Mandela family artwork is to feature in an exhibition in Germany

From left: Thembela Mandela, Mbuso Mandela, Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela and Zoleka Mandela Front row: Zenani Mandela, Bohelo Seakamela and Zwelami Mandela

August 17, 2009 – Some of Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren showed him their artwork, which will form part of an exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A smiling Mr Mandela looked at the artwork painted on two 2.5m (8.2ft) high “domino stones” by his daughter Zindzi Mandela, his grandchildren Ndileka Mandela, Kweku Amuah, Zoleka Mandela, Mbuso Mandela, Andile Mandela, Zozuko Dlamini, great-grandchildren Thembela Mandela, Pumla Mandela, Zenani Mandela, Zwelami Mandela and a step great-granddaughter Bohelo Seakamela.

The symbolic stones, which were painted at Mr Mandela’s office in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Friday, August 14, will be taken to Germany, where they will form part of the official ceremony marking the fall of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate on November 9.

The Mandela family dominos are part of an international “Domino Action”, in which about 1 000 dominos are being painted by young people throughout the world. Their work will express how they deal with and overcome political conflict, division and separation.

Peace and love feature strongly in the Mandela paintings, which also focus on family and gender equality. The family painted their dominos in four hours, after being provided with paints in primary colours and an array of paint-brushes.

Once all the dominos have made their way to Germany in October, they will be photographed and catalogued for a Book of Dominos. The dominos will be displayed around Berlin – at public buildings, in schools and at partner companies – in the lead up to the 20th anniversary celebrations.

From November 7-9 they will be placed in a route of about 2km (about 1.2 miles) between the Reichstag Building and the Potsdamer Platz, where the Berlin Wall once stood.

During the November 9 finale, young people and well-known public figures will knock over the dominos and start a symbolic chain reaction.

Mr Mandela has three surviving children, 18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. He has four step-children through his marriage to Graça Machel.