When I first read of the erection of the towering 9m statue of Oliver Tambo at the Johannesburg airport earlier this week, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, this was a man of substance, known for his deep faith, immense sacrifices and a profound humanity. He deserves such recognition. On the other hand, SA now has more statues honouring great men than most countries in the world. Which raises the intriguing question: why do nationalists love hoisting (and downing) statues?..