast between May and July 1988 by founder Morris Singer, with a plinth made by Whiteheads of London Ltd. The bust was re-erected in August 1988.

The bust, which is a replacement of the original resin version, is made of bronze and stands 1.52 meters tall. It depicts Nelson Mandela in a thoughtful and dignified pose, based on photographs taken before and during his imprisonment. The bust is mounted on a rectangular plinth that measures 2.11 meters high, 1.02 meters wide, and 0.97 meters deep. This plinth is set on a square base made of South African ebony granite, which is clad over a reinforced concrete core and integrated into the surrounding paving.

The front face of the plinth, facing south, features an inscription that reads:

"THE STRUGGLE IS MY LIFE"/ NELSON MANDELA/

GAOLED 5TH AUGUST 1962/ SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT/ 12TH JUNE 1964 FOR HIS ACTIONS/ AGAINST APARTHEID/

ERECTED BY THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL/ UNVEILED BY OLIVER TAMBO/ PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS/ 28TH OCTOBER 1985/

In 1992, an additional inscription was added to commemorate Mandela's release:

NELSON MANDELA WAS RELEASED/ AFTER 27 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT/ 11TH FEBRUARY 1990/

Following Mandela's inauguration as President in 1994, six more lines were inscribed:

AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE/ 10TH DECEMBER 1993/

INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF THE/ REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND/ ITS GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY/ 10TH MAY 1994.

The bottom rear north face of the plinth is inscribed with the sculptor's name: SCULPTOR + IAN WALTERS.