Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is gone. A woman who spent the majority of her life fighting for the liberty of her fellow South Africans during the tumultuous era of apartheid. She was a brave leader & a noble defender of her people. Without doubt, her legacy is laced with questionable moments, disputable details, even political intrigue. Yet, through it all, the one irrefutable fact is she was tireless in her support of and struggle for the freedom of her countrymen.
What made her rise to prominence more astounding was the circumstances that created it. Her then-husband, Nelson Mandela, was the leader and voice of the movement she helped him build –the ANC. But when he was detained in 1963 in an attempt to quell the movement’s rise, it was Winnie who embodied the spirit, the conscience & the face of the anti-apartheid movement in the nation & she who would carry it & the ANC for 27 years after.
Her reverence & spirit as an advocate for sovereignty in a country that became saturated with oppression, racism & appropriation have been stained by attempts to destroy her reputation as the leader of a movement. Still, she never yielded, never ceased the fight, never gave up. Even through imprisonment & torture. What our world could do with more people with the warrior’s spirit she possessed.
Her role in the shift of nationality is the very base on which South Africa is still being reshaped. Away from a land dominated by foreign settlers towards a return to its original inhabitants. Her story is not as well-known as Nelson’s, but make no mistake about it, it is even more incredible & inspiring. Jennifer Hudson provided an astounding portrayal of Winnie in the film WINNIE MANDELA a few years back. But nothing is quite the same as the words & essence of the woman known as the “Mother of the Nation” herself. Hated, feared, but most importantly, revered. Rest in Power.
WINNIE is a Sundance Film Festival winner and has been on the festival circuit for a few months now. Worth the watch if it screens near you.