Philosophy of Nelson Mandela

INTRODUCTION

The late Nelson Mandela was not only a revered icon of liberation in South Africa but also an internationally decorated personality whose courage and clarity of vision regarding freedom was invaluable. While much has been written and published regarding Mandela’s enduring fight to a free and democratic South Africa, there has been very little focus on the subject of Mandela’s contribution in terms of worldviews on education. He considered education as one of the most powerful weapons which can be used to change the world. This chapter presents a critical analysis of Mandela’s views on education. The analysis is undertaken in the light of the philosophical tradition of existentialism. In the process of elucidating Mandela’s worldview on education, parallels are drawn with views of liberation theorists such as Paulo Freire and Julius Nyerere so as to explicate the notion of education for liberation that cuts across the views of Mandela and the two theorists. For all three, education ought to lead to the transformation of individuals and society, and enhance human dignity. We begin by sketching Mandela’s biography so as to provide the context within which his views on education can be understood.

 A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF NELSON MANDELA

 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa. His mother’s name was Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father was Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela of the Madiba clan. His father was the principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. In 1930, when Mandela was twelve years old, his father died and the young Mandela was taken in by Jongintaba to be brought up at the Great Palace in Mqhekezweni (Nelson Mandela Foundation). He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Ms Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom that required school children to be given Christian names. He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school, where he matriculated. J. NASONGO et al. 82 He later pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at the university college of Fort Hare but did not complete the studies due to expulsion resulting from his participation in a student protest. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree by correspondence through the University of South Africa and returned to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943. He later enrolled for the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Witwatersrand but did not graduate. After his imprisonment in 1962, he enrolled for an LLB with the University of London but also did not complete the degree programme. It was not until 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, that he finally obtained an LLB degree through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town. Nelson Mandela became actively involved in the struggle for freedom in 1942. He joined The African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 when he helped to form the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He rose through the ranks of ANCYL where they organized campaigns of civil disobedience against unjust laws. A two-year diploma in law in addition to his BA allowed him to practice law, and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo. Mandela continued actively in the freedom struggle and encountered several confrontations with the unjust legal system and government security machinery. He was arrested repeatedly. In June 1961, he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) which launched its struggle on 16th December 1961 with a series of explosions. On 9 October 1963 Nelson Mandela, together with ten others, was tried for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty he gave his famous speech from the dock on 20 April 1964: I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. (Nelson Mandela Foundation, 2001) On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment and jailed at Robben Island. He remained in prison until Sunday 11 February 1990 when he was released from prison. He engaged the white minority rule in talks to end the apartheid regime in South Africa and in 1991 was elected ANC president. On 27 April 1994 South Africa held the first general elections that involved all races with ANC emerging victorious. As a result, Mandela was on 10 May 1994 inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected president. He stepped down in 1999 after one term as president of South Africa. Thereafter, he continued with his devotion to democracy and equality (Nelson Mandela Foundation). He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.