Nelson Mandela Foundation

“The destination is peace. We must defend our common humanity. And silence is not an option.”

H.E. @JuanManSantos, former President of Colombia, 2016 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Chair of The Elders, delivers the 24th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Cape Town.

Reflecting on a life-changing conversation with Nelson Mandela 30 years ago, President Santos explores the moral weight of silence, the courage required to pursue peace and the responsibility of leaders to speak out against injustice.

Watch: bit.ly/4sLw7p1

#NMAL24 #MandelaLecture #GlobalLeadership.

Our sincere gratitude to poet and spoken-word artist @zizipho_bam for her powerful performance of Whose Business Is It? at the 24th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture.

Through poetry, Zizipho confronted the uncomfortable questions at the heart of this year’s theme, When Is Silence Complicity? Reflecting on war, displacement, injustice and the responsibilities we carry towards one another, she challenged us to consider when silence becomes an act of complicity and when it serves as a means of survival.

Her performance was a compelling reminder that silence is not always simple, and that the choice to speak or remain silent carries different consequences for different people.

Thank you, Zizipho, for bringing such depth, courage and artistry to the Lecture.

#NMAL24 #MandelaLecture #GlobalLeadership

When does silence become complicity?

At the 24th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, President Juan Manuel Santos called for courage in confronting war, injustice and threats to international law.

Read our post-Lecture media statement and access the full Lecture recording, written address and event photographs here: bit.ly/4BOAXpX

#NMAL24 #MandelaLecture #GlobalLeadership

The Nelson Mandela Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to @OneYoungWorld , @TheElders , @mailandguardian , @_SMWX and @SouthernSunGrp for their support and partnership in the 24th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture.

Together, we brought global leaders, thinkers and changemakers into conversation around “When is Silence Complicity?”, advancing the values Madiba stood for and mobilising his legacy to inspire action.

#NMAL24 #MandelaLecture #GlobalLeadership

Our sincere gratitude to Dr @sizwempofuwalsh, academic, author and host of SMWX, for moderating the closing panel of the 24th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture.

Under the theme “Not Silent, Not Complicit: Global Youth Solidarity from Soweto to Bangladesh,” the discussion explored the power of youth movements, intergenerational solidarity and turning protest into lasting change.

We are equally grateful to our panellists, H.E. President @JuanManSantos, Mum Graça Machel, Professor Muhammad Yunus (@Yunus_Centre) and @DimphoLekgeu, political commentator, host of Campaign Pulse, for their contributions to this important conversation.

You can watch the full lecture and panel discussions here: bit.ly/4sLw7p1

#NMAL24 #MandelaLecture #GlobalLeadership