Tributes, Songs For NELSON MANDELA

The essence of South African former President, Nelson Mandela, came alive again in Lagos recently when series of programmes were held to celebrate his 94th birthday.
At Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, the South African High Commission in Nigeria rallied diplomats, artistes and other people from various sectors to mark not just his birthday but also a day of reflection and help for humanity, which the United Nations has dedicated to him. The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, also paid a tribute to Mandela.

On why the celebration has become a global affair, the Consul-General, South African High Commission, Mokgethi Monaisa, noted that the values that Mandela symbolised transcended his immediate environment.

He said, “Mandela spent the first part of his life fighting for the life of the downtrodden. He did not do this for South Africa alone but for the whole world. It was due to his leadership that a democratic election took place in South Africa. He advocated that the people of Africa must live in peace and Africa must attain stability. There was a smooth transition between him and his successor, Thambo Mbeki. He served one term but he handed over to Mbeki.”

Also, Counsellor, Political Affairs at the commission, Thandi Mgxwati, explained that Mandela’s love for the downtrodden and his quest to inspire change was part of the icon’s philosophies being inculcated in the younger generation as a part of the Mandela Day celebration. She added the commission had earlier spent some hours with a home that caters for abandoned children at Makoko, a Lagos suburb, to commemorate Mandela’s birthday.

“In line with the Madiba’s principle, we are pushing for good citizenry and putting smiles on the faces of people. We will take action and inspire change and make every day a Mandela Day. The values that Mandela stands for should be the driving force behind the celebration,” Mgxwati said.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.

Culled from PUNCH