Celebrity

There are people who will argue that you do not need another book on Nelson Mandela. There has been so much written about him over the years and especially in the year when he would have celebrated his centenary.

But how much can one realistically pay tribute to, without doubt, the greatest South African who ever lived? How can we ever say thank you enough for all the hard work and sacrifice he made to ensure that South Africa becomes a free country? How can we ever thank him enough for his wisdom and humility?

When we produced the book to celebrate Madiba’s 90th birthday, he was still alive, even though he was retired. He has since passed on, but his message and his legacy will live on forever.

Mandela’s influence reached far wider than South Africa. In fact, it can be argued that he was truly a global leader who cared about the poor and downtrodden irrespective of where they were in the world.

In this book, we carry special messages from prominent and important people who talk about the impact
that he made on their lives and their careers. But we also look more generally at what made this man so special: from his special relationship with the people who were supposed to guard him at prison, to his unbridled love for children. We also look at the meaningful contribution he made to sport and arts and culture and, of course, the fashion industry with his trendsetting Madiba shirts.

At a time when many feel that we have lost our way on the democratic path that we set out on in the
early 1990s, it is important to learn from Madiba’s wise words and experiences. Hopefully, all of us will be inspired to get our country and our democracy back on track. Read this book, feel inspired and find the Mandela inside you.

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As a Nigerian, I am so proud to present this special edition of Guardian Life Magazine, specially created to celebrate Nigeria at 60 years of Independence. With all that’s going on the world, it is easy to forget some of the more positive stories. We are also less connected in person and not present at the events that would usually be taking place at this time, so I welcome you to connect with some Nigerians of impact by reading about them here. You will be familiar with some, others less so. In 2010, I produced a similar publication – Nigeria @50 – which was a joint venture between Time Out Nigeria and The Financial Times. That publication featured the country’s leading business leaders, compared to this decade’s edition, where we have searched wider, and selected Nigerians who, in addition to racking up lists of personal accolades have made a social impact on others – both home and abroad. Those who have inspired other Nigerians by excelling in their chosen fields, by breaking records, or by acting as change-makers in the following areas: The Arts & Creativity; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Healthcare & Medicine; Law & Politics; The Media; Power & Energy; Social Impact; Technology; and Innovations & Inventions. Age knows no barrier either, as the range covered is between ages 12 and 101. We also have a chapter dedicated to honour eight special people posthumously: Guardian Angels who will forever inspire us. If physical events are impossible, then at least we can “celebrate” Nigeria@60 in print and digitally. Furthermore, “Black Lives Matter”, and to honour this ongoing movement, it is our duty to communicate that “Nigerian Lives Matter”. Nigeria, we must set an example to our Black and African brothers and sisters worldwide, so let us bring out more of the positives. Onto greener pastures Nigeria!

Nelson Mandela is a name synonymous with freedom and peace across the world. This special commemorative magazine, published by YOU, is a tribute to the global icon who spent 27 years in prison so all South Africans could be free. It provides a detailed yet easy-to-read summary of his life with informative timelines, fascinating pictures and excellent infographics. Find out more about Mandela’s childhood and family, read his historic speech from the dock during the Rivonia Trial before he was sent to prison, and explore Robben Island (where he spent 18 of his 27 imprisoned years) while learning about the layout of the prison, the clothing he wore on the island, the work he performed and the prison food he ate. The magazine follows Mandela’s life from birth and no detail of this amazing man’s life has been left out. This 148-page keepsake is a must-have for admirers, students and history buffs.