“THE ONLY WAY” (A Song For Nelson Mandela) Yusef Komunyakaa & Tomás Doncker

South African activist and former president Nelson Mandela would have been 100 today July 18th, 2018.  Mandela fought to bring an end to apartheid and has been a global advocate for human rights. A member of the African National Congress party, Mandela was the coordinator and leader of both peaceful protest and more aggressive and armed resistance against the white minority regime,. His mission and actions caused him to be imprisoned for nearly thirty years and made him the symbol of the antiaprtheid movement. within South Africa and internationally.

Released in 1990, he lived to see the end of apartheid and in 1994 became the first black president of South Africa, forming an all race inclusive government to oversee the country’s transition. after retiring from politics in 1999, he remained a devoted champion for peace and social justice in his own nation and around the world until his death in 2013 at the age of 95.

Tru Groove All Star Tomas Donker and poet Yusef Kimunyakaa pay tribute to this icon in the gorgeous video “The Only Way”.  Cheers Mr Mandela, and thank you