A star of Britain’s Got Talent will host a Gala Dinner evening of live entertainment for the family of Nelson Mandela in Liverpool later this month.
The former President’s eldest daughter Dr Makaziwe ‘Maki’ Mandela and his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela, are travelling to the city to make their mark on artwork which will form part of the city’s permanent Nelson Mandela memorial in Princes Park.
The completed memorial will include a ‘Freedom Bridge’, a pavilion and 32 cylindrical stone-works inscribed with inspirational Mandela quotes. These pedestals represent the oil drums used to grow an allotment on the rooftop of Pollsmoor Prison where Mandela was held for part of his prison sentence. During their six-day trip, the family will visit Crosby Memorials to personally inscribe one of the stone drums.
The Gala Dinner at Hilton Liverpool on Friday 22nd July, organised by local charity Mandela8, will be hosted by stand-up comedian Daliso Chaponda, who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, making it to the final of the 2017 series and establishing himself a firm favourite with the judges and the British public. He has performed around the world and at the Edinburgh, Melbourne, Singapore, and Cape Town comedy festivals.
With over 300 million views of his stand up online, Daliso previously took part in Miss Liverpool, Poppy Gerrard’s online fundraiser for Mandela8 last year – “Lockdown’s Got Talent”. He is also the writer, creator, and host of his Rose d’Or nominated BBC Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere that has aired for two series.
The evening will also feature live musical performances from Senegalese griot, Diabel Cissokho and local artists, Ni Maxine and Dorcas Seb, all curated by Liverpool institution, Africa Oyé.
The Mandela Gala Dinner will take place at Hilton Liverpool on Friday 22nd July ay 7pm. Tickets are on sale now via mandela8.org.uk