Local residents are set to join the global community in a National Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela, starting with a candle light vigil tonight.

A collaboration of a variety of organisations have come on board for an event at City Hall on Sunday at 4pm. But it all starts with the vigil outside the Chewstick Foundation on Court Street at 5.30pm.

Lead organiser Glenn Fubler of Imagine Bermuda issued an open invitation for members of the community to attend both events.

The press conference held at City Hall yesterday was opened by retired founder of Ashton Associates, Michael Ashton.

“While Mandela’s passing has brought some sorrow and offered a time of reflection; it also provides the opportunity to express happiness for a life well lived. Hence, we are closing this week with a joy-filled celebration of Mandela’s legacy, which will include spoken-word, music and dance, geared to the young and old,” he said.

Mr Fubler noted the international response sparked by the death of the first black President of South Africa.

“We’ve had the Eiffel Tower coloured in the colours of the flag of South Africa,” he said.

He also recalled the Premier League and lower division football games in England last week that began with a round of applause by spectators.

“In Portugal they had three days of mourning. In South Africa the streets have been filled with people and you have had mourning. But here in Bermuda, we’ve come together on this collaboration.

“On Sunday, we’re joining together here at City Hall at 4pm for a variety of activities. And also, we’re asking people to join in with Chewstick, one of the partner organisations this coming Friday at 5.30pm. They’ll be having a vigil in front of their new mural of Nelson Mandela on Court Street.

“We’re asking people to join for 27 minutes in a vigil that will reinforce the idea of reconciliation,” he said.

“The ideas and legacies of Nelson Mandela include reconciliation, they include integrity, the include a heart of peace. Here in Bermuda we can benefit from this legacy as we celebrate with the rest of the world in this regard.

“Activities include a variety of some of the old standards from people like Gene Steede, but also some of our young people will be participating.”

He also introduced a young student from CedarBridge Academy who was inspired to write a special tune to celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela.

Justin Smith, 17 explained what Mr Mandela’s legacy means to him.

“I composed a tune for Nelson Mandela called ‘The Rights of Freedom’. What basically inspired me to write this song is that his actual reconciliation after being in prison for 27 years sparked a sort of revolution for South Africa and his integrity is what inspired me. I learned about Nelson Mandela in high school in S1 and I found he was a very powerful person and he really spoke to me.”

Meanwhile, Gavin Djata Smith of Chewstick encouraged Bermudians to attend the vigil tonight.

“We’re encouraging people to join us to honour Nelson Mandela. I think the work he did is not over. In order to realise his vision and honour his legacy it’s important for us to come together in the spirit of unity to carry on his message for future generations.

“And if you can bring a candle that would be good or if you can gift candles that would be just as good,” he added.

On that note, Mr Fubler concluded: “Each of us have something within us that we plant the same qualities of character that Nelson Mandela had.

“Celebrating his legacy is about finding out what we can do individually and collectively as we go forward, especially the examples that we can set for this upcoming generation. That’s why this programme on Sunday will not only be attractive to the older generations but also to the younger generations.”