Nelson Mandela Foundation / Edelman - The Ode to the Troublemakers

The Ode to Troublemakers is a brand film created for the Nelson Mandela Foundation that honors the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela while inspiring new generations of changemakers.

The project takes its name from Mandela’s birth name, Rolihlahla, which colloquially means “troublemaker.” From this powerful origin, the film reframes the idea of “making trouble” as a force for progress — celebrating the courage to challenge injustice, question broken systems, and choose justice over comfort.

Bridging past and present, the narrative connects Madiba’s historic fight for freedom with the voices and actions of contemporary changemakers across generations. The film serves not only as a tribute, but as a call to action — reminding audiences that meaningful progress has always been driven by those who refuse to remain silent.

Built using material from Mandela’s official historical archive, the film transforms memory into motion through a distinctive visual language shaped by design, editing, and animation. Archival elements are reinterpreted in a contemporary cinematic form, creating a living dialogue between history and the present moment.

The project was developed by Edelman in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, with visual production by Flavor and audio production by Bumblebeat.

More than a commemoration, The Ode to Troublemakers is an invitation to carry Madiba’s spirit forward — by continuing to make the kind of “good trouble” the world still needs.