This week in history: Nelson Mandela visits Detroit, speaks at Tiger Stadium in 1990
On June 28, 1990, Nelson Mandela visited Detroit and spoke to a massive crowd at Tiger Stadium, just months after being freed from prison in South Africa.
Mandela was greeted by thousands in the city and the scene at Tiger Stadium was unforgettable, with performances by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and more.
Mandela was on a tour of 11 cities in North America. He passed away in 2013.
WDIV produced a full-length special on his visit to Detroit -- you can watch it in the video player above.
Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
About the Author Ken Haddad headshot
Ken Haddad has been with Local 4/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He helps lead news coverage and content across broadcast and digital platforms. He's from the Metro Detroit area, and loves covering important news (and sports) in his hometown.
3-year-old injured in accidental shooting ▶ 0:13
3-year-old injured in accidental shooting
Tips to manage insurance rate increases ▶ 1:16
Tips to manage insurance rate increases
Powerful artifact unveiled at Henry Ford ▶ 0:33
Powerful artifact unveiled at Henry Ford
Wind chills as low as -25 degrees? This week's forecast ▶ 0:41
Wind chills as low as -25 degrees? This week's forecast
100+ cars involved in pileup on Michigan highway ▶ 2:15
100+ cars involved in pileup on Michigan highway
Pistons legend Rick Mahorn on MLK legacy ▶ 1:04
Pistons legend Rick Mahorn on MLK legacy
DETROIT BASKETBALL on Local 4! ▶ 0:24
DETROIT BASKETBALL on Local 4!
How Detroit CBP blocks drug trafficking at border ▶ 0:57
How Detroit CBP blocks drug trafficking at border
Why Michigan grades are slipping in some areas ▶ 1:13
Why Michigan grades are slipping in some areas
2026 Detroit Auto Show opens to the public ▶ 1:07
2026 Detroit Auto Show opens to the public
Nick Baumgartner on what drives him to keep competing ▶ 0:58
Nick Baumgartner on what drives him to keep competing
Drone video over Detroit River ▶ 1:53
Drone video over Detroit River
Crews work to clear side streets after heavy snow ▶ 1:14
Crews work to clear side streets after heavy snow
Family seeks answers after hit and run ▶ 1:06
Family seeks answers after hit and run
U-M gets a new president - what's next? ▶ 0:48
U-M gets a new president - what's next?
How snow fleas get their name ▶ 0:27
How snow fleas get their name
No charges for guard in Southfield bar shooting ▶ 0:47
No charges for guard in Southfield bar shooting
Residential road concerns: When will the snow be cleared? ▶ 0:30
Residential road concerns: When will the snow be cleared?
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long? ▶ 1:13
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long?
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting ▶ 1:14
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher ▶ 0:44
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit ▶ 2:09
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos ▶ 0:45
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow? ▶ 2:08
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow?
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15 ▶ 1:35
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15
Previous photo Next photo