Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, taught us love, respect, peace and reconciliation. Madiba was the "last twentieth century hero" a truly inspirational figure with unequal international Stature, and moral authority.
Layi
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Assensoh, Akwasi B. [aassenso@indiana.edu]
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 7:08 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk; ama.biney@yahoo.co.uk; ericobek@yahoo.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RE: Nelson Mandela
Brother Akin:
Thank you very much for the beautiful "Ode to Papa Afrika"!
Indeed, I shared it with a business-minded African brother on the West Coast your moving and superb poetic obituary/salutation for Madiba. he brother immediately reminded me that the "Big Bird" symbol or terminology is copyrighted, and wondered if you had the right to use it! I told him that when a Big Afrikan Tree has fallen in a thick Afrikan forest, we should forget about the copyright nonsense!
Go ahead, Brother Akin and give us more dynamic Odes! In fact, if my time comes and I join our ancestors to go and serve as a cleaner of Madiba's shoes in Heaven, please, give me a one-liner of a poetic obituary, and we will let Big Bird owners eat crow!
A.B. Assensoh, Eugene, Oregon.
________________________________
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Toyin Falola [toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu]
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 2:34 AM
To: dialogue
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Nelson Mandela
Ode to Papa Afrika
by
Akin Ogundiran
Did you hear?
Papa Afrika is on a journey
Yes, the Big Bird has taken off the ground
On a journey
Flying High
We cannot see the face of the bird anymore
His beautiful plume is all we will always see
Still flying
Mandela lives
Because South Africa Lives
Madiba has descended into the inner recess of the sacred grove
Abraham Lincoln is waiting to receive you
Today there will be a great feast
The ancestors will gather to mark your arrival
Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Sisulu in all-embrace
The masquerade has made the last dance
Leaving only the mask
His was a long dance
We want more
But we can't see the dance anymore
Wherever the elephant dances
It will take time for the next generation of grass to tell the story
Iroko of the forest, Baobab of the savanna
Dare not talk
There goes one of the greatest men who ever lived
In him we realize how beautiful humanity is
In him we know how gracious and great Africa was, is, can be, and will be.
Children Afrika. The House is now yours
From you we shall raise many Papa and Mama Afrika
AO/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SECRETARIAT
THE PASSING OF Comrade NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA
5 December 2013
Comrades and friends,
The Mandela family,
Fellow South Africans,
"In the life of every nation, there arise men who leave an indelible and eternal stamp on the history of their peoples; men who are both products and makers of history. And when they pass they leave a vision of a new and better life and the tools with which to win and build it."
With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, the African National Congress received the sad news of the passing of our Isithwalandwe and former President, Comrade Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions; here and abroad.
Madiba loved South Africa. We recall the strength of his fist punching the air as he stepped out of prison after 27 years; and his sternness during the negotiations for the freedom of our beloved country. We celebrate his ever-present smile, the cheerful Madiba jive, his love for children and great respect for the women of this country.
The large African Boabab, who loved Africa as much as he loved South Africa, has fallen. Its trunk and seeds will nourish the earth for decades to come.
Nelson Mandela, Isithwalandwe – Seaparankwe, born in the village of Qunu in the erstwhile Bantustan of the Transkei, recognised the burden of colonial and racial oppression and exploitation. He then joined the African National Congress in 1942. He was convinced by the belief his wise tutor, Walter Sisulu, had in the ANC as the means to effect change in South Africa. As he said,
"Sometimes one can judge an organization by the people who belong to it, and I knew that I would be proud to belong to any organization of which Walter was a member".
He loved the ANC. Hence his frequent words that upon his death he would join "the nearest branch of the ANC in heaven"
In his lifetime of struggle through the African National Congress, he assumed and was assigned various leadership positions. He served with distinction. He was part of the ANC leadership collective and did not make decisions without first reflecting with his comrades. Yet he would fight for the principle of what was the right thing to do.
Madiba was also a member of the South African Communist Party, where he served in the Central Committee.
His was a choice to not only be a product but the maker of his and his people´s history.
Soon after prison he took the mantle of the President of the ANC and, ultimately the country – becoming the first President of a democratic South Africa. He worked tirelessly for the ANC and a free South Africa. He hated racism and bigotry; sought a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society where all are equal. As he said while in prison,
"Ours is not to ask for equality on a lower scale;
Ours is to fight to win on an equal but higher level".
He passed the baton to the younger generation of his beloved movement, the ANC, to carry on with the vision of bringing about an equal and just society. The ANC continues in this task as set forth by him and those of his generation, living and deceased. Indeed, men and women such as Nelson Mandela,
"... when they pass they leave a vision of a new and better life and the tools with which to win and build it.
His life gives us the courage to push forward for development and progress towards ending hunger and poverty. As we said of him while still alive, and we say so now,
"We have you, Madiba, as our nearest and brightest star to guide us on our way. We will not get lost."
To the entire family of Mandela, we extend our heartfelt condolences. He was as much yours as he was ours, probably his dedication to the ANC family robbed you of a father. We will, from this minute on, as always, walk this journey with you to the end.
To his friends, in the ANC and across the globe and across all divide, be comforted.
To the people of South Africa, may your hearts be not in distress. He lives in each and every one of you and in your homes, because he gave of himself to all of us.
Let us celebrate the gift of his life from this moment on.
Let us honour his memory in a dignified way as his leadership and stature deserves.
Let us participate in all the activities organised in his honour in a disciplined and respectful manner, until he is laid to rest.
Rest in peace, Comrade President,
Isithwalandwe-Seaparankwe,
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Amandla ngawethu
Matla ke a rona
All power to the people
Secretary General´s Office
http://www.anc.org.za/nelson/index.php
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akin Ogundiran, Ph.D. | Chair, Africana Studies Department
Professor of Africana Studies, Anthropology & History
UNC Charlotte | Africana Studies | Garinger 113
9201 University City Blvd. | Charlotte, NC 28223
NEW Phone: 704-687-5162 | Fax: 704-687-1682
ogundiran@uncc.edu<mailto:ogundiran@uncc.edu> | http://www.africana.uncc.edu<http://www.africana.uncc.edu/>
Africana Studies @ UNC Charlotte: 40 Years of Transnational Education in a Global City
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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