Adieu to the great Madiba!

It is not everyday that one gets to hear a report about the passing away of a prominent and globally revered personality.

But it did happen some few days ago and I cannot forget how the news got to reach me.
 
I had woken up at about 7:15 am and turned on my phone. I had somewhat become indolent due to the ongoing ASUU strike that had stalled my academic pursuit.

The strike action gave me the whole day to pray and read my bible as opposed to my former custom of waking up early to pray before starting the day.

It was a very cold morning, one of those on which I felt like lying in bed to reminisce about my life and get to stir myself up on how best to work at achieving my dreams.

I read the Perfect News from my phone to get motivated in that direction. Then I opened my blackberry messenger and the first display picture and personal message uploaded read thus:

“A hero has departed. R.I.P Mandela”

Several display pictures and personal messages followed, all containing similar messages.

My universe seemed to pause for a moment as my heart pounded at an overdrive. I quickly browsed nairaland, a website that usually contains most of the latest news in the country and world at large.

The first three topics on the site greeted me with the information I already had: Nelson Madiba Mandela, one of the greatest names ever on the African continent had passed.

The reality of his demise hit me like a brick wall, and my countenance fell, deep sadness.

Everyone knew the legendary Nelson Mandela and his impact on the lives of South Africans and the world at large.

I could however not say that he had any direct impact on me. I think the first time I ever heard about him was in 1999 when I watched the movie “Saraphinna”.

I remember loving that piece because it stirred something in me as I watched the young African like myself rise up to face daunting challenges.

Apart from this and few occasions he was seen as an example of persistence and selflessness or when I heard about him in the news, he was never really someone whose life I particularly followed.

But why did the news of his demise hurt so deep?

I searched and found a picture portrait of him which I love the most, the one with him staring at his reflection in a hand mirror.

The portrait at the time was the most expensive African portrait which had sold for several thousands of Dollars.

I downloaded and uploaded it as my display picture and was about to update my personal message when my sadness overwhelmed me.

The hurt I felt was not just as a result of his death; it was also as a result of the thought I was having about the issue. 

My personal message that accompanied the displayed picture read:

“Will I have lived a life worthy of this kind of honor when it’s my time to go?

#a question for my soul# R.I.P”

I watched within minutes as most of my friends had his picture on display with so many heroic quotations attached.

I put down my phone and stared at the ceiling and I let the thoughts flood: one man dies at 95 and the whole world acknowledges.

What makes such kind of men?

Why are they always 1 in 7 billion?

What did he do different when he was about my age?

How did he view life?

The thoughts kept coming as I looked back at my life. Was I on the path to achieving anything that the world will acknowledge when it’s over for me?

Or will I be part of the millions who die and no one even remembers that someone had made their impact?

I couldn’t answer the questions directly but I did get a relief when the thought hit me: Mandela wasn’t great because he has the world standing still at the news of his death. He achieved greatness because he was selfless.

He was more concerned about the people than he was about himself.

In summary, “He lived for the people to be celebrated and free and in death he is celebrated by the people he lived for.”

It’s amazing how the simple sacrifices we make of ourselves for others can accumulate into opportunities for bigger sacrifices till we become a hero to that widow, that orphan, that family, village, state, country, continent and yes; the whole world!

A good Book I have always loved to read since I was a child says in one of its chapters, “He who is faithful in little is faithful in much.”

If every father was a self-sacrificing hero to their families, every wife to her husband, every man to his neighbour, we would all be Nelson Mandalas in our own capacity.

Yes, we would all be heroes to each other and when it’s our time to depart, the world will make sure our fame is published till everyone hears our name; our pictures will not only be displayed on our phones but in our hearts, here on earth and for eternity.

Thank you Nelson for inspiring us even in death. Rest in peace#

food for thought..