Nelson Mandela, widely referred to by his tribal honorific,
Madiba, would have been 100 this year.
South Africa and the world have taken this opportunity to
commemorate his life and legacy with a series of ongoing events, exhibitions
and performances that are designed to serve as examples of and foster a more
inclusive society that promotes diversity and social justice. Active
participation and interaction is encouraged so that participants gain a deeper
understanding of the values Mandela esteemed. The “Madiba’s Journey”
application is an outstanding tool that includes maps, narratives and
additional practical information. (www.madibasjourney.southafrica.net)
Sites and activities offered throughout the country are
accessible and clearly marked. They give travelers an opportunity to learn more
about the Republic of South Africa and how Mandela’s legacy has impacted the
country. Great care has been taken to include the individuals who mentored and
influenced Madiba, beginning with his parents, on his journey. On the eve of
Mandela’s birthday, July 17th, former President Barack Obama will deliver the
Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg. (@visitSouthAfrica)
The 471,008-square mile South Africa is stunning. It is
bordered by two oceans — the Atlantic and the Indian — and has 1,836-miles of
coastline. There are eight UNESCO sites, one of which is considered the “Cradle
of Humankind,” a Hominid fossil site with artifacts that date back 3-million
years. The “Out of Africa” theory is based on findings in the Sterkfontein
Caves and more than 10 other sites exhibiting numerous bones. (www.thecradleofmankind.net)
The country is a large producer of chrome, platinum and
vanadium. It is also known for the diamonds mined there; the Kimberley Mine
alone has produced 14.5 million carats. Because of the country’s abundance,
European settlers honed in on what they felt was free land for the taking,
eventually marginalizing the native Africans (Bantus) and establishing a system
of segregation in 1910 that led to the founding of the African National
Congress (ANC) in 1912. The system was legalized as apartheid in
1950 and the Group Areas Act demanded that nearly 2-million Africans be removed
from cities and made to live in poverty in white controlled townships. It is
into this country of vast, unequal wealth and potential that Nelson Mandela was
born on July 18, 1918, educated and set out on his “Long Walk to Freedom.”
Johannesburg is rife with locations, monuments and memorials
connected with Mandela’s struggles and offers the best opportunity to gain an
overview of Madiba’s journey, the country’s history and the people and cultures
involved. It was his first home after leaving his ancestral homeland and his
final home. He died there on December 3, 2013. #meetSouthAfrica
His final home is not open to the public but can be viewed
from the exterior. Nearby, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is a
reservation only museum displaying personal items. His first home, at the age
of 23, was a one-room rental on 7th Avenue.
“The Shadow Boxer” is a the second largest statue of Madiba
in the city. It replicates a photo Mandela sparring in 1953. The sculpture’s
grey and black steel plated figure is fashioned to cast shadows on the
Magistrate Court behind it. Across from the statue is the Chancellor Building
and the Mandela & Tambo Law Office where Nelson and Oliver Tambo opened the
first firm run by Black partners in 1952. It closed in 1960 when the two were
accused of treason. It is now a museum with the exhibits in the windows.
The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 to provide a
comprehensive overview of apartheid. Thirty-two exhibitions guide visitors from
the origins of apartheid to the reconciliation process. Outdoor exhibits
feature South Africa’s ancient history. Chronologic galleries interpret the
story in films, photographs, artifacts and dioramas. (www.apartheidmuseum.org)
The South Western Townships (Soweto), the most recognized of
the townships, was first settled in 1891. In 1948, the government began forcing
Black Africans out of Johannesburg and into Soweto, situated on polluted land.
There were no public services and houses could not exceed four rooms of equal
size. Streetlights were not installed until 2010 in the township of 15 million
inhabitants. It was a site of protest and rebellion. Lebo’s Soweto Tours offers
guided, narrated tours of Soweto’s famous sites by foot, bike or Tuk Tuk. Their
outdoor restaurant serves authentic meals cooked over a fire. (www.sowetobackpackers.com)
Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world that housed
two Nobel Peace Prize winners, President Nelson Mandela and Anglican Archbishop
Emeritus Desmond Tutu, is the site of the restored Mandela House. Tours
showcase family personal items. He, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and
his family lived there from 1946. Mandela returned there for 11 days after he
was freed from Robben’s Island. (www.mandelahouse.com)
Constitution Hill is a must visit. The complex features the
Constitutional Court, Old Fort, Women’s Jail and Number Four. White prisoners
were held in the Old Fort and in 1902 Numbers Four and Five were built to house
Black prisoners. Walter Sisulu, Gandhi, and Nelson and Winnie Mandela were held
here in inhuman conditions. Tours of the prison are conducted by former
prisoners and include Gandhi and Madiba’s cells, vivid interpretations of
prison life and the isolation cells. Do not miss this tour. (www.constitutionhill.org.za)
The Constitutional Court was opened here in 1995 by Mandela.
The location was selected to represent the new South Africa linking this place
of oppression with the new order. The architectural and design elements enhance
the story of South Africa.
The Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication is the site of a
gathering in 1955 convened to adopt the Freedom Charter that was used as a
template for the modern constitution. Ten columns symbolize the charter’s
clauses.
The 2002 Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial is dedicated
to 13-year old Pieterson, who was killed in the 1976 Student Uprising. The
photograph of the dying Pieterson — which is displayed at the site — shows the
boy being carried by another student. It gained the world’s attention and
galvanized the movement.
Regina Mundi is Soweto’s largest Catholic church. It
provided sanctuary for students in the 1976 protest. Police officers fired on
the 4,000 students inside and a tour reveals bullet holes, a Black Madonna and
stained-glass windows that depict the story. Police shot off one hand of a
Christ sculpture and the congregants removed the other hand because they are
now “the hands of Christ.”
Michele Obama visited in 2011. (www.reginamundichurch.co.za)
The Da Vinci Hotel and Suites is a wonderful choice for
following Madiba’s Trail or simply visiting the city. The location is within
walking distance of important locations, restaurants and world-class shopping.
The 4-star hotel offers modern amenities, on-site spa and gym and a gourmet
restaurant. (www.davincihotelsuitesjohannesburg.com)
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