SA forgotten at Mandela's memorial

[LazyLion]

South Africans have been forgotten in government's quest to give the world a memorial for Nelson Mandela that was meant to impress internationals.

On Tuesday, the people in FNB stadium did not get to say goodbye to Nelson Mandela. You could see it in the empty chairs (a failure of public transport and the fact that it was a normal work day for the majority of Gautengers); you could see it in the restless crowd that wanted to sing and dance; you could see it in the heckling of President Jacob Zuma.

The government laid out an event that it thought was appropriate for the passing of a beloved statesman and a national hero: gravitas, world leaders, speeches, the odd musical interlude. But this programme shows they forgot what South Africans want and need: catharsis, the chance to celebrate a man who changed their lives and gave them freedom.

We do it loudly because that's how we show emotion; we dance, we sing. In the last five days at the homage sites around the country, it has been common to hear a foreign broadcaster or journalist ask: "I thought everyone was mourning. Why are they singing?"

At the FNB stadium, no matter how hard it tried to drive the event, the crowd became the backdrop of an event aimed at television cameras, speeches by people they had never heard of (speeches the crowds could not hear because of a dubious sound system), so that South Africans could hear how much other people appreciated Madiba.

At 5am, memorial goers were awaiting the first train from Park Station to FNB Stadium. People were not tired; they were exhilarated, and the ripe-smelling quay echoed with the sounds of Shosholoza and Nelson Mandela tribute songs. This vibe and atmosphere continued throughout the morning, through the cold rainy weather, as people nipped to the sheltered back rows in the stadium.

Where was the singing
Proceedings – meant to begin at 11am – ran late (this time because Western dignitaries rather than South Africans were late), but the good humour continued. Until the national anthem.

The sound system turned a full orchestra into a reedy, limp-handshake of melody, so much so that the first part of it was over before the crowds realised that it began. This was followed by speeches, many speeches. Where was the singing and joy?

Memorial-goers were treated like children – effectively told to sit down and listen while important people talk – and we are not a people to take that lightly, or sitting down for that matter.

Where was the emotion from the speakers? When Zuma delivered the keynote address, he was wooden and didn't lift his eyes from his speech (although he may have felt the need to soldier on in light of the hostile and restless crowd). But this is a man renowned for his ability to address the public. Why did he not speak from the heart about a man who he knew?

On the streets
Where were the children? Mandela loved children, enjoyed being around them and took delight in their presence. But young South Africans did not feature on the programme.

On Tuesday night on Vilakazi Street, a marching band was playing while mourners continued to pay their respects to Mandela with flowers and song. The same thing happened in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Qunu, and the rest of the country.

The love, respect and gratitude South Africans have for their Tata are playing out in the streets, not in scripted events.

Photos at the link....
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-12-11-sa-forgotten-at-mandelas-memorial

 

[Fulcrum29]

I can agree and disagree.

The crowd cannot be rowdy and disruptive when public speakers are embracing their sympathy and respect, not only this but also act in an uncontrollable security breach.

There is a place and time to celebrate in mourning.

It is like someone trying to make a point in a thread here, but then gets trolled into the abyss.

 

[Compton_effect]

No. We are a loud people and proud of it.
I have to agree with the author. We tried to hold a European style memorial for a truly African leader, and we failed - awkwardly.

I think the real celebration of his life and legacy will be at his funeral.

 

[yebocan]

No. We are a loud people and proud of it.
I have to agree with the author. We tried to hold a European style memorial for a truly African leader, and we failed - awkwardly.

I think the real celebration of his life and legacy will be at his funeral.

That is how the whole event felt for me, way too many distractions, from the boo'ing, to that bloody massive misplaced mic...to the reading of all the dignitaries that pitched up...mind you Israel's Netanyahu was mentioned...must have been a surprise to him, since he did not attend....then there was the quality of the footage we were seeing, the miss angles...the terrible sound feeds...the whole thing felt awkward and and badly staged.

 

[Redeemed]

I can agree and disagree.

The crowd cannot be rowdy and disruptive when public speakers are embracing their sympathy and respect, not only this but also act in an uncontrollable security breach.

There is a place and time to celebrate in mourning.

It is like someone trying to make a point in a thread here, but then gets trolled into the abyss.

But how do you expect the crowd to react if they can't even hear the speakers because of the poor sound system?

 

[Fulcrum29]

But how do you expect the crowd to react if they can't even hear the speakers because of the poor sound system?

So who organised the event on whose permission?

 

[Redeemed]

I think the real celebration of his life and legacy will be at his funeral.

But that won't be open to the public, cameras won't even film the actual burial.