Mandela trial speech brought to life

The British Library has helped bring to life a rare recording of a speech made by Nelson Mandela at his trial that has been unheard for more than 30 years.

The recording of the now-retired South African leader is of a three-hour speech he made before he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

It has been stored in South African National Archives since the trial in 1964 but it can only be played on a rare dictabelt machine.

The London-based British Library National Archive had saved just such a machine and offered its services after hearing an appeal from the South African

Broadcasting Corporation which had "rediscovered" the trial tapes in the archives.

To mark the 11th anniversary of Mandela's release from Robben Island jail the British Library's National Archive has released the recordings on CD.

Dr Rob Perks, the British Library's Oral History Curator, said: "What amazed us, given the age and fragility of these dictabelts, is just how good the sound quality is."

In the recording made on April 20, 1964 a young Nelson Mandela said from the dock: "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised.

"But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Mandela, along with 15 other leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) escaped the death penalty but were sentenced to life imprisonment. He began his sentence at Robben Island prison in June 1964 and was released on February 11, 1990.

The entire Rivonia Trial was recorded on dictabelts and stored in the National Archives of South Africa. Mandela and his comrades were charged under the sabotage and suppression of Communism acts, with 221 acts of sabotage designed to "ferment violent revolution".

The recording of the now-retired South African leader is of a three-hour speech he made before he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

It has been stored in South African National Archives since the trial in 1964 but it can only be played on a rare dictabelt machine.

The London-based British Library National Archive had saved just such a machine and offered its services after hearing an appeal from the South African

Broadcasting Corporation which had "rediscovered" the trial tapes in the archives.

To mark the 11th anniversary of Mandela's release from Robben Island jail the British Library's National Archive has released the recordings on CD.

Dr Rob Perks, the British Library's Oral History Curator, said: "What amazed us, given the age and fragility of these dictabelts, is just how good the sound quality is."

In the recording made on April 20, 1964 a young Nelson Mandela said from the dock: "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised.

"But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Mandela, along with 15 other leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) escaped the death penalty but were sentenced to life imprisonment. He began his sentence at Robben Island prison in June 1964 and was released on February 11, 1990.

The entire Rivonia Trial was recorded on dictabelts and stored in the National Archives of South Africa. Mandela and his comrades were charged under the sabotage and suppression of Communism acts, with 221 acts of sabotage designed to "ferment violent revolution".