Ampoky ny fifaliana izahay, vahoakan'i Afrika Atsimo, fa naverin'ny zanak'olombelona ho amin'ny fivelaranay, izahay, izay noheverina ho dahalo fotoana vitsy lasa izay, no nomena tombondahiny naiditra ho ao anatin'ny fiaraha-monina iraisam-pirenena eto amin'ny taninay manokana.

– teny avy amin'i Nelson Mandela's nandritra ny fitokanana azy ho Filoham-pirenen'i Afrika Atsimo, tany Pretoria, ny 10 May 1994.

Nelson Mandela, ilay mpitolona nanohitra ny fanavakavaham-bolokoditra sady filoham-pirenena Afrikana Tatsimo voafidy tamin'ny fomba demaokiratika feno, no nankalaza ny faha-90 taonany androany [Zoma] ary nihoatra ny tranony any Qunu, vohitra kely any atsinanan'i Le Cap sy ny sisintany lavitra mihitsy izany ny fanomezam-boninahitra azy izany. Niara-nihira ny fahatrarany fety (happy birthday) izao tontolo izao ary nandefa karatra fiarabana ho azy. Ny ifantohantsika etoana dia ny lahatsora-pifaliana avy amin'ireo mpamaham-bolongana mipetraka eto Afrika, izay dindon'ny fiovana nentin'i Madiba tamin'ny fiainany sy ny fireneny, ary ny nofinofiny amin'ny ho avy.

Rethabile Masilo, mpamaham-bolongana Lesotho fiaviana, no mahatsiaro ny halehiben'ny tolona nataon'i Mandela. Mendrika hotsidihana ny bolongany Black Looks noho ny traikefa niainan'ny fianakaviambeny raha nialokaloka tany Afrika Atsimo izy ireo:

I had a light bulb above my head, just like in cartoons, and the hair on my arms stood on end. The name Nelson Mandela dropped of it’s own accord into my head, and I truly, really understood why he had sacrificed his life against this… thing. For that particular zombie instant, hair on end, a stupid smile on my face, I knew why. I want to wish him a happy birthday today, and tell him that we know.

Avy ao Afrika Atsimo kosa i Sandi Schultz mpamahana ny My Whorl no mahatadidy tsara ilay fiandohan'ny volana Feboroary 1990 raha henony fa noafahana i Mandela, ilay maherifony indrindra, rehefa tany amponja nandritra ny 27 nitolona ho amin'ny fiarahamonina afaka sy demaokiratika:

10 february 1990 – we’re in the airport lounge in brussels. i see someone i know and she shouts out, “mandela’s free tomorrow!” wow, we are floored by the news! at long last – and we’re going to be home when it happens.

we land sometime in the early hours and head straight for soweto to watch madiba’s release on tv with friends of john’s. it is momentous! the man walks out, taller, more charismatic than anyone could have imagined. larger than life. a survivor of the seemingly impossible.

Louder than Swahili, bolongana Danoà monina any Tanzania indray no manambara fa maro ny azo ianarana avy amin'i Mandela, indrindra moa fa rehefa miatrika ny fahafahana mamela heloka isika. Mino izy fa tsy filoha tsotra fotsiny izy:

Mandela has gotten a position very few politicians could ever hope for. It is very much due to Mandela that the country has been able to change and create a positive image of what now is labelled the rainbow nation. But keeping this brand alive is also very much dependent on how his predecessors manage to continue running the country.

Ao amin'ny lahatsoratra hoe ‘Bring Back Nelson Mandela’ (avereno i Nelson Mandela) , kosa no itarafan'i Africa is a Country izay mahaliana mikasika an'i Afrika Atsimo amin'ity 2008 ity:

It’s of course a very interesting time to celebrate Mandela’s 90th birthday. It’s been 18 years since has released from prison and 14 years since he was first elected as President. And yes, in some ways South Africa today is unrecognizable from the country Mandela encountered in 1990. But some of the old inequalities persist. South Africa — a country that revels in its “special” status — is also becoming an ordinary country.

Memoires of Africa [fahatsiarovan'i Afrika] ihany koa dia mametraka izay fahasarotana mianjady amin'ny firenena izay ankehitriny, ary manantena fa tsy ho adinoina ny lova navelan'ilay maherifo:

It’s a day for many to reflect on his legacy. At a time when South Africa is going through political upheavals many pray for his wisdom to be transferred to the current and potential future leadership of the country. Will his legacy be carried out to ensure that the stability and the future of this country reflect what he fought for? But let’s not get into politics for today… Ube neminye iminyaka Tata…

Avy any Mozambique kosa, Seguindo os Sonhos [Manaraka ny nofinofy, pt], tarika mpihira misy ankizy manantanlenta efatra, dia nandrakitra hira hira manokana ho fahatsiarovana ny faha-90 taona nahaterahan'i Mandela. Hihira amin'ny fety hankalazaina amin'ny 10 aogositra ho avy izao any Maputo ry zareo . Azonao vakiana eto ny tonony eto. Ny lahatsoaratra androany moa dia momba ny fetim-pahaterahana:

Nelson Mandela, nosso ídolo ! Hoje a tarde vai receber em África do Sul um pequeno presente nosso: um DVD com a nossa música e o nosso video para seu nonagésimo aniversário. Você é um homem de um coração tão humanístico como há muito poucos neste mundo de hoje, cheio de egoístas e de líderes políticos cuja maioria persegue agendas individuais e não de índole nacional que possam beneficiar os seus compatriotas de que se proclamam seus representantes e defensores.

Hahazo fanomezana kely avy aminay i Nelson Mandela, ilay olona tsongoin'olombolo, amin'ity tolakandro ity any Afrika Atsimo: DVD iray misy ny ny lahatsarinay sy ny hiranay natokana ho amin'izao faha-90 taona anao izao. Olona manana toe-panahy mendrika vitsy dia vitsy mpanana amin'izao fotoana izao manerana izao tontolo izao ianao, izao tontolo izao feno olona tia tena sy mpitarika politika tsy mahalala afa-tsy ny fandaharam-potoana ho an'ny tenany fa tsy mikatsaka ny tombotsoan'ny besinimaro, nefa dia mampihambo ny tenany ho solotenam-bahoaka sy mpiaro azy.

Jennifer Reynard moa niezaka ihany ny tsy hitomany teo amin'ny biraony raha nahatsiaro ny nandaozan'i Nelson Mandela ny fonja, ny androm-pifidianana eo ampijerena tamin'ny fahitalavitra ny fanokafana ny faha90 taonany fa tsy tanany ny ranomasony:

Natasha, Tanja and I are at Natasha’s aunt and uncle’s house. “Did you send an sms for Mandela’s birthday?” Tush asks me. “Yes- but I kept it very simple. Just ‘Happy Birthday Madiba. God bless and have many more. Love Jenny”.
” Not me,” Natasha says “I got quite emotional, saying ‘Thank you for sending our country on its way to democracy…”
Today- grey skies. I slept past my alarm clock. I got to work late. My eyes are teary. I wish I had baked a cake. I wish I could share with someone how much today means. I listen to Asimbonanga, Impi, Scatterlings of Africa and others on Youtube. I watch the video of Madiba on stage in Frankfurt. I want to cry for our country, and our people, for being so far away but for always having Africa in my heart.
Mandela is an icon, but the key thing about him is it feels like each one of us carries a piece of him- a quote, a special memory, the image ofMadiba shirts hanging in OR Thambo – in our hearts. Not only does he remind the world that we count, that we mean something, but in some small way, his birthday has the power to bring me home.
Happy birthday Madiba. God bless you.

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