Despite attempts to airbrush OR Tambo out of history, his legacy is strong, Dali Tambo says
A 2.5m bronze statue of the struggle stalwart was unveiled at the international arrivals terminal of OR Tambo International Airport, on Thursday
A statue to honour the heritage of Oliver Tambo is a "soft vengeance" on the apartheid government and others who tried to "airbrush" him out of history. So said the struggle stalwart’s son‚ Dali Tambo‚ on Thursday‚ after the 2.5m bronze statue was unveiled at the international arrivals terminal of OR Tambo International Airport, in Ekurhuleni. The statue depicts Tambo descending the last two steps from an airplane onto the runway with his suitcase. "You remember him as a nation. You remember him and store him in public memory. It’s a sort of soft vengeance to say to all those who preceded us‚ all of the freedom fighters and our leaders who are now up in heaven that we will remember you despite their attempts to airbrush you out of history‚" Dali Tambo said. Artists Kgaogelo Mashilo‚ Paballo Majela‚ Zelda Stroud and the Sculpture Casting Services foundry started work on sculpting the statue in May. Dali had been trying to get a statue of his father erected at the airport for 11 years...
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