Paul Ferriter, Hector Guest, Alan B Herriot, Kenny Hunter and David J Mitchell are the five who have been selected from a longlist that was drawn up from numerous expressions of interest.

An evaluation panel which included a wide range of professionals with artistic, architectural and engineering experience recommended the list of sculptors to the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation (NMSMF).

The five will now present more detailed designs to a judging panel which will recommend who should create the statue to the NMSMF board, with plans to have it in place by October 2026 on the anniversary of Mandela’s visit to Glasgow in 1996.

That will include Glasgow’s Lord Provost, the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to the UK and the chair of the NMSMF board.

The granite that will be used has already been brought to Scotland from South Africa and is currently being stored in Aberdeenshire.

Glasgow has been strongly linked to Mandela since becoming the first city to grant him the Freedom of the City while he was still incarcerated on Robben Island in 1981.

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Brian Filling, Chair of the NMSMF, said: “A permanent memorial to Nelson Mandela will remind Scots and visitors to the city of the proud history of solidarity with the struggle against apartheid and will also provide a focal point for an educational programme for future generations on the need to stand up against racism and injustice whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.

“That history of solidarity saw huge support from Scotland and its anti-apartheid movement with practical help, boycotts, campaigning, a year-long picket of the South African Consulate, the renaming of the consulate’s address as Nelson Mandela Place, and the 30,000 strong Freedom March from Glasgow Green to London.

“We have now reached a key stage in the journey to create a statue of Nelson Mandela with the adoption of a shortlist of sculptors being asked to design the sculpture.

“Our aim is to unveil the statue on 9 October 2026 on the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s visit to Glasgow in 1993.”

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, said: “It is a great pleasure to support the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation’s campaign.

“Glasgow holds Mr Mandela’s memory close to its heart, and it is only fitting that his historic achievements and great personal sacrifices are honoured by the erection of a statue in the city to remind future generations of his struggle to topple apartheid in South Africa.

“Of course, Glasgow was the first city in the world to grant the revered civil rights campaigner Freedom of the City while he was still incarcerated in 1981 and it was a joyful and momentous occasion when, finally freed, he was able to travel here to receive the honour in person in 1993.”

“In 1986, prior to his release, Glasgow named Nelson Mandela Place in support of the man who had become the world’s most famous political prisoner and in 1988 Glasgow Green was the starting point for the epic Nelson Mandela Freedom March to London.

“Even after his sad death in 2013, the city’s links with his family lived on. Indeed, it was an honour for Glasgow to welcome his grand-daughter, Tukwini, to his birthday celebrations here during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“No one who lived through those historic times will forget the name Nelson Mandela and I believe a statue is a fitting tribute to ensure the Noble Peace Prize winner and all he stood for, are forever remembered in Scotland.”