Celebrating Nelson Mandela

How best to pay tribute to a man whose vision and leadership of human rights issues inspired people the world over, whose words struck chords with the hearts of generations?

As world leaders paid their own tributes, the social media sphere was filled with Madiba's own words, magnified, repeated, shared:

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

"Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."

The greatest tribute we could possibly pay to Mandela is to live by his words that we quote and share, to celebrate our good fortune that we live in a time that belonged to such a hero by continuing his work to promote human rights, justice and freedom for all.

Amnesty International works for the release of prisoners of conscience like Mandela, who was incarcerated for 27 years. The organisation published this video to celebrate his life.

You can leave your own tribute on the Mandela Memorial page.