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Badge produced to celebrate the independence of Namibia

Sheffield Southern Africa Resources Centre provided educational resources on Southern Africa for the city’s schools and community groups, as well as a headquarters for Sheffield AA Group. Sheffield AA was one of the most active of the AAM’s local groups throughout the 1980s.

The AAM Black and Ethnic Minorities Committee held this seminar soon after the release of Nelson Mandela. One of the speakers was Labour MP Bernie Grant, who met Mandela on the day of his release. Sipho Pityana made an analysis of the new situation in South Africa. The seminar was attended by representatives of British black organisations, including the Black Unity and Freedom Party, the West Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association and Afro-Caribbean student groups.

Leaflet advertising AAM T-shirts, posters and stickers with the slogan ‘Mandela Released! Free South Africa Now!’

Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 was celebrated by opponents of apartheid all over the world. But it was only a first step towards ending apartheid. This T-shirt was part of the attempt to ensure that anti-apartheid campaigners kept up their pressure on the South African government. The image of Mandela was an artist’s impression based on photographs taken before he was imprisoned in 1962. 

Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 was celebrated by opponents of apartheid all over the world. But it was only a first step towards ending apartheid. This T-shirt was part of the attempt to ensure that anti-apartheid campaigners kept up their pressure on the South African government. The image of Mandela was an artist’s impression based on photographs taken before he was imprisoned in 1962.

While it celebrated Mandela’s release, the AAM stressed that apartheid remained. It asked its supporters to campaign for the release of all political prisoners and to press the de Klerk government to take measures to end the killings in the townships.