World gears up for Mandela Day

The great man, who now looks frail and white-haired, has watched and grieved at the deaths of his closest comrades, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. However, he still has his wife Graca Machel.

Many would agree that besides his humanity and humility, one of his greatest assets is something very simple - his inimitable smile.

Madiba is a global citizen, with the freedom of over 50 cities, including Johannesburg, in addition to dozens of awards and honours, reports Joburg.org.

While the world celebrates his birthday on Saturday, he will spend the day quietly at home with his family.

National celebrations will take place in Mary Fitzgerald Square, in Newtown, under the theme "Working together for the common good of our nation". There will be a programme of speeches, music and dance, starting at 9am.

Performers will include Taliphani (Venda dance), TK Dancers, Sechaba, Winnie Khumalo, RJ Benjamin, Chommie, Arthur, Nhlanhla Nciza, Zamajobe, Kwela Tebza, Jonas Gwagwa, Kunle Ayo from Nigeria, DJ Sbu, Stoan Seate, Florence Masebe and Meshack Mavuso.

There has been a call, spearheaded by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the 46664 Campaign, to make 18 July Mandela Day, to forever celebrate the sacrifices he made for peace and reconciliation in South Africa.

"We are humbled by the call for an annual Mandela Day in our honour. Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort. Mandela Day is no different.

"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it. Mandela Day will not be a holiday but a day devoted to service.

"It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own communities. We thank you for participating in Mandela Day," Mandela said.

Mandela Day would involve taking 67 minutes in the day to do something for the good of humanity and the planet, in recognition of the 67 years Mandela devoted to liberating South Africa.

"We would be honoured if such a day could serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation," reads a statement issued on Mandela's behalf.

The call is supported by President Jacob Zuma, who, in his first national address, asked South Africans to highlight Mandela's legacy. "Let us wholeheartedly support Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign.

"Mandela Day will be a celebration of Mandela's life, values and principles and a global call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them," President Zuma said.

Members of parliament will participate in Mandela Day by campaigning within their communities through constituency work-based programmes in recognition of Madiba's 67 years of sacrifice.

The Mandela Day website, www.mandeladay.com, has a page where people from all continents have indicated what they will be doing for 67 minutes on the day. The public are invited to leave their Mandela Day imprint on the page.

The University of Fort Hare in Eastern Cape, together with the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development, is conducting a week of celebrations, culminating on Saturday with painting and beautifying Jabavu High School in Alice in Eastern Province, as well as cleaning the town.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation's Dialogue Programme will convene a community dialogue on xenophobia in Khayelitsha, outside Cape Town. Foundation staff will visit three children's homes in Tshwane to deliver books and to talk about Madiba's life and legacy.

World leaders are also pledging their support. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for one, supports the day.

"Mandela Day is an important opportunity to honour Nelson Mandela and to honour his historic and memorable achievements ... it is a day dedicated to the idea that every individual has the power to change the world for the better ... so as we celebrate the first Mandela Day, let us build a legacy worthy of bearing his name," said Brown.

Last week, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus gave this year's Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture.

Prof. Yunus wholeheartedly supported the Mandela Day concept. "The world is so lucky to have a person like Nelson Mandela. To celebrate his birthday in the form of Mandela Day is so appropriate, but it must become part of human heritage, rather than a one-off celebration," he said.

Today, former US President Bill Clinton will host a Mandela Day gala dinner and auction at the Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal, in New York City. Machel will join the festivities, together with Mandela's daughter and grandson.

Guests at the gala will include Brown, who will make a video address, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife.

The dinner will culminate in an exclusive Christie's auction. Funds raised on the night will help to promote Madiba's legacy through the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 HIV and AIDS projects and outreach campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews