20 years ago on February 11, 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from a Cape Town, South Africa prison after being a political prisoner for 27 years. Now, Africa has dedicated the entire month of February to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Mandela served 27 years behind bars of a life sentence for his activism against apartheid, the movement that enforced segregation in the country. During his 20 year imprisonment, the world collectively used their weight to change the mentality of South Africa and to pressure them into releasing the man who had become a heroic symbol against oppression. Upon Mandela’s release, apartheid fell, paving the way for him to become South Africa’s first black president.
Mandela’s homeland is commemorating his plight in several ways. In particular through the singing of a song dedicated to him with the words, “Nelson Mandela, there is none like you” and by reenacting the historic walk he made from prison signaling the end of apartheid.
Mandela, who is 91-years-old now and infrequently seen in public, did not attend yesterday’s reenactment, but did make a rare appearance at parliament to attend a commemorative speech by South African President Jacob Zuma.
The truth is, it was Mr. Mandela’s story that sparked my interest in African history over 20 years ago and that interest continues to this day.Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr (originally named "Michael King, Jr.," until the family traveled to Europe in 1934 and visited Germany. His father soon changed both of their names to Martin Luther in honor of the German Protestant leader Martin Luther)…….It seems to be automatic with me_I can not think of one without thinking of the other 2 as well.Exemplary LIFE stories for the Ages!