A 94^TH Milestone

By Nicole Hodnett



Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

The opening words of the Freedom charter became widely known in South Africa’s political discourse. Nelson Mandela played a significant role in popularizing the Freedom charter that was adopted by the congress of the people in 1955.

His name means quick minded and sensitive nature. In Qunu in the Transkei, Nelson Rolihahla Mandela was born into royalty on July 18^th 1918.

According to Nobelprize.org his father was Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu tribe. Madiba was educated at the college of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942.

According to Tripod, Nelson Mandela wrote the attorneys admission examination and was admitted to the law profession. He opened a practice in Johannesburg, in partnership with his friend Oliver Tambo.

He joined African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against the ruling national party’s apartheid policies after 1948.He went on trial for treason in 1956.

In the early fifties Mandela played an important role in leading the resistance to the western areas and in the introduction of Bantu education.

During his prison years he served it in the notorious Robben Island prison, a maximum security prison on a small island 7km off the coast of Cape Town.



Dialogue Artist-Guto Nubrega 

During his years in prison he grew steadily and was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa. He became a potential symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid government gathered strength.

A dialogue artist,Kim Berman expressed her thought through art when South Africa erupted in a wave of xenophobic violence in 2008.This period seemed to betray many of the fundamental values of community. This represents what it was like when race groups were segregated during apartheid

Art for Humanity provides platforms to express thoughts through art and poetry. Poets and artists from across the world come together to portray their specific thought on whats affecting and infecting our society. Mandela spent 67 years fighting for South Africans to express their thoughts in a free and fair fashion. Today is declared international Mandela day in honour of that all he has done.

According to an article written by Glenda Nevill,it is a day when the worlds media gather in the tiny village of Qunu not so much in expectation of seeing the global icon ,but seeing who has gone to see him.

 “The greatest gift our nation could possibly give Utata Nelson Mandela for his 94^th birthday this week would be to emulate his magnanimity and grace “said Desmond Tutu.

A dialogue artist, Guto Nubrega from Brazil describes the creative commitment on how to address such an important subject focused on human values.

According to Soweto live many intend dedicating 67 minutes to a worthy cause in honour of Mandela fighting for social justice for 67 years.

Dineo Phati, a journalism student from the Durban University of Technology gave her thoughts on what today represents for her.

“People place too much emphasis on only doing good things on this day when good should be done every day”, she said.

South Africa marked the year 1994 as the year of Freedom and marks the same time Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa .Today he turns 94.

Thousands of well-wishers expressed their gratitude towards Madiba on his birthday via Facebook.

"We ,the people of South Africa,declare for all our country and the world to know:that South Africa belongs to all who live in it black and white,and that no government can justify or claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people"

In honour of Madiba day we are all called as a country to do charity work and spread the goodness that He so selflessly gave to South Africa.  Happy Birthday Madiba!!