Remembering Nelson Mandela and the 'Closest' Encounter I Could Ever Have with Him

"It is never my custom to use words lightly. If 27 years in prison and 27 years of silence in solitude have taught me anything, it is how precious words are!"

I distinctly remember frantically scrambling my way through the bushes and flowerbeds, just so I could get a clear glimpse of this frail, but magnetic and eminent man named Nelson Mandela. That was during the Closing Ceremony of the XIII International AIDS Conference in July 2000, which Durban, South Africa hosted. Mandela was a demigod revered by all of Africa and the rest of the world – at least that’s how I remember it in that conference. The welcome song, the chants, and the cheers did not seem to end, as he slowly entered the main hall.

And when he spoke – every word was like a mantle of wisdom and hope cloaking the entire audience. Some were even in tears, that it seemed all too surreal. That’s when I fully comprehended the meaning of awe.

His speech was a subtle, yet sharp rebuke to Thabo Mbeki, who earlier that week, spoke at the Opening Ceremony. Mbeki, who was then the president of South Africa, was greeted by jeers, boos, and placard-carrying protesters, much to the chagrin and embarrassment of the conference organizers (mind you, the protests were led by South African AIDS activists). Well, that’s what you get for saying that HIV does NOT lead to AIDS. That, and his refusal to see the value of ARVs, vaccines and treatment access.  

In his speech, Mandela admonished the importance of going beyond the conflicts between politics and science, adding that he believed Mbeki ‘takes scientific inquiry seriously.’ Chuckles. Heads nodding. We all knew what he really meant when he said that.  He also challenged everyone to address stigma and discrimination, move from rhetoric to action and ensure inclusiveness in the  fight against AIDS. Which meant including Thabo Mbeki, even when he was being a jackass.

More than a decade later, Mandela's words still ring true.

Thankfully, the global AIDS movement has progressed, even as we’re still seeing a spike of cases in a number of countries in the world, including the Philippines.  Alas, there were only a few video/digital camera addicts at that time; wifi technology was not in place; and, there was no live-tweeting or facebook updating that could have informed the rest of the world, in real time, what a great, great man, he was. He still is -- (and I'm saying that even if he only succeeded in addressing political, and not economic apartheid in South Africa).

One of the buildings in downtown Durban that was festooned with AIDS ribbons and banners.

This blog was originally posted in my FB Notes on June 27, 2013 at 10:51pm.