Mandela The Lawyer, Reconsidered: Law at the Crossroads of Justice and Oppression
- Date
- February 25, 2026
- Time
- 4:30 PM EST - 6:30 PM EST
- Location
- George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre, Sears Atrium - 3rd Floor, 245 Church Street
- Open To
- public
- Contact
- Dana Alexander, dana.alexander@torontomu.ca
Dr. Siyabulela Mandela will deliver a keynote address which examines Nelson Mandela not only as a global moral figure, but as a lawyer who navigated – and ultimately challenged – an unjust legal order. Dr. Mandela will explore how law can function simultaneously as a mechanism of oppression and a site of resistance, inviting reflection on the tensions between legality and justice, professional duty and moral responsibility, and the enduring question of whether law can remain neutral in deeply unequal societies. Mandela’s legacy offers a powerful lens through which to reconsider the role of law and lawyers in moments of profound injustice.
The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.
Hosted in collaboration with the International Law and Global Justice Initiative and the Black Law Students' Association at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law.
Dr. Siyabulela Mandela is a scholar, public speaker, and human rights activist. He has served as a Regional Project Manager (East and Southern Africa) at Journalists for Human Rights and previously led the organization's South Sudan office, supporting media development, human rights, and peace-building initiatives. He holds a PhD in International Relations and Conflict Resolution and an MPhil in Conflict Transformation and Management from Nelson Mandela University. Raised in Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Dr. Mandela's work focuses on diplomacy, African politics, conflict resolution, and sustainable development. He has published and spoken internationally on human rights, peace, and post-conflict reconstruction.