GRACELAND

GRACELAND.

I don't remember the number of times I watched the Graceland concert of Paul Simon (1987) where he featured Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. We (my siblings and I) learnt virtually all the songs from that concert including the "bring back Nelson Mandela" song. The song about a man I was told was badly treated and jailed because of the color of his skin.

The man who was prepared to give his life for his country in 1964 and who represented the hope of equality and freedom for his race walked out from incarceration after almost 30 years and his kind geared up for a final onslaught.
He would have been justified if he spent his years as president rounding up the supremacists responsible for the physical and mental torture he suffered. He could have claimed PTSD and exerted full vengeance for the likes of Steve whose blood was shed in the struggle against apartheid.

Some of his kind must have cursed him when he urged his nation to rally behind a 'White' sport and the SA rugby team just before the start of the 1995 world cup held in SA. He inspired a largely white dominated team to sweat blood and shed tears to bring glory to their homeland against all odds a feat that was matched in 1996 by the 'Bafana Bafana' when they lifted the Africa Nations' Cup also on home soil (I still believe the Super Eagles would have won if not for Sani's grudge).

I remember Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar rolling his thumbs like a school boy when he visited Sir Nelson after Sani's demise. I don't know what Nelson told the man but it must have convinced him not to dilly-dally in Aso-rock and attempt to emulate the African hero.

Step forward Uncle Sege...looking humble with spectacles that looked like something out of Madea's closet. Many thought the prison yard must have re-calibrated his soul in order launch Nigeria's crashing ship back into orbit alongside Madiba's transforming Nation. Madiba changed their flag and anthem, a song sung passionately by all and sundry irrespective of tribe or tongue. He restored their hope and encouraged the people to sheath their swords. He showed the world that change could begin from the top, he taught humanity that forgiveness, tolerance and love were not archaic virtues but contemporary and resident in every human heart.

Uncle Sege missed the plot even though he tried to simulate the reconciliation stunt but too many things were further swept under the carpet and too many skeletons left locked up in exotic closets. While SA still remains suspect with fault lines yet apparent, the show of unity evident outside of Madiba's home last night still gives hope of a secured homeland. Their leaders must ensure that his spoken words and deeds remain audible even in the ears of generations unborn.

Nigeria seems to be drifting further away from the promised land as our fault lines get further exposed and undermined by primitive sentiments of religion, tribe, gender and social class. We have had our own fair share of selfless heroes (Gani and Fela to name a few) and have failed to heed their words. We have instead been listening to those that have consistently plundered the resources of this nation storing up funds that their generations unborn cannot even dream of exhausting.

I am not sure if Madiba set up any personal library or established a world class farm or ranch. I am not sure if he built any church in his hometown or if he even built any bridge to his ancestral home. All I am sure about is that he built bridges across melanin pigments, across bank accounts and across glossal muscles.

I pray our leaders in Africa and Nigeria would stand up to be counted and allow their souls to be responsive to what inspired Mandela. He paid the price so that we could be saved the pains of physical and mental slavery. It's left to us what we want to do with this worthy template, a made in Africa one.

Rest in Peace Madiba.

jide akeju
6/12/2013