Nelson Mandela, more than any other politician or president, has reached out to musicians in this country. This is particularly so through the 46664 initiatives as well as the fact that he enjoyed reaching out to as many of our citizens as possible. In celebration of his 94th year Therese Owen spoke to a few artists about their memories of today’s special birthday boy.
Loyiso Bala:
“The first time I met Madiba was when I was a learner in the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir in 1995. We were singing at the relaunch of the Air Force which had a base about a kilometre away from the school.
“I got to speak to him for the longest time probably because the white kids were still thinking he was a terrorist, but mostly because I greeted him in Xhosa. He answered me in Xhosa and asked me my name and clan name. When I told him he gave me the history of my clan.
“What really struck me on that day is that he was just like me and could have been my grandfather, but he was president of the country. I was one of the few black children at the school and never felt like I was part of it and here was a black person who was president of the country.
“The third time I met him was at his house. I had arrived early for the meet ’n’ greet for the 46664 concert with Pharrell. We had tea and when the American guests arrived he told me to open the door for them.
They all walked in and started bowing to me probably because they thought I was a prince and Madiba the king of Africa. He greeted them and started telling stories because there was always an awkward pause when people met him.
“Eventually they were still silent so he was like: ‘Come talk to me, talk to me’. It was wonderful to see him just being him because that is what he wants, for people to just see him as himself.
“But my greatest memory was when I performed at a dinner in London. I was the only South African performer and I looked across the room and there he was, as was Oprah and Gayle (King), Bill Clinton, Gordon Brown, Will Smith, Uma Thurman was dancing even.
“I was there because I was South African and if it wasn’t for Madiba and the others who fought for us I wouldn’t be there. I can now stand on any stage in the world because in that instant I knew I was worth it. If freedom means anything, it means living your dream.”
Louise Carver:
“I met Nelson Mandela when I was chosen to perform at the 46664 concert. Each of the performers had their picture taken with him and when I received my framed photo, I wondered why I had such a strange expression on my face.
“When I looked closer, I saw I had spontaneously started to cry as he took my hand. I was overwhelmed by his unbelievable presence.
“I am so grateful I got the chance to meet such a brilliant soul.”
Bongani Fassie:
“He was a big fan of my mother (Brenda). I have pretty much known him most of my life. I remember when I was young he was tall, so very tall. When we were still living in Cape Town he would often arrive unannounced. When my mother died he came to our house in Buccleuch. I didn’t expect him to come. I was so lost in my world at that moment. He gave me a hug and told me I should come and live with him and then he and Zelda la Grange left.
“A few years later I ended up staying at his Houghton house. I needed a place to stay at the time. They were fixing up the outside cottage so I stayed in the bedroom next to his. We used to dine together and watch a lot of television. We used to watch a lot of boxing. He would watch his grandchildren play PlayStation and would always make jokes with them.
“He would give his medical staff a hard time because he has a great sense of humour. I was there when he fell sick and the whole world thought he was going to die. He was kinda fine and still joking around.
“He is wise, disciplined, cultured and down to earth. Just don’t make him angry because he is an alpha male.
“Do you know, I have never seen him walk around holding a cooldrink or a packet of chips? He is very proper like that.”
Zwai Bala:
“I first met Madiba at Bishop Tutu’s birthday party. But I remember he once called a meeting at Gold Reef City. He wasn’t president then.
“It was shortly after Eugene from Trompies started making a noise about how Madiba always met international stars, but he never met us. So he was like: “Cool, I’ll meet you.”
“After he gave a speech and it was question time, an artist stood up and asked him why he had never met us. Madiba replied: “You never asked me.”
The international artist sat down immediately. I was then asked to give a word of thanks.
Oskido:
In the 1990s the ANCYL, which was then led by Malusi Gigaba, organised a meeting between him and the Kwaito Nation. Everyone attended, from M’du to Arthur to us. In fact, everyone who had started kwaito was there. It was back in the day when Thebe and I had some vulgar lyrics and Boom Shaka were also quite hectic.
“Madiba told us to stop writing about offensive things and tone down our lyrics. It was a matter of saying: ‘Guys, make music that is more productive’.
“So we toned down our lyrics. Afterwards there was a photo shoot, but I left because, well, you know me…”
John Vlismas:
“I was with a bunch of comedians and we were in a queue waiting to meet Mandela and Jermaine Jackson was there still wearing the tracksuit from Thriller. Jermaine had this puffy face and I remember asking Dr Riaad Moosa if perhaps they had taken all the bits they had sucked out of Michael and fed them to Jermaine. And then it was time to meet Mandela.
“You think of all the things you wanna say for the past 10 years or so and then you stand in front of him and you’re just awe-struck. There we were, 10 comedians, 10 of the biggest mouths in the country and we were dumbstruck. It was the most peaceful comedy gathering ever.
Ross Learmouth,Prime Circle:
Prime Circle have met him three times. The first time was at the Nelson Mandela Children’s HQ in Rosebank. We were asked to turn off our cellphones when he arrived. He was talking and my phone rang. It was very embarrassing.
“We met him a second time when we were 46664 ambassadors and the concert was at Fancourt. He told us he was looking for a job so we offered him a job as drummer and he agreed. We were going to tour with Mr Mandela, but unfortunately he was too busy with other things.
“Then finally we met him the next year again, through 46664. It’s amazing and impressive being around him. You can definitely see in his eyes that he is wiser than normal.”
Ishmael:
“I have met him three times. The first was at a rally in Cape Town when I was performing as part of PoC (Prophets of the City). It was around the time he had just come out of jail. It was amazing because I never thought he would come out of jail, let alone that I would meet him.
“I also met him when Jozi was nominated for an MTVbase award and then I was at his speech at Gold Reef City when the government had arranged to speak to artists.
“It’s very heavy meeting him because you calculate everything you do when you are next to him, how you command yourself. He doesn’t even have to say anything, you just want to do it. But at the same time he is very friendly.”
Lance Stehr:
I have been fortunate to have met Madiba about eight times. The first time was in the garden of Bishop Tutu’s home. I was freelancing for WTN as a cameraman and we covered the first press conference when he came out of jail.
“There were 25 journalists and cameramen. I knew this was history and it wasn’t long before he was going to be president.
“I had spent a long time in Mdanstane which is close to East London and a very good friend of mine, Zola Mjo, had spent 20 years on Robben Island. He had been released in 1984 and hearing Madiba speak on that day, it was as if there was one voice, one institution on Robben Island and everybody spoke the same message.”