Nelson Mandela was a great leader

Nelson Mandela, or “Madiba,” as he was affectionately known, is arguably the most famous African. A man who gave so much for his people, even his harshest critics agree he was irrefutably an extraordinary man.

google image

But, what made him stand out from numerous other statesmen around the world? Why is he immortalized while many of his contemporaries, even some who arguably achieved more, have slipped into the dustbin of history? After studying him rigorously, below are seven reasons why he was a remarkable leader:

google image

1. Self-sacrifice — A Messiah-like figure to his people, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his precious life in prison on Robben Island, hammering on rocks in the scorching heat during the day, only to retire to a tiny eight-by-seven-foot concrete cell with only a straw mat to sleep on. When he was offered freedom in 1985, he refused, saying: “I cannot and will not give any undertaking, at a time when I and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated!”

2. 

   google image
   

3. He Was a Learner — While in prison, he not only threw himself into the routine of daily exercise, but he also read smuggled books as much as he could. A lover of learning, although he was restricted from access to political books he liked, he ordered books on gardening and horticulture, eventually cultivating food that fed not only his fellow prisoners but also prison officials.He also continued his legal education while in prison, often giving legal advice to both prisoners and prison staff. His zest for learning and teaching was so great that Robben Island became known as “Nelson Mandela University.”

4. 

   google image
   

5. Ethical — In today’s increasingly competitive world, people care less about how you acquire money, power, and wealth, just as long as you amass them. Mandela, on the other hand, put people and honor before worldly gain. At a time when most African presidents were corruptly amassing fortunes during their tenures, Mandela’s estate was roughly just US $2.9 million. And, he not only left money for his family but for his staff as well.
6. He Was Human — The media put him on a pedestal, classifying him as an infallible saint — an incorrigible angel who could do no wrong. He became a man of mythical proportions to many in Africa and all over the world. The reality, however, was far from it; Mandela himself never denied his humanity, given to the same weaknesses as everyone else. His first marriage broke down, and so did his second; he was unable to balance being a leader in the home and in the nation. He also failed to raise the kind of children befitting a man of his nobility. He said in an interview, “My first task when I came out was to destroy that myth that I was something other than an ordinary human being.” In the end, although disappointing, people were still drawn to him. In fact, his humanity made him even more appealing.