Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994. During apartheid (this Afrikaans word means apartness) between 1948 and 1994, Mandela played a prominent role in the struggle against the government (including leadership positions in the African National Congress), which led him to become a political prisoner. The government charged him with sabotage and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Fortunately, pressure on apartheid South Africa caused the collapse of the government. Mandela spent 27 years in jail, most of the time at Robben Island, located off the coast of Cape Town (the picture above shows the cell he stayed in). While at Robben Island, Mandela's prison number was 46664, being the 466th prisoner in 1964. Among South Africans, including white Afrikaners, Mandela is revered, largely because when elected president, he used his position to unify the country, when he could have easily done the reverse. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. His autobiography is titled Long Walk to Freedom.
4 comments:
Among South Africans, including white Afrikaners, Mandela is revered, largely because when elected president, he used his position to unify the country, when he could have easily done the reverse.
Yeah. (Cough, cough.) Amin. (Cough, cough.) Did you ever end up seeing The Last King of Scotland? With your interest in Africa, it seems like the kind of movie that would really interest you.
Kyle,
I did see The Last King of Scotland and enjoyed it (although it wasn't Shawshank or Silence of the Lambs quality). You are certainly correct that Amin was a poor leader, but as far as I know, race was not a factor in Uganda.
Oh not in the same way that it was in South Africa, no. Amin just used a sort of xenophobia with racial undertones to portray the British culture and government as invasive and paint foreigners as bogeymen. You are correct, however, in that this was suitably different from the racial tensions in South Africa, with its large proportion of whites.
Another movie suggestion for you Tim: Catch A Fire. It takes place in South Africa in the 1980s, very powerful.
Still appreciating your blog. Thanks for the great photos!
Mrs. Roberge
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