Prior to the interment of the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, at a private ceremony in Qunu, his country home, on Sunday, the Nigerian art community last Friday took time out to celebrate the memories of the late freedom fighter.
Led by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, it was an assemblage of political activists, public commentators and literary figures, who are noted for their undaunted campaigns for good governance.
The passing of the South African icon provided yet another opportunity to mirror the unique place of sacrifice in leadership. Through thought-provoking poems, musicals and dance drama, the crowd, at the Freedom Park, venue of the Lagos Tribute, savoured with great interest, the eulogies on an extraordinary mortal.
Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, excited the crowd, performing with his Positive Force Band. His show at the event was complemented by other groups, including the Lagos City Chorale, Crown Troupes of Africa and the Black Image Theatre, among others.
High-ranking Nigerians at the event included the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his counterpart from Rivers State, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi; Consulate General of the South Africa, Lulu Louis Mnguni; Director-General, Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation, CBAAC, Professor Tunde Babawale; Barrister Femi Falana; Professor J.P Clark; President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Odumakin; Professor Kole Omotosho and literary guru, Odia Ofeimun, among others.
Soyinka’s poem, No, I Say, was a rendition that highlighted selflessness, courage and sacrifice, dwelling on Mandela’s refusal to trade his incarceration for freedom at the expense of other activists who were serving in other prisons. The poem explains how Mandela refused to accept some negotiations, in spite of how some African leaders had pressed him into accepting conditions for his release.
Governor Amaechi launched a direct one on the political situation in Nigeria, asking for a common rise against corruption and corrupt leaders.
“You heard about $50 billion, but nobody is talking. In some countries, people will be on the streets. If you don’t take your destiny in your hand, we, leaders, will continue to steal. It is because you have stoned nobody that we are stealing,” Amaechi said, with reference to the money said to be missing from the Excess Crude Account.
Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Ofeimum urged Nigerians to join hands by wrestling corrupt leadership as a way of returning the country to its past glory. His rendition, through a dance drama, A feast of return, complemented his thoughts on the issue. One would have thought that his position was pre-planned to meet the governor’s query.
Known for his elevated literary style on political matters, Governor Aregbesola noted that Mandela was not only the symbol of the struggle, but an individual who defined the trajectory of his country.
He took his peg from the rare spirit of forgiveness, which Mandela preached after his release. He described Mandela’s ingenuity as an “unsurpassable grace and that he (Mandela) brought no baggage of malice from prison. And he still forgave his jailers.”
Everybody who spoke at the event left no one in doubt of the virtuous life of Mandela, hinging their thoughts on the need to immortalize him by emulating his legacy.
Apparently impressed by the gathering and all that was said about his countryman, Mnguni thanked the organizers, while also noting that “We have lost a giant and we are going to miss him visiting the sick, old people’s homes, orphanages and home of abandoned children. We are going to miss that voice that preaches reconciliation, respect for fellow men and peace.
