‘Papa, I Miss You’: Josina Machel’s moving tribute to Nelson Mandela

It has been a decade since his passing, and his legacy lives on. Nelson Mandela, who was the first black president of South Africa, made it to the grand age of 95 before passing away on December 5, 2013, at his home in Houghton after a long illness.

Also Read: South Africans commemorate 10 years since Mandela’s passing

ABOUT THE GLOBAL PEACE ICON, MANDELA

As documented by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nelson Mandela, born into a Xhosa royal family in Mvezo, South Africa, in 1918, witnessed firsthand the injustices of apartheid, a system of racial segregation that denied black South Africans their fundamental rights. He joined the anti-apartheid movement as a young man and was eventually imprisoned for 27 years.

Despite his imprisonment, Mandela never gave up his dream of a free and just South Africa. He was released from prison in 1990 and became the first Black president of South Africa in 1994.

Also Read: Revisiting five quotes from Nelson Mandela’s first post-prison speech 30 years later

THE POWER OF MANDELA’S LEGACY

Mandela’s presidency was marked by his efforts to heal the wounds of apartheid and build a united South Africa. He established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine the crimes of the apartheid era and promote forgiveness and reconciliation. He also worked to improve the lives of Black South Africans, who had been denied access to education, jobs, and housing under apartheid.

Mandela’s legacy continues to inspire people around the world. He is rightly remembered as a courageous leader who fought for freedom and equality. His stepdaughter, Josina Machel, took to platform to share a heartfelt tribute to her beloved ‘Papa.’

In her X post, Machel shared a photo of herself dancing with Mandela on what appeared to be her wedding day. 

“Papa, 10 years ago, your dance ended on this earth,” she wrote. “The positive impact of your presence on this universe still reverberates on. I will keep on dancing with your spirit until we meet again.”

The human rights activist, daughter of Mandela’s widow Graça Machel, expressed how they miss Mandela. “I miss you. Mum misses you. Ziga and Zanji miss you. We all miss you. Love you 4ever (sic),” she wrote.

Also Read: ‘Mama’s boy’: Nelson Mandela’s daughter launches tell-all book

Josina Z. Machel, a survivor of domestic abuse, leverages her experience to empower women and combat gender-based violence through her organisation, Kuhluka Movement. Recognized by BBC 100 Women in 2020, her dedication to equality leaves no wonder where she got it from.

 Also Read: The complex marriage of Nelson and Winnie Mandela: New book

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY AMARACHI VIVIAN