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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have become increasingly popular over the past year. In South Africa, an NFT featuring an original arrest warrant of Nelson Mandela was sold for over $130,000.
The NFT in question was sold for over $130,000 to help fund a heritage site in South Africa, adding to the humanitarian efforts that have been made through crypto and NFTs.
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Mandela NFT sells for $130K
Nelson Mandela is one of the iconic leaders in the African continent. Mandela was the first black president in South Africa. As a member of the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was involved in fighting against white supremacy and racial segregation.
Mandela was first arrested in 1961 for treason. He was released but later rearrested in 1962 for failing to get a permit before leaving the country and inciting workers to strike. Mandela was in prison for 30 years before being released in February 1990.
Mandela’s legacy is still alive in the 21st century. An original arrest warrant issued against Mandela has been sold as an NFT for 1.9 million rands, equivalent to $130,000. The funds will fund the Liliesleaf Museum Heritage that showcases South Africa’s journey to democracy.
The auction for this NFT was conducted on the Momint NFT marketplace. The CEO of Momint noted that heritage sites in the country “have been badly affected by the lack of tourism due to COVID. So this is a way to revitalize their flow and keep history alive.”
NFT use in humanitarian efforts
The NFT sector has become increasingly popular in recent months. Most NFTs are used for speculative purposes, where one buys, hoping to sell later at a higher price. However, these digital assets have now become popular in humanitarian efforts.
During the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT was donated towards Ukraine’s humanitarian efforts. BAYC NFTs are the most popular and most valuable NFTs in the market.
The Ukrainian government is also dropping NFTs that will commemorate the ongoing war. The NFTs will feature images of memorable events during the conflict.