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No one living in the 21st century could fail to be aware of the importance of Nelson Mandela in world history. I feel rather inadequate when forced to admit that I don’t really know a lot about the guy. I hear people describe him as iconic, inspirational and influential…but why? To me he now seems so over-hyped he no longer seems human. This is why we have asked one of our writers, Christian Greenhill-Hooper, to shed a little more light on this infamous historical figure’s life. - LF
Rarely is a single word capable of evoking a message of everlasting equality and racial reconciliation. Yet, ‘Mandela’ is a name that has achieved mythological status in recent years, embodying all that South Africa stands for in the present day. More profoundly, it is symbolic of an individual driven by an unrelenting desire to unite a nation torn by political and social divisions. In the eyes of the world, Nelson Mandela, or “Tata” (“Father”), as he is referred to by South Africans, is an icon of freedom and, more importantly, an icon of tolerance.
Born in 1918, Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela was raised in Qunu, a rural village within South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province; the son of a local chief and councillor to the Thembu monarch, Mandela’s childhood was defined by a philosophy of “customs, rituals and taboo”. The death of his father, a prominent figure in his life, proved to be pivotal in forging Mandela’s ascent to the South African presidency. Mandela cites his father as having developed several of his traits, most notably his “proud rebelliousness”. At the age of 7, Mandela began to attend a Methodist school. From an early age, it became apparent that Mandela’s interests lay with African history; the anti-imperialistic rhetoric of Chief Joyi, African National Congress member, is believed to have instigated Mandela’s interest in South African politics. The pursuit of higher education at the University of Fort Hare was marred by his increasingly radicalised ideology; it was during this period that Mandela first established a means of contact between himself and the ANC. He and Oliver Tambo, future ANC leader, would both be expelled from the university in 1940 for political activism. These desires for political and social upheaval would culminate in his appointment as member of the ANC Youth League in 1945.
The emergence of Apartheid rule, following the South African general election of 1948, was instrumental in promoting revolutionist ideals amongst the ANC. Mandela was at the forefront of this revolutionary path, with the establishment of the Defiance Campaign of 1951 polarising South African politics. The Defiance Campaign was founded on a policy of non-cooperation, with certain laws considered to be unjust and, more notably, discriminatory. Of the 10,000 individuals who partook in anti-apartheid demonstrations, 8,500 of them, Mandela included, were imprisoned. After a protracted trial, Mandela would be acquitted, but the outlawing of the ANC would severely hinder his progress.
Mandela’s desires to overthrow the Apartheid regime would draw him towards the South African Communist Party; although initially committed to renouncing violence, his establishment of the Umkhonto we Sizwe, a militant group, would prove to be decisive in driving a sabotage campaign against the Apartheid government. In 1962, Mandela was charged, and subsequently convicted of conspiring to overthrow the state. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia trial. The trial was noted for Mandela’s speech, in which he exposed the injustices of South African society and its archaic legal system. It was here that Mandela first established himself as a political activist on the international stage, prompting worldwide support for the ANC; his leadership skills were apparent for all to see.
Mandela’s imprisonment on
Robben Island was defined not
only by years of hard
labour, but by the
preservation of his
ideals; he would
often remark that
prison had given
him time to collect
his thoughts.
Despite remaining
isolated from
the outside world,
Mandela
maintained ties
with contacts
within the ANC,
garnering support
from many of the
major foreign powers.
In the face of
international criticism,
Nelson Mandela was
unconditionally released
from Verster Prison on
February 11th,
1990. The fall
of apartheid was
soon to follow,
bringing with it an end to four decades of racial segregation. The general elections of 1994 were the first in which citizens of all races were allowed to cast their vote; as expected, the ANC achieved an overwhelming victory, accounting for over 62 per cent of the vote.
In his later years, Mandela established himself as philanthropist, placing great emphasis upon charitable work in combating social hardship. The founding of the Nelson Mandela Foundation is a testament to his benevolence; the emergence of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic was, in his
own words, “a war” that had
killed more than “all previous
wars.”
Nelson Mandela’s path
towards freedom was
fraught with obstacles,
none greater than
the racial disparity
that existed under
Apartheid rule;
notwithstanding,
Mandela is
symbolic of the
immense power
of reconciliation,
inspiring the hearts
of several generations.
His legacy is invaluable,
and will continue to
live on, long after
his death.
Christian Greenhill-Hooper
Christian Greenhill - Hooper