Remembering Madiba
This past Saturday, July 18, 2020, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela would have celebrated his 102nd Birthday. I write this post in honor of his legacy.
I grew up in apartheid South Africa. I will never forget that late summer afternoon in February 1990 when Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster prison, a free man. There was a buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air. I was in my second month of medical internship and felt relief and joy! Finally, South Africa was on its way to becoming a democratic society.
Four years later, in 1994, Mandela became the President of South Africa. But he was much more. He became affectionately and respectfully known as Madiba (isiXhosa for “father”). He showed us what forgiveness, inclusiveness, resilience, courage, justice, and leadership look like.
These character traits are needed now more than ever. Below are words that Mandela spoke and embodied. They continue to inspire and console.
On making the most of any circumstance:
“At least, if for nothing else, the cell gives you the opportunity to look daily into your entire conduct, to overcome the bad and develop whatever is good in you. Regular meditation, say about 15 minutes a day before you turn in, can be very fruitful in this regard.” “Never forget that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.”
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
On family:
“we thought we had a father and one day he’d come back. But to our dismay, our father has come back and left us alone because he has now become the father of the nation.”‡He then went on to say,
“To be the father of the nation is a great honor, but to be the father of a family is a greater joy. But it was a joy I had far too little of.”‡
On coming home:
“I have always believed that a man should have a home within the sight of the house where he was born.”‡
On leadership:
“A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that in the end, he and the other side must be closer and emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.” Ω
“I am not a violent man….it was only when all other forms of resistance were no longer open to us, that we turned to armed struggle.” α
On the day of his release from prison, he addressed the South African people:
“I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.” He later wrote that he wanted to tell the people that he was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances. ‡
Said like a true leader and father of a nation. We miss you, Madiba.
Sources:
†Conversations with myself. Nelson Mandela. First published 2011 by Macmillan
‡Long Walk to Freedom. Nelson Mandela 1995. Copyright Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Ω Interview with Oprah Winfrey, www.oprah.com. April 2001.
α Excerpt from a speech written by Mandela and delivered by his daughter, Zindzi on February 10, 1985‡.