Hundreds of jail inmates in South Africa will knit the world’s largest portrait blanket of Nelson Mandela that will also be visible from space to mark his 100th birth anniversary next year.
Nelson Mandela was the face of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, probably the longest struggle against the racial discrimination against the blacks and coloured people.
According to a report of India Times, the ‘Massive Mandela Masterpiece’ project is the brainchild of the ’67 Blankets for Mandela’ organisation started a few years ago by Carolyn Steyn to knit blankets in honour of the number of years that Mandela has spent in service of his country.
“This will be the largest portrait blanket in the world,” Steyn said at the launch of the project by the Department of Correctional Services at the Zonderwater Correctional Centre, according to the India Times report.
“Each blanket will measure 160 by 160 centimetres to make a pixel. Together in the right pattern, the blanket will measure about 4,500 square metres and one will be able to see his face not only from the sky, but also from space,” said an official.
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The blanket will reportedly be knitted from wool worth almost R14 million which has been donated by an anonymous well-wisher believed to be a wealthy businessman.
Steyn started working with the prison inmates in 2014 so that they could spend their time constructively while also experiencing the therapeutic benefits of knitting.
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