Today marks the fifth year since the United Nations declared July 18, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, an international day on its calendar. But this year’s celebration is different from that last four since it is the first time Mandela — who was also known by many as Madiba — will not be around to celebrate it with the world.
This year’s event also marks the 20th year since Mandela became the first black President of South Africa.
Until his passing on December 5th 2013 at the age of 95, Mandela had dedicated 67 years of his life to activism for South Africa’s freedom. He spent 29 of those years in prison.
This year President Jacob Zuma has dedicated the Mandela day celebrations cleaning up the environment and he has called on South Africans to bring out their brooms and mops and help spruce up their country.
“This year, we have decided to honor Madiba’s memory through a massive ‘Operation Clean Up for Madiba’ campaign,” News24 quoted him saying
“We should demonstrate our love for our beautiful country by cleaning our surroundings, together. In this way, we will be promoting working together to build our beautiful country, which is what Madiba taught us as South Africans,” he added.
On the eve of what would have been Mandela’s 96th birthday, a collection of unusual items signed by South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was auctioned in Johannesburg, BBC reported, with the sale raising some $160,000 for charity.
Over 1,000 other event have been organized across the world in honor of Mandela.
Here’s a selection of AFKInsider coverage of Mandela in the wake of his death:
How Mandela Inspired Entrepreneurs, Oppressors January 6, 2014
The goodwill generated by Mandela’s conciliatory approach after his release from prison and during his time as president continues to reverberate throughout South Africa’s business world.
Nelson Mandela Laid To Rest At A State Funeral December 15, 2013
Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president whose long fight against apartheid made him famous worldwide, was laid to rest on Sunday at his humble ancestral home of Qunu, in the Eastern Cape province.
Africa After Mandela Survey: High-Level Optimism December 13, 2013
Africans are more optimistic about the future than when Mandela came to power, they have a high level of patience with their leaders and their No. 1 fear is corruption, according to respondents in a CNN survey.
Ubuntu: Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Brings The World Together December 10, 2013
In a sign of unity – “ubuntu” — as president Barack Obama of the U.S. put it — thousands of South Africans, world leaders, other dignitaries and celebrities gathered at the FNB soccer stadium in Johannesburg Tuesday for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. Mandela will be buried on Sunday, Dec. 15 in Qunu, his ancestral home in Eastern Cape province.
Nelson Mandela’s Journey in Activism Through 6 Powerful Quotes December 9, 2013
In his 1990 Speech at London’s Wembley Arena — two months after his release from 27 years in prison — Nelson Mandela reiterated through one quote the purpose of his continued work and the motivation behind his revolutionary anti-apartheid leadership. Presented through scripts and videos at The Mirror, it’s only fitting that this timeline begin with a statement which notes equality — the cause Mandela was all about:
Life Without Nelson Mandela: What Next For South Africa? December 9, 2013
His death leaves the nation without a moral center and at a time when there is growing discontent with the country’s leadership. Emerging from a 27 years’ incarceration for treason against a white minority government, Mandela managed to unite the country and win a democratic election in a resounding victory in 1994.
Africa Mourns: Rest In Peace Nelson Mandela December 6, 2013
There have been many false rumors of his death, the media camping at his deathbed like vultures waiting for news of his demise, but finally Nelson Mandela, African’s most iconic person, died last night under his own terms.
Mandela: His Political Life and Leadership Style December 6, 2013
As South Africans and others around the world mourn Nelson Mandela’s death and celebrate his life, thoughts turn to his political life, leadership style and genius. Mandela’s genius stemmed from the way in which he talked about South Africa. Mandela did not proselytize a viewpoint so much as build partnerships among different groups that wanted to end apartheid, wrote Ryan Irwin for the Council On Foreign Relations.