Never Again

My younger son David met Mr. Nelson Mandela (South Africa’s ex- president) about 12 years ago just before his high school jazz band was about to go on a performing trip abroad. The school band performed for Mr. Nelson Mandela at his home in Houghton Johannesburg. David knows that he was enormously privileged to have met him.

In the intervening years, David read music and philosophy at Rhodes University in Grahamstown (eastern Cape), and has been a musician for some years. I’m not sure when David produced this song, but they use the words of Mr. Mandela himself. He must have excerpted them from Mr. Mandela’s many speeches and put this particular one to music. Drawing is courtesy of elder son, Mike. The music composition and trumpet is David’s.

Never, never and never again

shall it be

that this beautiful land

will again experience 

the oppression of one by another

July 18th is the late Mr. Mandela’s birthday and every year on this day is Mandela Day where citizens world wide are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of this day in helping the less fortunate in some way. Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life to public service and we are encouraged to give a mere 67 minutes of our time on this day.

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King

Viva Mandela, Viva!
Amandla!

52 Comments on Never Again

  2. Just to make sure, I signed up again to be notified of new posts. So don’t take time trying to figure that out. It looks like many others are being notified–considering the comments.

    Lucky David. And I bow to you and your husband for bringing up your sons the way you did. I consider my own sons lucky because they had close contact with the Dalai Lama quite a few times from the time preschool age until 2008. I love the words, but haven’t managed to listen to the song yet–a mix of technology resisting my will and my own hearing giving me a hassle today. So maybe I need to wait on that.

    What a wonderful way to think about our service to others. I’ll remember.

    • Hi Elaine,

      I know that I responded to your comment, but it has not appeared. I think it has something to do with my server … my apologies. Belated thank you for your comment …

  3. That is AWESOME! And what a wonderful experience to meet Mr. Mandela. What a great man he was.

    I’m sorry I’m so behind with my blog visits, because I had no idea about the 67 minutes. I hope I helped someone that day. <3

    • Thanks J.H. for coming by! Today is municipal election day here in SA – very major stuff. I’m going to go and vote shortly – it won’t be for the ruling party sadly; they’ve let us down. If Mr. Mandela was still around, there’d be no question!

  4. So inspiring to read, Susan. There is much good and bad in the world, and lately it seems the bad is outweighing the good. He was all that is good.

    • Thanks Silvia for coming by. Things do seem pretty dire around the globe on many levels. Inspiring people do serve as a reminder of what is constructive, healthy and ‘good’ …

  6. Sigh… just a pity the great man’s legacy has been trashed and trampled by those he trusted to carry it on! Pity…

    • Thanks AJ for coming by. Yes a great sadness is felt by many at what hasn’t happened yet a gladness that he still inspires.

  8. Mandela’s life and message continues to be relevant today.

    How talented and fortunate is your son to have had this opportunity. Thanks for sharing David’s song with us.

  9. Loved the last line, the quote of Martin Luther, thank you for inspiring me today, he was a great personality and will be remembered with love. how lucky for David to have met him, its wonderful feeling to have met a charismatic person like mandela.
    I think I have heard the song before; you have posted it. Thanks for sharing susan; very thoughtful of you to pay a tribute to a great visionary

    • Thank you Genevieve! You’re right, I did post it some while back – maybe 2 years ago,

      I hope this finds you stronger and healthier? All good wishes, Susan.

  10. Susan, thank you for using this day, July 18, to remind us of and honor Nelson Mandela.

    Here is the YouTube video link, “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM5eBWKCjF8” where the Kiffness plays the song.

    I find it interesting and inspiring to hear Nelson Mandela’s own voice, speaking the words. In honor, I added a comment on YouTube, quoting the words as you wrote them above.

    I like to think Mr. Mandela is up there now with God, helping guide humanity to a better future.

    • Thank you Marilyn. And for your link which I think is the same cloud link I provided? I’m hoping there is a live performance but somehow I don’t think so. Haven’t heard back from my son …
      I’m also hoping that we don’t forget Mr. Mandela’s vision for a peaceful vibrant world. Thank you again for coming by.

  11. Your have managed to pay homage to a venerable man and showcase David’s inspiring work.

    There is no greater way to touch the world than to help the next needy person one meets – today and every day. Bravo to both of you!

    • Thanks for coming by Marian … I remember a quotation by Clarissa Pinkola Estes in which she said about making a difference within your own sphere – thank you for indirectly reminding me.

      I hope all is going well with the downsize.

  12. Thank you for sharing David’s inspiring song. Is a video of him singing and playing it posted on the net anywhere? If so, could you provide a link to it? I’d love to hear the full force of it.

    • Thanks Jeanie. I’ve messaged Davey to ask ~ hopefully he’ll respond soon. I don’t think there is a live performance of him singing this particular song.

  13. So powerful and touching. Thank you for sharing, Susan. And what an amazing legacy Mr Mandela left both to your country and the world. It’s worth remembering every day.

    • Thanks Gulara, the legacy seems to be fading sadly. I’m trying to work it out as to the how’s and whys. Maybe because there is so much happening everywhere worldwide that Mr. Mandela has receded into the background…

      • He’s being squashed by the totally ignorant who do nothing more than take up space on the globe and can find nothing else to do for interest than murder innocents.

        He’s being squashed. We must not forget Nelson Mandela; we must not forget Mahatma Gandhi.

        • What a strange world we live in when the weak have power over the strong. We must never forget … thank you Samantha …

  14. I do understand the joy of personally meeting a figure like Mandela–one of the proverbial high points in a life–but, for the down-to-earth man that Mandela was (at least, what I’ve heard he was), I’ll bet it was as exciting to meet one of the people he’d spent his life defending: Your son. Congrats to both of them.

  15. Thank you for sharing. What a literal dream come true for David. Would have loved that blessed experience for myself.

    • I too would have loved to have shaken his hand Marsha. It would be the longest unwashed hand in history.

  16. Hi Susan – how very fortunate David was to meet Mr Mandela – I imagine he made a huge impression on him – and the kids would have loved performing for him.

    Your sons are talented – very! … Wonderful to see them blossoming with their ideas and thoughts …

    I just sincerely hope that Mandela’s words can be spread and come true …

    Cheers for now – Hilary

    • Thanks Hilary – yes meeting Mr Mandela was one of the highlights of his life even if it was long ago,

      I’ve been listening to Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May debating the Nuclear deterrent deal … this is altogether quite scary. Good strong debate though. We could with a Mr Mandela right now.

      All best to you, Susan

  17. A beautiful song and a great man. I wish we had his wisdom now when we need it most. Our world needs more positivity and love. Hugs. <3

  18. David sounds like he’s taken after his creative, intelligent and big-hearted mother – hurray!
    Much love from south India! Mira

  19. Ditto what Patricia says. And, in about 1964-5 I had the honor of meeting Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and I have a photo of us together. I just watched a documentary on him. He was a great humanitarian. Were he elected president, we might not have entered the Vietnam conflict. Too bad we can’t elect the likes of Nelson Mandela, Hubert Humphrey, Willie Nelson (:-)) to be world president.

  20. David was so lucky to have met Mr. Mandela. I sure wish Mr. Mandela was here to pour some wisdom into the heads of the people around the world. Hopefully, David’s song because a world wide hit as we need more conscious thinking instead of hatred and harm. Thanks David for your song…

    • Thanks Gwynn! We’re typing at the same time. He made it some years ago, I think. I think it’s up on youtube – am hoping Davey himself puts it up today on his social media …

  22. I am enriched and thankful to see David and Mike expand their humanistic convictions, and in the artistic forms at the same time!

    Thank you, Susan for your profound post!

    “These Apples Did Not Fall Far From The Tree.”

    Shalom. Joe

  23. This song touches my deepest emotions. When I see what is happening across the world, I can honestly say this is a song for the world.
    Please let David know he has done an excellent job and he should consider putting this on YouTube.
    Also let Mike know the art work is excellent.
    Both of them have excelled together in their artistic areas and birth a beautiful product that will ring in the ears of people for years to come.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Patricia

    • Thank you dear Pat. Yes, the song gets me every time, let alone anything said by Mr. Mandela. Perhaps even more these days as we long for leaders worldwide who inspire us to make the world a better place …

      I think his song is on youtube. thekiffness …

      Keep safe in this troubled world we live in. Peace to you and to us all.

      Shalom to you, Susan

  24. Wonderful words to remember and think about wherever you are in the world.

    Thanks for sharing, Susan.
    (I like the trumpet!) 🙂

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