Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela

I thought it would be appropriate to talk about this book, for the first posting, as Nelson Mandela's lasting influence here in South Africa is tangible.

Until I came to Cape Town I knew very little about both the author and the circumstances of the book's title, but I have gradually started to piece together the complicated history of this nation. Long Walk to Freedom is more than the story of one man, but rather a synopsis of the recent history of South Africa, told from his perspective and experiences. So far I have only managed to read the abridged version, which is an excellent starting point with 151 pages including a few photographs. However, there were several parts of the story which were quickly skimmed over and much of the detail, particularly about his two marriages and his family life were inevitably cut out, which I wanted to know. So now I must read the complete autobiography.

As you would expect the Long Road to Freedom is told chronologically, from Mandela's birth on 18th July 1918, to him being sworn in as the country's first democratically elected President, on 10th May 1994.

It is said that a person's name can influence their life. Born into the Thembu royal family; in the Mandiba clan of the Thembu tribe, he was given the name Rolihlanhla, which means "pulling the branch of a tree", or more simply "trouble-maker". Mandiba was a Thembu chief and today Mandela is often called Mandiba, especially here in South Africa, referring to his royal roots.
However, at seven years of age he not only was given his first pair of trousers, but as a black child, he was given a white name at school - Nelson, possibly named after the great British admiral, Lord Nelson.

His mother was a Christian and his father believed in Qamata, the God of his fathers, or ancestral worship, but Mandela was baptised into the methodist church and was greatly influenced by Christian friends, who encouraged his education. Mandela's passion for lifelong learning no doubt dawned during those early days, as he persued a career in law, which was to both equip him and encourage him into becoming a freedom fighter. His first brush with the law, as a defendant, was violating the Aparteid laws by travelling on a tram, which only white people were allowed to do. Not long after this, as a feisty 25-year-old, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), and so his long struggle to transform South Africa's racist policies began.

I bought the book after I had visited Robben Island and so reading the chapters about his 18 years on the island, I remembered the guided talk given by one of Mandela's fellow prisoner's, and the emotions it stirred within me, seeing the harsh conditions that the political prisoners were subjected to.

Of course, this is a book with a happy ending, even more sweet because of the manner in which the victories were achieved, despite enormous difficulties and tragic episodes. It should be read by every South African and every visitor to this land, as a minimum to understanding the present political situation. A visit to Robben Island is also necessary to grasp more fully the price that was paid for the freedom that millions enjoy now. That is not to say that black South Africans are not still discriminated against today. As in all democracies there is always much work to be done to create a society which values every person and encouages each one to achieve their highest potential. Some would say that the pendulum has swung a little too far and produced the oxymoron 'positive discrimination'.

Whatever your political persuasion and personal views about Apartheid, the story told in Long Walk to Freedom must surely become one of the benchmarks for future historical reading.