The National Heritage Project Company has joined forces with Red Cup Village to encourage all South Africans to embrace and appreciate the history and diversity of our great nation come Heritage Day. Dubbed a ‘must-see Cape Town attraction’, the Long March to Freedom procession of 100 life-size bronze statues of icons will be open to all on 24 and 25 September at Century City, Cape Town.
Alongside the exhibition, Red Cup Village, the leader in 3D printing and scanning in South Africa, will be replicating in miniature three of the most significant statues, namely Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela and Charlotte Maxeke. These one-of-a-kind replicas will be available to purchase at the event as well as online with proceeds of the sales going to the National Heritage Project Company.
First-of-its-kind 3D printing in SA
Red Cup Village is an innovative, local 3D printing company making world-class 3D printing and scanning accessible to individuals, organisations and start-ups across various sectors through innovative concepts and premium products.
“With 3D printing, users have access to faster turnaround times. What once took up to two years to construct can now be done in mere hours with our innovative 3D printing technology. Through our collaboration with the National Heritage Project, we’re excited to bring these incredible heroes to the homes of South Africans in a unique and special way,” says Managing Director Luvuyo Ndiki.
The year 2021 is nationally dedicated to the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke, a South African religious leader, social and political activist and the first black woman to graduate with a university degree in South Africa in 1903. Maxeke’s name was given to the former Johannesburg General Hospital as well as the South African Navy submarine, SAS Charlotte Maxeke.
“This year, we pay tribute to Charlotte Maxeke, one of the most established and inspiring leaders in South Africa’s history,” says Dali Tambo, CEO of the NHP, owners of the Long March to Freedom. “Not only has she blazed the trail for women in education, but with the honour of being named as the ‘Mother of Black Freedom’ in South Africa, she played an integral role in our fight for freedom.”
Red Cup Village will be on-site to replicate Maxeke’s life-size bronze statue, along with the Department of Arts and Culture and members of the Mandela family this Heritage Day. The Charlotte Maxeke Institute will also be in attendance to capture footage from the event to include in its upcoming documentary.
The largest exhibition of its kind in the world
The Long March to Freedom is a monumental procession of 100 life-size bronze statues and the largest exhibition of its kind anywhere in the world. The bronze artworks depict South African and international icons, some famous and others unknown, and tell the story of South Africa’s 350-year struggle for freedom and democracy. A unique concept in its own right, this tour through the procession is an immersive and moving experience, connecting the visitor with the lives of the persons so vividly created in bronze.
“We invite all South Africans to visit our exhibition at Century City to reflect and pay tribute to the inspiring men and women behind our country’s most significant historical moments. From the Khoi leaders of the 1600s to the proud Xhosa and Zulu kings to the men and women who led the struggle through the darkest years of apartheid, the procession is a sweeping narrative statement of South African pride in the country’s diverse history and cultures.”
“With the help of Red Cup Village’s innovative 3D printing and scanning technology, you can now take a unique piece of history home with you,” Tambo concludes.
Visit the Long March to Freedom Exhibition at Century Boulevard, opposite Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Century City, Cape Town on 24 and 25 September. All 3D statue miniatures will be produced on-site and are available for purchase at R450. The exhibition is open from 10 am – 6 pm and entrance is free on 24 September 2021 (public holiday).
