World Celebrates Mandela At 93

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Daniel Kanu and Austin Oboh

18 July 2011

Lagos — Nigerians joined the rest of human community on Monday to celebrate the life and times of Nelson Mandela, a universal icon of democracy who turned 93, two decades after his release from 27 years of imprisonment for standing up to apartheid and championing the cause of freedom.

He came out of the gulag on February 11, 1990 and served as South Africa’s first black President from May 1994 to June 1999 without taking revenge on his former oppressors.

His foundation urged people to do 67 minutes of voluntary work on Monday, to represent the 67 years he devoted to South Africa’s political struggle.

Mandela spent the day with family in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where he was also visited by President Jacob Zuma.

Millions of schoolchildren sang him a special birthday song before lessons.

It was not clear whether the target of 12.4 million was reached to set a new world record for the number of people singing to an individual at the same time.

The song Happy Birthday Tata Madiba – specially composed for his 93rd birthday – was sung at school assemblies across the country.

Zuma paid tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, saying he had changed the course of history.

“From the moment Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela strode out of prison on February 11, 1990, we knew that South Africa would be a different place.

“He showed us that despite the divisive racial oppression and hardships that this nation had gone through, it is not only possible, but necessary to embrace one another and to reconcile the South African people,” Zuma said in a statement.

The ANC Youth League called on young people to change their profile pictures on social networking sites to an image of Mandela, as “a sign of appreciation and celebration of the role (he) played in the struggle for political, social and economic emancipation.”

Mandela, who is a hero to many in South Africa and around the world for his long fight against white minority rule, has appeared increasingly frail since he retired from public life in 2004.

He has been receiving round-the-clock medical care at home following his release from hospital in January where he was treated for an acute respiratory infection, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Known to South Africans by his clan name Madiba, Mandela has not appeared at a public engagement since the closing ceremony of the football World Cup in July 2010.

A photo released ahead of his birthday showed him smiling and surrounded by members of his family.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, backed by United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said it wanted Mandela’s birthday to inspire people to help make the world a better place.

Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, spent her morning working with the local Qunu community.

“If a man could dedicate 67 years of his life to doing good for the world, imagine what we could achieve if everyone just gave 67 minutes of their time to do the same,” said Said Achmat Dangor, the head of the foundation.

South African companies, charities, and celebrities announced plans for voluntary work on the day.

Graca Machel spent her morning working in a community vegetable garden in Qunu, then cut a birthday cake and shared it with local children.

Nazly Mayet, a Johannesburg mother of four, brought her children to a local community hall after school to play with disadvantaged children from nearby shelters.

“Being South African means volunteering your time on Mandela Day,” she said.

Mandela is “the person that represents our freedom, opportunities for everyone … He seems quite fragile, but his spirit will live forever.”

Ki-moon urged others around the world to do the same. “The best way we can thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by taking action for others and inspiring change,” he said.

United States President Barack Obama said Mandela’s life and legacy exemplified “wisdom, strength, and grace.”

His wife, Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Shaha, met Mandela last month in Johannesburg during a visit to South Africa.

Obama said his family’s time with Mandela was “the most moving part of their trip.”

Mandela stood down as President in 1999 after serving one term, handing over to Thabo Mbeki.

After leaving prison in 1990 following 27 years in jail, he led the African National Congress (ANC) party to a landslide victory in 1994 – the first time South Africa’s black majority was allowed to vote.

In Nigeria, former federal Attorney General and Justice Minister, Richard Akinjide, and former Information Minister, Tony Momoh, eulogised Mandela as a “living legend” who inspires generations.

Akinjide described him as “the greatest living African today and one of the greatest in the world. Here is a man that did not pursue personal wealth and comfort but was one that put the interest of his people, South Africans first.

“He led exemplary leadership and was by all standards a real man of the people. He is a man of courage, highly visionary, one who will stand firm for what he believes in and in the interest of the people.

“He is a legend, I admire him and I wish him more happy returns.”

Momoh said going by Mandela’s antecedents “everybody in the world has every reason to celebrate him because of his exemplary life.

“Mandela is a study for African leaders. This is one man who stood for freedom and lives for a whole generation in prison just for the good of the people. He was not power drunk and refused to go for another term, even when he had the opportunity.

“He refused to create problem in South African leadership against whites. He embraced the Truth Commission and was part of it to ensure that his country will have a great future. He looked to the future so that South Africa will grow. He remains a legend.”

Former Governor of Edo State, John Oyegun, noted that Mandela is a shining example to humanity, and the world must keep looking up to him to imbibe the virtues which make him what he is.

“Mandela is too good to be true,” Oyegun stressed, “and he is a symbol against whom the world, not just African, leaders must be measured.

“He gave so much to the liberation of South Africa from the clutches of apartheid, and when it was time for him to reap the fruit of his labour, he also gave that up.

“His life is a shining example to the entire humanity, and we have to keep turning towards him in order to imbibe the virtues which make him what he is.”

Labour Party (LP) Spokesman, Ikpe Etokudo, had on Sunday implored all leaders to emulate Mandela in rendering selfless service to the people they lead.

He said Mandela vacated the Presidency of South Africa voluntarily even though the ANC led the majority in Parliament.

His exemplary, courageous, and selfless leadership qualities are the attributes Nigerian leaders should envy, Etokudo counselled.

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