We often name roads, schools, bridges, and buildings after famous and influential people. John F Kennedy Airport in New York, for instance, honours that country’s famous president – and is just one of many patriotic names given to locations in the US. Great Britain, Japan, France, and other countries all honour their famous leaders.
Many say that Nelson Mandela put South Africa on the map, internationally. But thanks to his work and never-ending struggle, it ended up the other way around: we put him on the map. Quite literally. Because, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, there are nearly 300 locations across the world named after our iconic leader. These range from streets, bridges and highways, to stadiums and plazas, buildings and statues, and – something dearer to his heart – places of education.
Naturally, the majority of those are right here in South Africa. We have Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, which also has a statue of Madiba. Then there is the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg, and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. Those are, naturally, joined by a number of Nelson Mandela streets, avenues, and roads, across the country.
Abroad, his name also features heavily. Of countries outside South Africa, the UK has the highest number of of roads and streets named after our former president. Many new developments have roads and cul-de-sacs named Nelson Mandela, and a statue of him stands in Parliament Square, opposite Westminster Abbey.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there is Praça Nelson Mandela, a public square. In New Delhi, India Nelson Mandela Road is where many shops and hotels do business. In Illinois, USA, there’s a Nelson Mandela Elementary School, and it’s joined by Nelson Mandela schools in Birmingham, UK; Toronto, Canada; Berlin, Germany. New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has even committed to naming the city’s new high school for Madiba.
Needless to say, with this number of tributes Mr. Mandela will live on and his name will serve as an inspiration for millions, in years to come.
