Nelson Mandela 1918- 2013

Born Rolihlahla Mandela, in the Thembu royal family in the village of Mvezo in Umtatu His name Rolihlahla, meant 'troublemaker' His clan name was Madiba. His father prayed to the mighty god Qamata, Qamata, child of the sun god, Thixo, And the earth goddess, Jobela. Many reeds, strong reeds, strong hands to bind them, The women of Africa, knew just where to find them, The sun said: dry them, the river murmured: wind them, The young Mandela’s father practised polygamy Four wives, four sons, nine daughters, who lived in different villages. On the boy’s first day at school His teacher, Miss Mdingane, Decided to call him Nelson Fait accompli The child grew up within his mother's kraal in the village of Qunu, tending the family cattle Aged 16, he was circumcised, A tribal rite of passage into manhood, Which brought him another name, Dalibunga. Many moons, many suns and days had their passing, The people of Africa looked, and they were working, Drums for the first of the nation, Mandela is rising He fled an arranged marriage Settled in Jo’burg as a runaway Meeting his first white friend, A Jewish communist At communist talks and parties, All races mixed as equals 'No Easy Walk to Freedom' Was his powerful speech The title a quote from his hero Jawaharlal Nehru Disguised as a chauffeur, Mandela travelled the country incognito, Acquired another name: 'Black Pimpernel' Two wives later, imprisoned on Robben Island He was a convict, Hard labour for 18 years in the island’s quarries Breaking rocks, mining the land for lime Held in a concrete cell 8 feet by 7 feet Classified as the lowest grade of prisoner, Mail censored, visits rare All for speaking out against apartheid A thin straw mat to sleep on Often in solitary confinement Forbidden to wear sunglasses, The glare from the lime damaged the statesman’s eyesight Aged 60, the world remembered him Awards flowed in His life was austere and simple Even after release from prison The head of 'the Rainbow Nation' Died in his ninetieth decade Many moons, many suns and days had their passing, The people of Africa looked, and they were working, Drums for the Rainbow man, Mandela is dying His casket was draped in a lion skin, an ox was ritually slaughtered A family elder talked to the body's spirit In his childhood village of Qunu, His body was buried at noon, when the sun stood at its highest and the shadow at its shortest On Sunday he was told 'Madiba, we bury you now' His body, wrapped in a lion skin. The people of Africa bowed their heads in mourning, Mandela’s lion soul is passing, is passing (Somelines are adapted from a South African Xhosa Stick Fighting Song, translated by Manfred Mann)