Today, we remember a remarkable man. Tributes are pouring in from all over the world. From Dignatries to Religious leaders to the ordinary man on the road. I only hope that we will all just take a leaf out of his book. That we will all try to be as hopeful, as humble, as forgiving as he was. We truely would be a remarkable generation if we followed his example. Like millions of others, I too am grateful that I was born in the generation that knew him.
I am honoured to have had the chance to sing for Nelson Mandela in the year 2000. I was the resident vocalist at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My sister, Paula Gardner, and I were invited to sing the South African National Anthem -Nkosi Silkeli Africa. Nelson Mandela was the president of South Africa at the time and was visiting multi-cultural Malaysia. We sang it a duet. We sang Nkosi Sikeli in 'Zulu' and 'Xhosa' as Nelson Mandela left the hotel in which he was staying.
He walked down the winding stairs with guests, friends, staff, secuturity all looking up at him. There was silence except for the sound of our voices.
I remember grown men cried as we sang. Simply because we all knew we were in the presence of greatness. I am eternally honoured to have seen him, to have sang for him and to have heard his voice as he said to us......'very good, very good'.
Please, lets be the generation he fought for. Peaceful, loving, forgiving.
Good Night Madiba
Love
Alexia Gardner
I am honoured to have had the chance to sing for Nelson Mandela in the year 2000. I was the resident vocalist at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My sister, Paula Gardner, and I were invited to sing the South African National Anthem -Nkosi Silkeli Africa. Nelson Mandela was the president of South Africa at the time and was visiting multi-cultural Malaysia. We sang it a duet. We sang Nkosi Sikeli in 'Zulu' and 'Xhosa' as Nelson Mandela left the hotel in which he was staying.
He walked down the winding stairs with guests, friends, staff, secuturity all looking up at him. There was silence except for the sound of our voices.
I remember grown men cried as we sang. Simply because we all knew we were in the presence of greatness. I am eternally honoured to have seen him, to have sang for him and to have heard his voice as he said to us......'very good, very good'.
Please, lets be the generation he fought for. Peaceful, loving, forgiving.
Good Night Madiba
Love
Alexia Gardner
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