CELEBRATING MADIBA

I heard the news that Nelson Mandela had passed on via twitter. During the day I was just discussing with my mum and how I felt they should take him off life support so he would finally go and rest.

My mum said South Africans just wanted him alive as he stood for a lot of things. In other words, he was their hero. He gave them his youth; maybe that’s why they all kept praying that he would stay alive.

Madiba was one of a kind.  He fought for freedom, justice, democracy, he came out of jail He lived a life of relevance, one of compassion for his fellow man. Mandela stood for equality for the black man. He can be compared to the Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Theresa of his time.

After all is said and done I can only pray that all he fought for while alive doesn’t die with him.

Nelson Mandela deserves to be celebrated because as Africans we all know that there might be no leader like him in a very long time. We know that no leader will give up their youth just to right a wrong. 

I know this piece doesn’t do Madiba justice, but I am still choosing to celebrate him.

In the words of Wole Soyinka, "The soul of Africa has departed, and there is nothing miraculous left in the world."

When you are gone, what will people say about you and i don't mean the nice things people say at funerals just to let time pass. Whatever people say on that they will they mean it? Will it actually be the truth? Live a life of purpose, strive to leave a legacy behind, reach out and help others..

RIP Nelson Mandela, sleep well in the bosom of our Lord.

                                                                              Xoxo,

                                                                              Ifeoma N.