The Mandela Project, a monumental five-part documentary series produced by Paramount Africa in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, for YouTube’s Black Voices Fund, has been honoured with a nomination in the Short-Form Series category for the prestigious 51st International Emmy® Awards, set to take place on Monday, 20 November 2023. The nomination is a nod to the series’ outstanding storytelling, which explores the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela.
Having debuted on BET’s YouTube channel on 18 July 2022, in commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, the documentary series follows 6 celebrities including Former Miss South Africa; Zozibini Tunzi, actress; Marsai Martin, international soccer star; Patrice Evra, F2Freestyler; Jeremy Lynch and renowned British musician and TV chef; Big Zuu, who have all created meaningful change in their communities.
The International Emmy® nomination places The Mandela Project in the company of exceptional works from three other countries, underscoring the show’s global impact and cultural resonance. The nominees for the Short-Form Series category include:
- The Mandela Project, Paramount (South Africa)
- Des Gens Bien Ordinaires (A Very Ordinary World), Magneto Prod / Canal+ (France)
- Lynchings, Record TV (Brazil)
- Man vs. Bee, Red Rum Films (United Kingdom)
“We are truly honoured by this International Emmy® Award nomination for The Mandela Project and are immensely proud to have partnered with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and YouTube Originals Black Voices on this project. The recognition that we have received reaffirms our mission to deliver exceptional African storytelling and speaks to the phenomenal talent of the team. As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the iconic Nelson Mandela and are on the brink of celebrating 30 years of South Africa’s thriving democracy next year, this work takes on an even deeper resonance. “The Mandela Project” serves as a poignant reminder of Madiba’s indomitable spirit, his enduring legacy, and the journey of an entire nation towards freedom and equality. This nomination is motivation for Paramount to continue to play an integral part in creating impactful change within society, through creativity,” said Dillon Khan, Vice President for Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Creative Services at Paramount Africa.
“As the Nelson Mandela Foundation, we consistently aim to create dialogue around critical social issues and The Mandela Project is a documentary series which fulfils that. The Foundation is proud to have partnered with Paramount on a docu-series which delves into the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, exploring his impactful influence on South Africa and the world at large. This is a feather in our cap on our mission to contribute to the making of a just society by mobilising the legacy of Nelson Mandela and providing public access to information on his life and times,” said Morongwa Phukubye, Communications Officer at Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The International Emmy® Awards honour the World’s Best Television, and each year, leading television producers from around the world showcase their programming and compete to be recognised. This year’s winners will be announced at a Gala which will take place on Monday, 20 November 2023, at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City, and with The Mandela Project on the cards, it will be a night to remember.
