On March 26, 2022, a non-fungible token (NFT) of Nelson Mandela’s 1961 arrest warrant fetched 1.9 million rand ($130,550) at an auction in Cape Town, surpassing its reserve price of 900,000 rand ($61,800). “The NFT sold… via a buyer online,” said Ahren Posthumus, CEO of digital auctioneer Momint, noting the buyer was based in the United Arab Emirates. The proceeds were designated for the Liliesleaf Museum, a key heritage site preserving South Africa’s anti-apartheid history, which had closed in September 2021 due to financial struggles. “This is really a unique and novel way of generating income,” founder Nicholas Wolpe told AFP.
Significance of the Document
The original arrest warrant, handwritten in English and Afrikaans, is a weathered 1961 document with staple holes and frayed edges, kept in Liliesleaf Farm’s archives in Johannesburg since 2006. Issued before Mandela’s August 5, 1962, arrest, which led to his 27-year imprisonment, it symbolizes a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid struggle. “The document is a testament to the ANC’s resilience,” Wolpe noted. Liliesleaf, located in a northern Johannesburg suburb, served as the African National Congress’s (ANC) secret headquarters from 1961 to 1963, where Mandela hid as a farm worker in overalls before his capture.
NFT as a Preservation Tool
The sale utilized NFT technology, akin to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, to create a verified digital token proving the artwork’s authenticity. “Proceeds for the Mandela NFT will go to Liliesleaf Museum, to keep their doors open and stay afloat,” Posthumus stated. The auction, facilitated by Momint, marked a novel approach to fundraising for cultural institutions facing economic challenges, especially post-Covid. The physical document remains at Liliesleaf, ensuring its archival integrity, while the NFT sale provided critical funds to sustain the museum’s operations and educational programs.
Liliesleaf’s Historical Role
Liliesleaf Farm was the nerve center of the ANC’s underground activities during a period when the organization was banned under apartheid. “It served as the secret headquarters and nerve centre,” per AFP, hosting key figures like Mandela before his 1962 arrest for sabotage and plotting to overthrow the government. The site’s closure in 2021 due to funding shortages sparked concern, with 70% of South African museums reporting financial strain, per a 2022 SA Cultural Observatory report. The NFT sale offered a lifeline, highlighting innovative ways to preserve anti-apartheid heritage.
Broader Impact and Legacy
The auction’s success drew attention to the intersection of technology and historical preservation. “This sale shows how NFTs can support cultural heritage,” a South African art curator commented on X in March 2022. By late 2022, Liliesleaf partially reopened, leveraging the funds to maintain its archives and public programs. Mandela’s legacy, as South Africa’s first Black president and a global anti-apartheid icon, continues to inspire, with the NFT sale ensuring that sites like Liliesleaf can educate future generations about the struggle against white-minority rule.
