There’s a photograph that still says plenty: Nelson Mandela dancing with South African singer Marah Louw in Glasgow in 1993. More than three decades later, Louw was back in the Scottish city for another moment tied to Mandela’s legacy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Louw attended the unveiling of a new Mandela statue in Nelson Mandela Place on 9 October 2026. The Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation says the statue was created by sculptor Alan Herriot, with South African granite used for its plinth.
A memory with a second life
The 1993 George Square photograph came from Mandela’s visit to Glasgow, where he received the Freedom of nine UK cities. Louw sang at the event; the image of the pair dancing became a vivid reminder of how music and public life met during South Africa’s transition.
That history now reaches a new generation. The foundation says schoolchildren have used its learning resource, When Mandela danced in the Square, to learn about Mandela and the anti-apartheid struggle. Louw’s return gives the story a human link across the years: she was present then, and she stood at the unveiling now.
More than a ceremonial appearance
Louw’s career spans singing, songwriting, acting and television, and the foundation describes her as a long-time anti-apartheid activist and campaign patron. Her presence at the unveiling connected a public memorial to someone who helped shape one of its most memorable moments.
The statue also carries a South African touch in its stone. The foundation says the granite was sourced here before travelling to Scotland, where it was finished and inscribed. In a city with a long record of support for Mandela, the detail makes the memorial feel connected to both places.
Read the foundation’s event announcement and find Louw’s professional and social links through her management profile.
