It somehow does something to your heart and mind when you see a person like Mandela. I thought I felt the ultimate-emotional-experience-thing seeing Marky Ramone from very close and hugging Jerry Only during a Misfits concert, but no-way: all respect to Marky and Jerry, but Nelson: wow.
Madiba has been busy, right after his visit to Rhodes the same grandson, Mandla Mandela was initiated into a Xhosa traditional leadership position. Mandla now has the power to decide disputes and try certain criminal and civil cases. It was on SABC news last night; it made quite an impact on me. With a lion skin draped on his shoulders, the sound of drums in his ears, he accepted the position as a link between the king, the ancestors and his people. The background of the ceremony was the Transkei; my favourite place in South Africa where I, unfortunately, haven"t been in a long time. I forgot the beauty of it, the magical landscape with its green huts and friendly people.
I"m of to Durban soon, for another wedding, and I think I"ll leave a couple of days early to travel, once more, through the magnificent Transkei.
 
Click here to visit Elvira van Noort's weblogpage.