Oliver Tambo and S.S Mendi Centenary Commemoration

About This Project

As part of the celebration of Oliver Tambo’s centenary, the Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation, together with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation held the Oliver Reginald Tambo and S.S Mendi commemoration on the 29^th October 2017 at the Regina Mundi church. In line with OR’s love for choral music, the event was a musical celebration by various choirs.

After the opening remarks by programme director Ursula Chikane, there was an astounding performance of the national anthem by Imilongi kaNtu choral society, followed by a praise specially written for the celebration of OR’s life, by praise singer Siyabonga Mdwayidwayi and a performance by Ms Sibongile Khumalo. Following a moment of silence, the event continued in full swing with performances by the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, a rendition of President Thabo Mbeki’s “I am an African” by Sello Maake ka Ncube. Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza gave a special address commemorating the life of Oliver Tambo.

The audience was captivated by further performances by Ms Sibongile Khumalo, JMPD choir, EMPD choir, Imilonji KaNtu choral society and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra. In her closing remarks, the CEO of the Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation, Ms Linda Vilakazi talked about the tragedy of the sinking of the S.S Mendi and the elation of the birth of Oliver Tambo, a man who would go on to spend most of his life fighting for the freedom of South African people – both in 1917. She went on to thank all those who worked hard to ensure that the celebration was a success.

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