Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, is also respectfully and affectionately known by his Xhosa clan name Madiba.
The 94 year old former President of South Africa is still in critical condition in the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.
Across South Africa and around the world there is a call for prayers. If you are not a person given to prayer, I respectfully ask that you take some quiet time and turn your thoughts to this man, and the nation of South Africa.
Perhaps go back and read, or re-read the excellent diary written by Black Kos community member HamdenRice, “Understanding the Legacy of Nelson Mandela.”
Though Mandela is a person of world stature, and to many symbolizes the battle and victory against apartheid, it is impossible for us to walk in the shoes of the average young South African who in many ways views Madiba as the father of that nation.
Some of us have a list of black heroes and sheroes, many of whom were cut down by assassins, and unable to fulfill a long lived destiny.
The fact that Mandela has lived to the age of 94, and has continued to work for the world long after he was the President of South Africa speaks to the power of of the man and his legacy.
I offer prayers today to his wife, Graça Simbine Machel Mandela, former spouses, his six children, 17 grandchildren, and his great grands.
Those prayers also embrace the 52 million people of the Republic of South Africa.
I was touched when I saw this newsclip of a young man who stood with others outside the hospital and offered up this song to Madiba.
The young people of South Africa are Mandela’s legacy.
I’d like to close with the national anthem of South Africa, whose lyrics are written and sung in Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
(God bless Africa
Let its (Africa’s) horn be raised)
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.
(Listen also to our prayers,
Lord bless us, we are the family of it (Africa)Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.
(Lord bless our nation,
Stop wars and sufferings,
Save it, save our nation,
The nation of South Africa – South Africa.)Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,
(From the blue of our heavens,
From the depths of our seas,
Over our everlasting mountains,
Where the cranes give answer,)Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.
This version (there are many) is sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Cross-posted from Black Kos
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