Africa had never been
short of great people. But few would argue against the idea that in colonial
and postcolonial Africa, the greatest son produced by the continent is Nelson
Mandela. Here is a man from a humble
background, whose traditional name was “a trouble maker”, yet he translated the
meaning of his name in a positive way, by making trouble against white minority
rule in South Africa to ensure the emancipation of his people. Mandela was a
natural fighter. As he told us is in Long Walk to Freedom, “there was no
particular day on which I said, from henceforth I will devote myself to the
liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not
do otherwise” (p.95).
The struggle of Nelson
Mandela United the African continent, various African leaders from Sir Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa who made one of the largest donations to the African National
Congress (ANC), Mandela’s political party and the platform for fighting against
apartheid, to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who supported the struggle against
oppression in South Africa, to Muammar Ghaddafi of Libya, who became the Arab
son of the struggle to free the people of South Africa, down to the likes of Halie Selassie of Ethiopia, the
sincerity of Nelson Mandela’s struggle united the continent, and the world at
large. Murtala Muhammad of Nigeria lost
his life potentially one would argue, due to his stand on the struggle to free
African countries like Angola and South Africa, although the failed coup that
resulted in his assassination had the colouration of a domestic uprising.
The life of Nelson
Mandela developed in phases. From that of a youthful freedom fighter working to
emancipate his people, to a politician who has the dexterity to plan,
coordinate, and negotiate the freedom of his country from prison, to statesman
who lived above his ambition by sacrificing his desire to lead South Africa.
One would argue that if there is one leader in Africa, who deserves to remain president
for life, and would have secured the backing of his people, it would have been
Nelson Mandela.
For with without doubt,
the freedom and liberty for black and other coloured South Africans to live as
equals to the whites is more important to them, than living the most affluent
life as second class citizens under the apartheid system. Yet Nelson Mandela
decided to quit, and by so doing, he has helped his country to consolidate the
transition to independent statehood. The dream of Nelson Mandela to have a
country where social class is irrelevant has not yet been achieved, but the
hope to build a country where everyone is relevant remains alive.
The spirit with which
he fought, the conviction he had that no matter how long a journey takes, it
will one day reach its destination has inspired others to fight for the freedom
and dignity of their people. One lesson I learnt from reading the biography and
observing the life of Nelson Mandela is one key thing, whatever cause you are
pursuing, it is those little things that you do, those minor sacrifices that
you make which will one day lead to greatness.
The struggle of Nelson
Mandela to free South Africa was unique, it comprises of certain qualities that
are rare in Africa today. The struggle involved Muslims, Christians, Blacks,
Whites and the Coloured. In one hand you have the likes of Walter Sisulu, Govan
Mbeki and Raymond Mhlaba, while on the other end you have the likes of Ahmad Kathrada, Yusuf Dadoo, and Ismail Meer, coming together to fight a common
enemy. It is not surprising therefore that the ‘rainbow nation’ reflects the
coming together of these unique personalities for the dignity of their country.
The struggle led by
Nelson Mandela has left a legacy, the legacy of forgiveness. As professor Ali
Mazrui once argued, that one of the unique qualities of Africans is “short
memory of hate” and he cited the case of Nelson Mandela’s ability to forgive
his oppressors at a time when he had the chance to avenge for the wrongdoing he
tested together with his people.
Of course Nelson
Mandela is not perfect. He has his pitfalls. “one day, during this same time,
my wife informed me that my elder son, Thembi, then five, had asked her, “where
does Daddy live”, said Mr Mandela in Long Work to Freedom, “I had been
returning late at night, long after he had gone to sleep, and departing early
in the morning before he woke.” (p.119), Mr Mandela added. This is the
sacrifice he had to make, but it was a feeling that his family had about him in
the few years that he could stay with them.
Nelson Mandela is gone,
his legacy will be remembered for generations, but the one billion dollar
question is, who steps into his shoes? I looked around Africa, and even went on
window shopping in other continents, I saw some leaders with potentials, but on
a closer scrutiny, I realize that they are not like Nelson Mandela. I came back
to Africa again, the picture is not looking good, but we shall never lose hope;
if you have a name in your mind, kindly suggest it, for somebody needs to fill
that shoe, now, tomorrow or in the generations to come.
1:29
09.12.2013
05.02.1435
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