Happy birthday, Nelson Mandela!
on July 18, 2008
Category: Apartheid, Birthday, South Africa, Racism
Today ntate Mandela is 63 years old, if you consider the fact that he spent 27 years in jail for wanting to live like a human, and wanting the same thing for his people. But he’s really 90 years old, if you consider the fact that he used those 27 years to change South Africa and, I dare say, the world. He changed me. Happy birthday, ntate Mandela.
In 1981 my family ran away from Lesotho, as the then government of Lesotho had tried to kill my father, and killed my 3-year old nephew, instead. How does one forgive? My country is completely surrounded by South Africa, so we had to find ourselves in South Africa at some point, in our quest for asylum elsewhere. While we were there, we were duly picked up for pass law offences by the SAP.
We spent 24 hours in prison. It was very long. And there was a lot of sadism on the part of the gaolers. I won’t go into details but one of their favourite practices was sleep deprivation. The next day we went to court and faced a judge: “Why didn’t you have your pass?” The fact that we were not South Africans took a very long time to register. Not that black South Africans had to carry the damn thing, but I mean…
Once we were out, I had an experience. I had a light bulb above my head, just like in cartoons, and the hair on my arms stood on end. The name Nelson Mandela dropped of it’s own accord into my head, and I truly, really understood why he had sacrificed his life against this… thing. For that particular zombie instant, hair on end, a stupid smile on my face, I knew why. I want to wish him a happy birthday today, and tell him that we know.
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5 Comments so far
1. Global Voices Online » Nelson Mandela, 90 years
July 18th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
[…] Her account of a great family experience reaching South Africa as a refugee is worth a visit at the Black Looks blog: I had a light bulb above my head, just like in cartoons, and the hair on my arms stood on […]
2. Beauty
July 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Beautys last blog post..Looking for good in Lagos
3. Del Hornbuckle
July 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela,
Your life is a guiding light for us all!
And thank you, Rethabile for sharing your story–your journey.
Del
Del Hornbuckles last blog post..Salles’ Linha De Passe Premieres at 2008 Cannes
4. Masimba Biriwasha
July 21st, 2008 at 5:41 am
Freedom’s Dream In Cell 46664
27 years had passed, and the skin
of the prison cell No. 46664 stank of a
human right denied
Feebly, the freedom fighter
gazed at the light that beamed from the dream he had carved in his spirit,
In that prison, his dream aimed at fighting man’s domination over another still glowed
The freedom fighter lifted his left fist into the air,
As though seeking heaven’s answer,
Cherishing the idea of a free society
In that dark and cockroach-infested space
Deep in his soul he desired to pluck a seed of faith from the sky’s womb,
To carry freedom’s struggle another day,
And whisper to the winds of time
To plant a fire in his people’s bosoms
So they could gather courage to rise beyond the confinement
Of man-made chains
In spite of his faith, the heavens remained still
So he put his head down, and tore into the
depth of his guerilla-skin with freedom’s spikes,
Then suddenly, his voice cracked and filled the void,
Traversing the gaping distances
Like an angel run amok
Till it reverberated across the mountains and valleys
Of the dictator’s oppressive rule
Our blood jumped hot at the sound of his call
And in our silenced oppression, we found ourselves muttering
vowels of freedom:
“Freedom Now, Freedom Now”
Even though the tyrant’s chains remained stuck
Round our necks
The freedom fighter’s dream burned deep in our hearts.
Then, one day, the ripples of our hope
Grew into a crest-high wave
That tore through the dictator’s barbed walls
And made us believe again
In freedom’s cause -
Not just for ourselves
But for all humanity.
Masimba Biriwashas last blog post..Visionary Politics: Saving the Environment for Future Generations
5. Mandrake
July 21st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hi Rethabile
First time on your blog. Your story reminds me of my in laws from Maseru. My brother-in-law’s father was also booted from Maseru and lived in Jozifor a couple of years. He was friends with Masuku Pheko and thus an enemy of the state
Keep writing, i’ll bookmark this site and contribute some more.