MADIBA

“Man’s life, as required by his nature, is not the life of a mindless brute, of looting thing or a mooching mystic, but the life of a thinking being – not life by means of force or fraud, but life by means of achievement – not survival at any price, since there’s only one price that pays for man’s survival: reason.”  – Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.  

  

Today, in his native land of Qunu, Eastern Cape, South Africa, the remains of one of the greatest men to ever set foot on earth will be laid to rest beneath it.  The good news is that only Dr Nelson Mandela’s body – the one subjected to untold hardship by the apartheid regime – will be buried. His spirit and legacy, like all great men, transcend mortality. Mandela personified the life of a thinking being, who, throughout his pursuit of equity and justice, never despaired and never allowed himself, his mind to stray from the purpose for which he had taken responsibility.   

We over here in Africa cannot but feel joyous and proud of him, because the most downtrodden, maligned and defamed race in the world has produced the brightest shinning light amongst leaders, of whom there have not been so many. The irony of the ‘Dark Continent’ exploited and conquered, only to produce a light so bright that it shines truly beyond our comprehension and will attract eminent personalities – past, present and future – to our shores.

It is a given that Mandela brought hope, courage, resilience, doggedness, redemption and inspiration to black and white South Africans and many men and women all around the world.  He was a trueborn, natural leader who did not use his people to shield himself, but led by being first in the firing line.

His example should give the rest of us the ability to hope, dream, actualize and, most importantly, see beyond immediate gratification. Not many could have thought of forgiveness as a socio-economic tool. Had Mandela resorted to retaliation and oppression, South Africa would have lost the opportunity that makes it the Rainbow Nation of today.  This is what set him apart from other nationalist African leaders.  Mandela’s incarceration for over a quarter of a century was destined to be, as it afforded him the time to read, to ponder and to acquire further knowledge and rediscovery, which traits we so desperately seek in Africa.    

We have heard moving speeches and eulogies over the past week, especially by African leaders who fall so short in serving the needs of their peoples. In his home country, the ANC-led government is fast losing the confidence of the people as corruption, force and fraud threaten to trivialize the struggle. In other parts of Africa, internal conflicts, corruption, poverty, ignorance and a lack of infrastructure make the masses doubt the benefits of self-rule.  This way, we voluntarily invite the imperialists to put on yet more shackles on our progress whilst parasites are rained on us to feed off our blood.

Our current leaders must appreciate that Mandela’s life and death will be in vain if they are not guided by his exemplary leadership qualities, spirit, humility, passion and selflessness. We must make of our continent, a colorful rainbow of ideas and camaraderie, where every citizen is empowered and given the opportunity to shine. Mandela and his cohorts who are not forgotten stood for what was right, and were prepared to die for their convictions. Such is the spirit required to leapfrog our societies from the obscurity that threatens to eat us away.

South Africans would not have objected to a Mandela second term in office. He probably would have run uncontested a la Africa but he chose to serve for a single term only, during which he championed reconciliation, truth and healing across board then relinquished power. The man understood that power is not the purpose of freedom and even more importantly that a leader needs to surround himself with people more competent than he is in the various duties of governance, such that he is left with nothing to do other than explore new areas for development. There was a succession plan even before he went to prison. These are the reasons that he is already greater in death than he was as president.

He galvanized the world regardless of religious and political orientation. Who would have thought that the president of the US would shake hands with a Cuban leader? Mandela is already smiling in his coffin. Even more so that his captors, those who stood by and watched and those who tried to do something should all celebrate together a convicted terrorist so royally. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. I hope that we Africans can learn something from this.