The world is responding to the death of anti-apartheid leader and former South African president Nelson Mandela. But it’s in South Africa where his loss is really being felt, with a mixture of songs and tears.
Flags across the country are flying at half-staff and Sunday will be a national day of prayer and reflection. Mandela was not only an inspiration for Africans, he played a key role in politics and diplomacy on the continent.
Sudarsan Raghavan, Africa bureau chief for The Washington Post, speaks to Here & Now from Johannesburg. (Hear the interview at the top of this page. Read Raghavan’s obituary of Nelson Mandela here.)
We also hear from Temba Maqubela, who was an activist against the apartheid regime in South Africa. His family was close with the Mandela family. His grandfather was Nelson Mandela’s teacher, and his grandmother was one of the few people allowed to visit Mandela in prison. (Read the letter Mandela sent her after the visit here.) Maqubela is currently headmaster of the Groton School in Groton, Mass.
Here & Now also speaks with journalist Richard Stengel, who collaborated with Nelson Mandela on Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” He’s also author of “Mandela’s Way: 15 Lessons On Life, Love, and Courage.”
We also hear a montage of sounds from South Africa and recollections from Bono, Richard Branson and others about Mandela.
Guests
- Sudarsan Raghavan, Africa bureau chief for The Washington Post. He tweets @africawriter.
- Temba Maqubela, headmaster of the Groton School in Groton, Mass. He was an activist against the apartheid regime and his grandfather was Nelson Mandela’s teacher. Read more about Maqubela here.
- Richard Stengel, former managing editor of Time magazine, who collaborated with Nelson Mandela on Mandela’s memoir, “Long Walk to Freedom.” Stengel is also author of “Mandela’s Way: 15 Lessons On Life, Love, and Courage.”
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