Lala ngokuthula Tata Madiba!!!

Lala kahle qhawe lamaqhawe

Ubuhle benhlinziyo yakho

Ubuhle bothando lwakho

Ubuhle bokuzithoba kwakho

Hawu!!! Pho ukhona ofana nawe???

Sizokhala ngokukholwa sizokubona

Lala kahle qhawe lama qhawe

What do you say about a man of such great honour, respect, and integrity?? Where does one even begin?? It is with a heavy heart  i dedicate this Ndebele poem to Nelson Mandela. This man was living proof that one can endure all struggles if not challenges that come one’s way. 27 years in jail fighting for what he believed in and also taking the burden of the people’s struggles upon himself is truly a mark of a leader.  Death was an option he was prepared to endure to show how strongly he felt about his beliefs.  He is a testimony that we have the power to rise above hatred and racism,  forgive and love those who have hurt us.

The core of the beauty of Mandela’s journey for me is in his sacrifice. It cannot have been easy but he did it. Everyone who has met him or read about him has nothing but positive things to say about him:

President Obama said in his Press Release statement this morning ” he now belongs to the ages”

TD Jakes goes on to say “Nelson Mandela was an elder statesman who embodied the very essence of a servant-leader. History cannot contain the lasting impact of such an extraordinary life”

Entertainer Gladys Knight “Today we lost a hero – a man that not only changed a country but affected the world”

Theo Kgosinkwe “You taught us how to forgive,how to love and to leave in peace with each other,thank you Madiba”

Desmond Tutu “The spirit of greatness that he personified resides in all of us. Human beings are made for greatness”

Justin Timberlake “One of our GREATEST leaders… Thank you for BEING the true meaning of compassion. May you be at peace now.

From being a rural boy to being the 1st Black President to take the office of the presidency in South Africa in 1994 one learns so much about him and how successful he was in his achievements.  He had an amazing sense of humor and he carried himself with such grace and it could only come from above. It cannot be easy to let him go. Not for his family and not for the world at large.

His life on it’s own is liberating and truly empowering to young Africans. There is so much to learn and take from his journey. Being a young woman in Africa i know i have learnt a few lessons from Mandela and my condolences go out to the Mandela family, South Africa, Africa and the world at large. This was a life well lived…..

R. I. P NELSON MANDELA