Qunu – The Nelson Mandela Museum in the Eastern Cape used the icon’s 95th birthday celebrations on Thursday to instil a reading habit in the country’s children.
Apart from hundreds of books that are to be delivered to libraries, children in Mandela’s home village of Qunu were introduced to a coffee table version of Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.
It is a shortened version of the original book and makes for easy reading, and has appealing pictures covering Madiba’s life over a period of 67 years.
The A3-size, leather-bound version depicts Mandela’s life from his birth in Mvezo in 1918, up to his inauguration as South Africa’s first democratic president in 1994.
The book was officially launched at the museum as millions of South Africans marked Mandela’s 95th birth day on Thursday.
Officials said the book is a must have for both young and old.
“We encourage you to have this book, even though it may be a bit expensive for learners but we encourage that the schools make a plan to have copies of the book,” said the Museum Council chairperson, Pumla Madiba.
Nelson Mandela began secretly writing the book while he was still in prison on Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison.
The book describes his childhood, schooling and his 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities. He also talks of the country’s politics and of the people who influenced his beliefs.
The book was only published in 1995, five years after Mandela's release from prison. - SAnews.gov.za
