`` Free Nelson Mandela , '' by The Special AKA raised awareness of the jailed ANC figurehead . Songwriter Jerry Dammers said it had a message that situation could be resolved . The song 's eponymous subject rose to prominence in the 1950s as a radical young member of the African National Congress , the main opposition movement to the segregationist South African government . Comment:
`` Free Nelson Mandela , '' by The Special AKA raised awareness of the jailed ANC figurehead . Songwriter Jerry Dammers said it had a message that situation could be resolved . Comment: