It was 20 years ago that decades of racial apartheid were brought to end in South Africa. On February 13th, guests from around the world joined President Bill Clinton, Morgan Freeman, and the Soweto gospel Choir to pay tribute to the man responsible for South Africa’s democratic independence; the late South African President Nelson Mandela.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation in association with CultureHorde, a NYC-based private arts club, boasted its first U.S. fundraiser since the death of Mandela at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. The evening was filled with the sweet sounds of traditional South African songs and spiritual hymns from the Emmy and Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir. Dramatic readings of Mandela’s life lessons presented by Morgan Freeman and South African broadcaster Garrett Cliff were interspersed between the choir’s lively performances. Guests were taken on a journey through Mandela’s life as a traditional cowherd, to a Johannesburg lawyer, activist, prisoner, and eventually President of South Africa. It was apparent that Mandela’s life exemplified one of his most well-known quotes: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the life of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
President Clinton closed the tribute with a moving speech about his friendship with Mandela (a.k.a Madiba) and emphasized the importance of carrying on Mandela’s legacy. “As a friend, Madiba was to people one-on-one the same way he was as a leader putting his adversaries in his government.” He urged the audience, “Look at where people are fighting and ask yourself if Nelson Mandela were running the affairs of that country, would there be this level of violence and killing? And the answer, invariably, will be no. The greatest free man I ever knew should have his legacy continue as long as the rest of us can help keep it alive.
Prominent leaders and friends of Mandela in the audience, including former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, cheered President Clinton’s address.
Nelson Mandela touched countless lives throughout the world and personified what it means to be a true global citizen. Furthermore, his ability to forgive and let go of the past is a lesson to us all. I asked Pamela Mirels, the founder of CultureHorde and a native South African, what Mandela meant to her, “Mandela was the driving force that prevented South Africa from going into chaos and violence. I am extremely grateful for his movements of peace and democracy.”
Mandela’s legacy of peace and democracy is preserved through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to contribute to a society that remembers its pasts, listens to all its voices, and pursues social justice in order to promote peace, human rights and democracy. The foundation encourages everyone to live by Mandela’s 3 rules: Free yourself, free others, and serve everyday.
This year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation invites all people across the world to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s philosophy every day through the Mandela Day campaign. The message behind the campaign is simple – that each individual has the ability and responsibility to impact positive change every day. Its objective is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so, to build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere.
This spring the foundation’s Dialogue and Advocacy program for youths is set to launch. The program’s theme “Active Citizenship” will focus primarily on education for civic participation and democratic cooperation through community involvement.
To learn more about Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy or to get involved, visit www.nelsonmandela.org