Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years in prison twenty years ago tomorrow – February 11th 1990. I just read his extraordinary autobiography Long Walk to Freedom and have been thinking about Mandela and South Africa a great deal recently so I’m really pleased to be moderating a discussion after the screening of Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation at Union Docs on Friday, February 19th. Here’s a description of the film:

A captivating view of the indomitable spirit if one of the world’s most fascinating figures, this full-length documentary follows Nelson Mandela from his early days and tribal education to his election as South Africa’s first black president. Providing insights into his early life, the film takes us through Mandela’s childhood, adolescence, career in law and first marriage. “Mandela” is an absorbing look at the courageous life, tribulations and fortitude of Mandela the leader, while never forgetting the engaging and charismatic spirit of Mandela the man, as seen through exclusive interviews and narration from Mandela himself.

Please join us at Union Docs on the 19th!

Now I am reading Joseph Lelyveld’s Pulitzer Prize winning book on South Africa, Move Your Shadow, originally published in 1985. It opens with this terrifying extract from J.D. Bold’s Fanagalo Phrase Book, Grammar and Dictionary, the Lingua Franca of Southern Africa, 10th Edition, 1977. Fanagalo is a pidgin amalgam of Zulu, English and Afrikaans and was mainly used for communication in South Africa’s mines but according to this phrase book it can also be put to great use in a racist game of golf!

Wena azi lo golof? Mina hayifuna lo mampara mfan.
Have you caddied before? I don’t want a useless boy.
Tata lo saka gamina.
Take my bag of clubs.
Tata mabol, yena doti. Susa yena nga lo manzi.
These balls are dirty. Clean them with water.
Muhle wena tula loskati lo-mlungu ena beta lo bol.
You must be quiet when my partner plays a shot.
Tula!
Be quiet.
Noko wena lahlega lo futi bol, hayikona mali.
If you lose another ball, there will be no tip for you.
Susa lo-mtunzi gawena. Hayikona shukumisa lo saka.
Move your shadow. Don’t rattle the bag.