Whether it be in writing, song, dance, or through social media people worldwide continue to pay tribute to South Africa's anti-apartheid hero, the late Nelson Mandela, in different ways.Popular San Fernando woodwork expert Junior Bisnath has come forward with a wooden carving of a much younger Mandela.He was inspired to create the masterpiece 24 years ago when the world was calling for Mandela to be released from prison.
Bisnath is hoping to have the carving added to his collection in the recently launched San Fernando library.He said: "When the world was crying out for Mandela to be released, it was my way of paying tribute to him and adding my voice." Bisnath missed his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present the carving to Mandela when he visited T&T in April 2004, because he was incapacitated by an injury.But he kept it safely tucked away at his San Fernando home, waiting to another opportunity to present itself.
The five-foot-tall piece encapsulates the Mandela's famous words, "The struggle is my life," a carving of Mandela's second wife, Winnie, and the words of Jamaican-born leader leader Marcus Garvey.The piece, he said, was one of several he worked on in 1989 for his collection of living legends, comprising heroes both local and international.
In addition, Bisnath says he has built the tallest pencil in the world which is on display at the National Academy of Performing Arts in Port-of-Spain. He is trying to get the government's help to endorse it to the Guinness World Records organisation.