By Matona Fatman

Traditional leaders from the Institute of African Royalty gathered at Freedom Park, Tshwane, on November 5, 2009 to honour former President Nelson Mandela. Even in absentia, Mandela would become the first leader to be showered with accolades by the newly-founded institute’s royal members.

The awards were presented to Mandela’s grandson and chief of Mvezo – Mandela’s home village in the Eastern Cape – Mandla Mandela. “It’s an overwhelming feeling for us as a family that the honour is bestowed upon our grandfather,” said Mandla Mandela as he thanked the royals, who came from all over Africa bearing gifts. Amongst these were a 100 year-old throne from King Zie Jean Gervais of the Ivory Coast, and a fully-mounted lion (which is the highest accolade to be awarded to a warrior) from the Queen Mother of Ghana, Anna.

Delaying a trip to Maputo, Mozambique, President Jacob Zuma arrived at the gathering to loud applause from a very eager audience. Zuma thanked Mandela for the contribution he made towards reconciliation and peace not only in South Africa, but to the rest of the world. The President urged the nation to move toward true unity across racial and ethnic lines.

“Mandela worked to unite the country… He’s a man to be honoured, as so many have done before. We need to work to unite our society, where everybody lives freely and in harmony. We need to fight to achieve Madiba’s ideals in our lifetime,” said Zuma.

Born to lead

Mandela was born to Henry Mgadla Mandela, who was paramount chief councilor to Thembuland’s acting paramount chief, David Dalindyebo. While Mandela was a member of the royal household, he was not amongst the privileged few who were trained for rule. Instead, as a descendant of a minor house, he was groomed, like his father before him, to counsel tribal rulers.   

Although Mandela’s journey took him to a lifetime involvement in South African politics, it was against this backdrop of being born into royalty that lent to his association with traditional leaders even before his release from prison. A year before Mandela was set free, he was visited in custody by Chief Joyi of the abaThembu (Mandela’s clan) and briefed on the developments surrounding the paramount chieftainship of the clan. Joyi had it in mind that once out of prison, Mandela would be placed in a high position amongst the abaThembu leadership.

Following his release from prison, Mandela worked hard to resolve tensions between political and traditional leaders. After he was sworn in as South Africa’s first democratically elected president, he strived to get the South African National Civic Organisation and traditional leaders to see eye-to-eye. He said there was no reason traditional leaders could not work together with elected councils as chiefs were not hostile to democracy.

“Traditions are not meant to hamper progress but to facilitate it. When times change, traditions and customs must also adjust. They cannot remain static as if nothing has changed,” said Mandela (quoted in the Weekend Argus: February 4, 1995).

Celebrating an icon

African royalty and civilians came out in their numbers to celebrate Mandela’s life and what many have called awe-inspiring leadership. Although he is officially out of politics, there is no stopping the world from revering the man who still stands as the icon of the spirit of forgiveness to millions.

The Institute of African Royalty paid homage to Mandela for his contribution towards building a democratic South Africa, and for the role he played in trying to harmonise the objectives of political and traditional leadership – a role the institute hopes to continue and build upon.