Dylan Bettencourt
Nelson Mandela spent his life fighting for democracy and that legacy continued when a non-fungible token (NFT) sold for R2 million to fund a heritage site showcasing South Africa’s journey to democracy.
An NFT is a form of unique digital asset that can be sold and traded – and they can range from anything from artworks and pieces of music, to viral internet videos and memes.
In this case, the NFT was an historical artefact: the original arrest warrant for Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa’s first-ever black president. The proceeds will go to the Liliesleaf Museum Heritage Site.
The museum has the original arrest warrant that was donated to them in 2004.
The Mandela arrest warrant was sold for R1.9 million at an auction.
The museum also raised R728,000 last year after an NFT of a gun owned by Olivier Tambo was sold.
The buyer of the NFT will have exclusive access to the arrest warrant at the site, as well as owning the digital image of the document.
The museum is on Liliesleaf farm, which was used by the ANC as its secret headquarters and was where police arrested several activists in 1963.
NFTs have gained mass popularity in recent months, with several digital art images selling for millions of rands.
Tokens are often used for art, sports stars and celebrities. Now, the Mandela NFT has raised a large sum of money to continue his legacy nine years after he passed away.
Image source: @LosAngelesTimes
