Ubuntu

“Ubuntu, a word that captures Mandela’s greatest gift: His recognition that we are all bound together in ways that are invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us. . . . He not only embodied Ubuntu, he taught millions to find that truth within themselves.”

~ Barack Obama, on Nelson Mandela’s eulogy

Surrounded by thousands of neatly assembled copies towering around me on wooden bookshelves, my 9 year old self stood in the centre of my junior school library. It was there I first laid my eyes on a tattered book with a broken spine and stained pages, under the metal-plate heading of “leaders” — Long Walk to Freedom, an autobiography by Nelson Mandela.

And his, truly, was a long walk, as I soon discovered. A walk with him answered one of my most profound

questions: What does it mean to be a leader, to be visionary or committed?

Mandela’s revolution was against apartheid. In 1948, the segregation that was already rampant in South Africa became state law when the ruling party formally adopted apartheid. These were the circumstances into which Mandela entered this world: Black South Africans being systematically oppressed, characterised by settler colonialism and the forced displacement of the indigenous population. In the mid-1980s, the world slowly awakened to their suffering under apartheid. While Mandela was behind bars, his message could not be restrained. Through his imprisonment, Mandela became the world’s best-known political prisoner, despite his words being banned in South Africa. His supporters rallied for his release and news of his imprisonment galvanized anti-apartheid activists all over the world, even reaching the UN. In 1990, in response to international pressure and the threat of civil war, F.W. de Klerk, pledged to end apartheid and released Mandela from prison.

But this story does not begin here. It begins with a young Xhosa boy from Mvezo. The year is 1918. This is the beginning.

Mandela’s birth, into the royal house of the Thembu people, was central to his character. Yet as royalty goes, his place in tribal society was barely of the high-born. His childhood was fraught—surviving on mats on the floor, cooking on stoves in the ground, wearing his father’s tattered hand-me-downs. This greatly influenced who would become: highly image conscious and throughout his life always sought out fine quality clothes, with many commentators believing that he carried himself in a regal manner, contributing to his “charismatic power.” This aplomb was in many ways symbolic, in a state where a person of colour was considered subhuman. Not only did this portray to the oppressors that he was an equal, but also empowered the black community to embrace their innate dignity. Mandela’s learnings from “the great place” palace at Mqhekezweni after his father’s demise greatly influenced his behaviour as a leader. He was constantly polite, courteous and attentive to all, irrespective of their age or status, and often spoke with children and servants. He was known for his ability to find common ground with very different communities. In later life, he always looked for the
best in people, even defending political opponents to his allies, who sometimes thought him too trusting of others.

He attended a Methodist mission school where he developed a love for African history, listening to the tales told by elderly visitors to the palace, and was influenced by the anti-imperialist rhetoric of a visiting chief, Joyi. His first acts of defiance was going against his headmaster who emphasised the superiority of European cultures.

And yet, it wasn’t until Mandela began studying law in Witwatersrand, where he was the only black African student, that he faced racism and decided to act upon it. At a Durban rally, Mandela addressed an assembled crowd of 10,000 people, initiating the campaign protests for which he was arrested and briefly interned in
Marshall Square prison. This established Mandela as one of the most impactful black political figures in South Africa. In August 1953, Mandela and Tambo opened their own law firm: the only African-run law firm in the country. It was popular with aggrieved black people needing legal representation because of apartheid laws, and often took on cases of police brutality, which accorded much respect from his community. White law firms were often inaccessible to the black community. Mandela’s firm served as a legal aid and public defender wrapped into one, fulfilling the core mission of the legal profession by providing access to justice.

His imprisonment at Robben Island from 1964–1982 is significant to the way black prisoners are treated now. Verbally and physically harassed by several white prison wardens, he spent his days in deplorable conditions. Taking part in work and hunger strikes, which was viewed as a microcosm of the anti apartheid
struggle, from 1967 onwards, prison conditions improved. Black prisoners were given trousers rather than shorts, games were permitted, and the standard of their food was raised. Today, South African prisons are multiracial settings which have similar physical housing environments, food choices and legally-mandated healthcare.

Setting an example of dedication, sacrifice, and courage for all, he refused to defend himself during his trial in order to not legitimise the charges levied against him. In 1985, the government offered to release Mandela only if he would not engage in political activities once free. He refused, stating that he will not discriminate between their freedoms, thus establishing the right to freedom that every individual has. Mandela’s was an inclusive campaign that all people could support, instituting the precedent for messaging and rallying for future activists to come.

Imagine Nelson Mandela, fist raised in a dignified grey suit, walking free after his release from 27 years of imprisonment in 1990, never abandoning his cause or country — fewer images in history are more powerful. It was finally in the summer of 1994 when South Africa, making history, got its first black chief executive
elected by the new National Assembly.

Nelson Mandela sought remembrance, rather than revenge, in response to injustices under apartheid. Presiding over the transition from apartheid minority rule to a multicultural democracy, Mandela saw national reconciliation as his primary task. He worked to reassure South Africa’s white population that they were protected and represented in “the Rainbow Nation”. He brought transformative change in people’s minds and hearts alongside those who had imprisoned him for so many years, which is a display of his character and a
true learning of my life.

Understanding that the key to moving forward as a nation was understanding and learning from its troubled past, one of Mandela’s first actions as president was to set up a Committee for Truth and Reconciliation: a governmental agency dedicated to investigating crimes committed under apartheid. The program is a beacon for human rights violation investigators everywhere, and stands as a shining example for healing from past atrocities and unifying divided peoples. Under Mandela, welfare spending increased and the government introduced parity in grants for communities, including disability grants, child maintenance grants and old-age pensions. In 1994, free healthcare was introduced for children under six and pregnant women, a provision extended to all those using primary level public sector health care services in 1996. He set a new agenda for the
future fight against HIV/AIDS with a groundbreaking speech in 2000, Durban and was a devoted advocate all the way up until his death in 2013. To ensure that his work could continue, he founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 1999. The organisation focuses on what was central to Mandela’s work: justice, dialogue, and social cohesion. It hopes that by providing people and politics with the relevant tools, the public can have informed discussions that lead to justice and freedom for all.

When I finished my copy of “Long walk to Freedom”, I finally understood what it means to be visionary and committed. It means to have a thirst for change, despite being the minority. It means thinking big and acting on it. It means overcoming cumbersome situations and not backing down. It means to be Nelson Mandela.

It is hard to find role models such as Mandela, relatable without context, that have changed the course of our century. He was but an ordinary man who became a leader because of extraordinary circumstances and his strength of character, continuing to be a beacon of hope for the unseen and the unheard. His character is one of an idol for me, allowing me to understand what has come before and continues to ensue still. My greatest learning from Mandela is his fight for what is right, regardless of what you feel about it.

Violence is not the answer, as he repeatedly demonstrated, and I try to practice that everyday. During my hard days, I am always reminded of Madiba’s quote “It always seems impossible until it is done.” It reflects that although our lives are marked by illness, tragedy and pain, we should never get discouraged. Those negative experiences can teach us, more than anything else, to remain faithful to your values and ethics. Mandela wanted freedom from apartheid, and while he changed strategy, he never changed that one principle. The work he has done in his lifetime has been colossal and magnanimous, the benefits of which generations will infinitely reap. He summed it up the best, “You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action.”