Nelson Mandela has died

Last night I received a whatssap from my son in Maastricht, which just read: "Dad, Mandela is gone!" It caught me so unawares that I admit I took a couple of seconds to realise the sad news: South Africa's first black President and arguably the most iconic, inspirational figure in politics over the last 50 years had passed away. Immediately, I logged on to BBC news and I read the headline: Mandela dies aged 95. His long battle against a lung infection was over. Madiba (his clan name), the father of modern South Africa, whose life had been devoted to a brave struggle against apartheid and in favour of the civil rights of his fellow black citizens, was dead.

It is only coincidence that Chani recently mentioned on our blog how Rodriguez, while utterly neglected in his native America, was passionately idolized in South Africa during the time when Mandela was in prison for 27 long years, and his music had inspired and kept alive the dreams of many people throughout the oppressive regime.

You know, I've always said that if was given the chance to meet a politician in the flesh that would, no doubt, be (have been, actually) Nelson Mandela, definitely one of my all-time heroes. A tortured man who was willing to forgive and forget his ruthless enemies for the sake and welfare of his country, who through his sensitive words and selfless deeds transformed a nation, a leader who's universally admired and acknowledged. His personal warmth and charisma always moved me, the story of his struggle and imprisonment, which I find so courageous, made me think of how generous a human being can be.

There are many memorable quotes that define his compelling personality. Among the many I could cite, I've extracted a few as a modest tribute to his life - and death:

- Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves superior define and treat the rest as sub-human, denies the humanity even of those who elevate themselves to the status of gods.

- Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.

- As the years progress one increasingly realises the importance of friendship and human solidarity. And if a 90-year-old may offer some unsolicited advice on this occasion, it would be that you, irrespective of your age, should place human solidarity, the concern for the other, at the centre of the values by which you live.

-  I was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor, the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonoured those virtues. I realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even in the fortress of the enemy.

Such wise words he spoke, true lessons of human dignity and solidarity which we all (and especially our oft corrupted, selfish politicians) should learn from. That's why I decided to post this entry today, rather fittingly on the day we celebrate our Constitution, and I'd love you guys to join me and send in your own comments about Nelson Mandela. Politicians and religious leaders of all creeds across the world are unanimously praising the great man and his legacy so I'm sure many of you would like to share your thoughts about him too.

When I think of Mandela a song springs up, one by Scottish band Simple Minds, who in the late 80s paid a heartfelt tribute on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his cruel imprisonment: "Mandela Day". The Youtube clip I've found features the song as well as some of Mandela's everlasting quotes plus a few articles of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, so often trampled in our society:

Mandela is finally free. Long live the spirit of Madiba!

Chani: WHEN DESTINY WANTS TO TOY WITH SOMEONE (Searching for Sugar Man)

Last Thursday I went to watch this film of the “Ciclo de Cine e Idiomas” in Van Dyck cinema, Salamanca. The experience was absolutely amazing and rewarding. Even though I had previously heard of the incredible but true history of Rodriguez I couldn’t help being moved. 

First and foremost, the documentary made me feel at the beginning as if the protagonist was dead. Furthermore, I couldn’t certainly image how something like that could have happened in this supposedly advanced and modern world.  

To a certain extent, I dare say that it is really difficult to be a prophet in your homeland. This is precisely what happened to Rodriguez, who started his musical career in his native Detroit, Michigan. His songs, based on the cruel reality of the miserable, deprived neighbourhood where he lived, are like a scream of protest against social injustice. Contrary to popular belief, not only do his critical lyrics focus on the downside of a dire situation but they also show a slight light of hope on the horizon.

The music company Sussex Records released only two albums by Rodriguez and, quite ironically, dismissed him two weeks before Christmas, as he writes in one of his songs. Unfortunately, this artist was not successful in his own country so he gave up music and carried on working in the construction industry. As far as I am concerned, the owner of Sussex, who is interviewed in the film, is the one to blame for so many years lost for Rodriguez.

A young "Sixto" Rodriguez back in the early 70s

Little did he imagine what life had in store for him. Meanwhile, far away from the USA, the story of this great singersongwriter was being written in capital letters. In South Africa, his two albums, “Cold Fact” and “Coming from Reality”, reached the peak of success. What is more, they became so popular that Rodriguez was compared to his well-known, contemporary fellow artist Bob Dylan. Not to mention the fact that in South Africa, people were living the terrible “Apartheid” – the rights of the majority of the black citizens were curtailed. Obviously, people rebelled against the tyrannical government through submissive, peaceful protests in which Rodriguez’s songs were like a strong symbol of resistance and true hymns of freedom. 

I can’t help telling you that “yes, Rodriguez is still alive!” His life took a U-turn. The first gig he played in South Africa in 1998, almost 25 years after he recorded his music, face to face with his devoted fans, was absolutely spectacular. The concert hall was full to overflowing and the audience exploded in a burst of applause. I really liked what Rodriguez said: “Thanks for keeping me alive”.

Finally, I have to praise director Malik Bendjelloul for his good decision to carry on with the determination to find Rodriguez wherever he was. Of course, I eagerly recommend you to watch Searching for Sugar Man. There are still some questions on the air to be answered such as what happened to the royalties produced by the sales of Rodriguez’s albums in South Africa? Apparently, his record company received the money but the singer did not have any knowledge. Is Rodriguez going to delight us with new songs? I hope so!

Well done, Chani! You know, I can't emphasize enough, however enthusiastically I recommended you guys the film in class, that I totally, utterly love "Searching for Sugar Man" (so much so that I've watched it three times!) Not only Rodriguez's moving life story but, above all, his awesome music, which indeed deserves recognition, as it's mentioned in the movie.

So allow me to embed this clip of an interesting interview with Rodriguez himself and the film's director, during the promotion of the highly praised, critically acclaimed documentary.

Finally, just to give an example of his immense, unrecognized talent as a (sadly wasted) singer-songwriter, I'd like to post a song whose lyrics are sheer poetry to my ears. It's called "Cause" and it's said to be the last song Rodriguez ever recorded in his fleeting career. Sadly, dear Chani, I'm afraid he's just too old now, in his early 70s, so way past his prime, to pen any more songs. But his late legacy is one of amazing beauty. Enjoy!