The Spirit of Ubuntu     

Today the world mourns the loss of one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century.  For me, this is a personal loss that deeply impacts me.  I lived in South Africa for three years during the transition from Apartheid to Democracy from 1995 to 1998.  I had the honor of meeting him personally, and no one has had such a powerful impact on my life.  He taught me, and the world, The Spirit of Ubuntu -- I am because of who we are.

 

This online community -- iZania -- was born from the lessons I learned from Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa. They taught me how to transform hope into action without malice.  iZania is the combination of two words "i" for Internet, and Azania which means mother Africa.  So iZania means connecting the descendants of Africa via the Internet.

My wife and I will be traveling to South Africa tomorrow -- a trip we had planned -- and now we will join millions in paying our tribute to this giant among men of history.  We travel with sadness in our hearts, but strength from the memories we hold dear of the time we spent in the shadow of a great leader.

 

The word that comes to mind when reflecting on the life and times of Mandela is "Amandla" -- a Xhosa and Zulu word meaning "power" -- power to the people.   His life has inspired and empowered so many.  So we raise our eyes and our hands in tribute.

 

Amandla!