Madiba's shining character
2005-10-28 14:27
Johannesburg - The first instalment of the nine comic book series, which traces the life of Nelson Mandela from birth to when he arrived in Johannesburg, was released to the press and guests on Friday.
"You know you are really famous the day you have become a comic character," the former South African president said in Johannesburg.
Madiba said the comics were aimed at youngsters and it was hoped the series would lead them to reading "good books".
He said if the comic, which he described as easy to read for people with "eyes not like they used to be" such as himself, reached new readers, the project would be worthwhile.
The first book concentrates on three themes - tradition, community and history - which Mandela said had all played an important role in shaping his early life.
'All of us have the potential'
He then went on to tell a story of how when he first went to prison, gender rights and non-sexism were "barely known". However when he came out of prison 27 years later, he was known as a champion of women's rights.
A friend asked him "how he had caught up so fast".
Madiba said that while he was in prison he read widely and discovered literature that forced him to open his mind. He thought much about the women from where he had been brought up, and the important roles they had played.
"All of us have the potential to be experts in telling... and reading stories. I hope the comic will today launch [this]," he said to loud applause.
Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive John Samuel said the comics -The Madiba Legacy Series - were part of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Commemoration Project.
The project, which was launched by Mandela last year, aims to tell stories of Mandela's walk to freedom.
"Madiba's memory needs to be shared as widely as possible... [he is] one of the greatest gifts to the world," he said.
The book, with a print run of a million copies, will be distributed to schools and through newspapers.
He said it would eventually be printed in all the country's 11 official languages.
Samuel, who said he grew up on an extensive diet of comic reading, told guests many people found comic reading less daunting than books, and their blend of image and text made them a powerful medium.
Lazarus Zim, the chief executive of Anglo America South Africa, which is sponsoring the first and last books, said his company was delighted to be part of a project which placed Mandela's story "out there".
"This is our thank you to Madiba for his inspirational leadership... and sacrifices he has made."
The comic was distributed to Eastbank High School in Alexandra earlier this week.
Rhoda Baholo, a 17-year-old pupil at the school, said she had enjoyed the comic.
"I liked it very much. I will tell my friends to read it because Nelson Mandela fought for our freedom."
- SAPA