Mandela Day - 18th July
You may think Mandela Day is a celebration specific to South Africa, but it’s actually an internationally-recognised event that celebrates the fact that it is possible for political systems to be changed for the better.
Mandela (and many others) fought for a future where there is no dominance in society, but instead all people are free and equal in a democratic system.
Madiba
First, a Xhosa prince. A university-trained lawyer. He spoke out for a better future. He was labeled a terrorist by one side, too eager to negotiate by the other. He was jailed for life. Then, much later, became the President. His path is incredible.
As a young lawyer, Madiba (his preferred name) was repeatedly arrested for public speaking about equality - a power the apartheid government gave itself under the Suppression of Communism Act.
He eventually joined the South African Communist Party (despite publicly supporting democracy) and African National Congress (ANC).
These groups focused on Ghandi-like methods of non-violence. Later, Mandela established the military-like uMkhonto we Sizwe (a.k.a Spear of the Nation or often abbreviated to MK) in response to the Sharpeville massacre, where 30 children and 69 adults were shot dead by the government. The MK ran a sabotage campaign - focused not on killing, but instead disrupting the economy.
One truly wild story - one successful MK operation was in a nuclear power plant. A white employee was convinced to retrieve the blueprints, smuggle mines into the plant and ultimately detonate them. This was all done before the plant had any nuclear material in it. The man practiced by smuggling whiskey in. There were no humans injured.
Following this campaign, Mandela was held in prison for four years under trial. Once acquitted, he was later arrested for incitement and leaving the country illegally, and he was eventually sentenced to life in prison - shockingly severe but the then government viewed him as a terrorist! At this time, although the death penalty was common, it is likely Mandela avoided it due to the actions taken by the United Nations.
Prisoner 46664, as he was known - the 466th prisoner to arrive in 1964 - was silenced. He became the world’s most famous but least recognisable political prisoner as no photos were allowed. He missed the funerals of his mother and his son, as well as his children growing up.
After 20 years, he and his ANC colleagues were offered freedom, "if they renounced their violence”. They all unanimously declined.
After growing fears of a racial civil war as the MK became more violent and international pressure increased in 1990; the sitting President de Klerk released Mandela and negotiated an end to apartheid. Mandela had spent 27 years in prison.
In 1994, Mandela won a democratic election with the ANC party, who created a coalition with the previous white government and others, and had de Klerk his deputy.
In his time as President, he built a system of reconciliation
I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.
I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.
It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Mandela Day
Mandela Day is celebrated around the world, but in true form Mandela urged it to be a day of helping others. 67 minutes for someone else for the 67 years he was in servitude.
Just one and a bit hours - go do something nice for someone.
What to eat
Baboutie. Incredible. Here is the recipe. It is a sweet, curried beef mince dish with a custard on top. Sounded insane to me at first, but I assure you, it tastes amazing (even tiktok-ers love it).
We swapped beef mince for soy mince, but it was still fantastic.
Listen to this while you cook to get you in the mood…
What to watch
Invictus. A heart warming true story, and generally a happy watch! We rented it on Amazon Prime for £3.49.
For a darker, grittier true story, watch Kalushi: the story of Solomon Mahlangu on Netflix.
Finally
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” –Nelson (Madiba) Mandela