‘Dear Madiba’ — Beyonce pens emotional letter to Nelson Mandela
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, American entertainer, says Nelson Mandela made
it possible for her to reject impossibilities and understand her
capabilities.
In a letter published by Sowetan, a South African newspaper, Beyonce paid tribute to the late South African president.
The ‘Halo’ singer is one of the artistes that will perform at the Global
Citizen Festival to celebrate 100 years of Mandela’s birth.
Read the letter below:
Dear Madiba,
I first met you in 2004 for the 46664 AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town,
and the impact you have had on my life resonates with me today and
every day. Your kindness and gratitude for every experience, and your
ability to forgive are lessons I have learned and will pass on to my
three children. My entire family holds you in high regard.
It is an honor for me to travel to South Africa this week in celebration
of you and your efforts to right so many wrongs. You were a strategic
warrior, a bold activist, and charismatic and well-loved leader. Your
vision for dignity, for human rights, for peace and a South Africa free
of racism and apartheid, allows us all to turn dreams into reality.
I remember taking that walk with you back to the prison on Robben Island
where you spent 18 of those imprisoned 27 years. I recall your measured
but focused steps in as you recounted the stories of the struggles, the
sacrifices and your resilience. You smiled as you talked to a crowd of
artists and their guests, including my mother, who first told my sister
and me about the great Nelson Mandela. In that moment I truly understood
your heart and humility.
You made it possible for so many people like me to reject
impossibilities and understand our capabilities in making lasting change
in the world. The smallest efforts could change the trajectory for so
many living in extreme poverty, facing injustices, the indecency of
racism and fighting for their rights as humans.
As we celebrate the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, honoring your
centennial year, I promise you that we have made your dreams our own.
Your work and your sacrifices were not in vain. I will cherish every
moment shared in your presence and use the lessons learned from you as
fuel to stir positive ideas and solutions.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/48260
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