How Nelson Mandela’s Trafalgar Square speech still resonates, 20 years on

Nelson Mandela addressing the crowd in London’s Trafalgar Square in February 2005 as part of the Make Poverty History campaign. Photograph: Comic Relief/Getty

Nelson Mandela’s face once again lit up Trafalgar Square this week, projected on to Nelson’s column while the sound of his voice echoed out, calling for a “great generation” to end poverty – 20 years after he delivered that impassioned call to an audience of 22,000.

It was a message that resonated with the public, who began wearing white “Make Poverty History” wristbands, hit the front pages of newspapers and helped spur governments into expanding anti-poverty campaigns and agreeing to offer $50bn debt relief to Africa.