Hi all,
Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Mandela Day”, by Simple Minds (1989). If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.
Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics which are written in italics. Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.
(450 words)
July 18 is Nelson Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela was a very important person who lived in South Africa. He was born on July 18, 1918, in a small village called Mvezo. When he was a child, his name was Rolihlahla, which means "troublemaker”, but he grew up to do many good things for his country.
Nelson Mandela became a lawyer. At the time, there was a problem called apartheid, a system that kept black people and white people apart. Black people were treated very unfairly and did not have the same rights as white people. Nelson Mandela did not like this and wanted to change it.
Mandela joined a group called the African National Congress (ANC). This group wanted to make life better for black people in South Africa. He worked hard to end apartheid, even though it was very dangerous. He was arrested many times and even sent to jail. Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but he never gave up on his dream of a fair and equal South Africa.
In 1990, Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison. People all over the world were happy and celebrated. Mandela kept working to end apartheid, and in 1994, for the first time, all people in South Africa, no matter their skin color, were allowed to vote. Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black president of South Africa, an important change for the country.
As president, Mandela worked hard to bring people together. He wanted everyone to live in peace and harmony. He also helped build schools and hospitals and made sure that more people could get an education and healthcare.
Nelson Mandela showed that one person can make a big difference. He is remembered as a man who fought for justice and equality. He passed away on December 5, 2013, but his legacy lives on.
It was 25 years they take that man away
Now the freedom moves in closer every day
Wipe the tears down from your saddened eyes
They say Mandela's free so step outside
Oh oh oh oh Mandela day
Oh oh oh oh Mandela’s free
It was 25 years ago this very day
Held behind four walls all through night and day
Still the children know the story of that man
And we know what's going on right through your land
If the tears are flowing wipe them from your face
I can feel his heartbeat moving deep inside
It was 25 years they took that man away
And now the world come down say Nelson Mandela's free
The rising sun sets Mandela on his way
It's been 25 years around this very day
From the one outside to the ones inside we say
Question:
The last line of the song says: From the one outside to the ones inside we say…” What do you think this means?
VOCABULARY
troublemaker 厄介者
apartheid アパルトヘイト, 人種隔離
be arrested 逮捕される
celebrate 祝う
harmony 調和
equality 平等
legacy 遺産
wipe 拭う
saddened 悲しむ
heartbeat 鼓動
On https://www.mandeladay.com/ it says:
On #MandelaDay2024, we urge you to identify those in need around you and do what you can to make a difference for them."
I remember the day Nelson Mandela was released in 1990, I was in a backpackers hostel in Sydney just preparing to leave for the next leg of my journey to NZ. The joy of this news caused a night of festivities on the streets in the suburbs where I was staying, many people were in tears but all were smiling and laughing too - the relief was contagious, a domino effect almost…
I will never forget that night. Mandela was a great man, his wife perhaps an even greater woman for having continued in his beliefs tirelessly for the 27 years he was locked away…
I’m so glad you included this Louise.!🙏🏽xx
Mandela was one of a kind. It's hard to imagine his kind of leadership in a world where there's no going back.