QCEC- Ubuntu, A long walk

“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.”