Matroosfontein, Cape Town -- (SBWire) -- 07/27/2015 --Amnesty International and Cape Town International Airport have partnered to create a giant tapestry in the memory of Nelson Mandela. It is to honor the 25th anniversary of his release from prison and will be housed at the Cape Town Airport.

The tapestry will measure approximately 30 meters square will be hung in the 'meeters and greeters" section of the International Arrivals Hall at Cape Town Airport and will be called the Flying Madiba. The city is also the base of where Mandela spent most of his incarceration. It will serve as a tribute to his lifelong commitment to human rights which he so actively pursued.

The tapestry will be seen by the thousands of passengers who pass through Cape Town Airport. CapeTown Airport is honoured to be a part of this project and believes that the tapestry will become a landmark site at the airport and endure a positive reaction from all visitors. Cape Town airport is Africa'sthird largest airport and gateway into Cape Town, which is often referred to as the most European city in Africa. For this reason, Cape Town sees many international tourists who will soon bear witness to the tapestry when they arrive in the city.

Amnesty International is proud to be a part of the partnership through its Art for Amnesty Project. They have brought on artist Peter Sis to design the Mandela tapestry and Atelier Pinton to weave it. It will be funded by international artists who are supporters of Amnesty International namely John Legend, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Yoko Ono and Bono & Edge of U2. They have taken a personal interest in the project. Yoko Ono has said that Nelson Mandela was the greatest world leader of our time and that his memory needs to be honoured now more than ever and that she is so pleased to be a part of an artistic tribute to this great man. Her fellow funders have echoed the same sentiments.

The flying Madiba tapestry which will be unveiled in a dedication ceremony in December, to coincide with International Human Rights Day, has met the approval of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

About Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a global organization that is committed to human rights. They have 7 million supporters worldwide and are dedicated to ending human rights abuse. Furthermore, they seek justice for those who have endured human rights abuse. Amnesty International hands out its most prestigious 'Ambassador of Conscience' award to deserving individuals. Mandela himself, was the 2006 recipient.

Amnesty International sees the tapestry as a fitting tribute to a man whom we owe a debt of gratitude for now and all time.

Contact: Welbber Smith
Media Contact:
Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490
Phone: 021 937 1275
Email: webmaster@capetown-airport.co.za
Website: http://capetown-airport.co.za/