Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela - Essay Example

Book Review -Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela 1. Summary Geography links the social and natural sciences in learning the natural, physical and human dimensions of the world. Nelson Mandela was given the name Rolihlahla that directly meant “Pulling the branch of a tree”. This means that the African environment is characterized by deep evergreen forests that are a characteristic of Africa. Mandela was born in a village on the Mbashe river banks which again portrays the abundance of vast rivers of the continent. The capital of Transkei that is enclosed by the Drakensberg Mountains is a clear indication of the rugged landscape commonly associated with Africa. From the book, we deduce that his environment in South Africa has a combination of whites, Basotho and Xhosa people thus giving a vivid picture of the human aspect of geography. In conclusion, the geography of Africa is described by the insight of the presence of the Indian Ocean, fertile valleys, thousand rivers, and rolling hills that give South Africa a beautiful look (Mandela 13). 2. Plot Synopsis The book is written by Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment on Robben Island. He was born on 18th July 1918 at Mvenzo in the district of Umtata in South Africa. His birth was characterized by the end of the Great War and the Influenza outbreak that had killed many people worldwide. Mandela's father was a Thembu tribe chief during the British colonial rule. Following the dispute that deprived his father of his leadership, the family moved on north to the village of Qunu. The village did not have many trees, unlike his former home and was characterized by a mixture of Christians and non-Christians (Mandela 15). His father died from a lung disease in Qunu while he was still young (Mandela 20). Nelson Mandela moved on to Jongintaba’s homestead in Mqhekezweni who was to become his newguardian as his mother returned to Qunu (Mandela 21). At his new location which was far more sophisticated than his initial home, he developed an interest in African history where he was taught of other heroes such as Basotho king and Dingane, the king of the Zulus (Mandela 25). Nelson Mandela underwent the Xhosa traditional stage of adulthood through circumcision when he was sixteen years old. The rite of passage gave him permission to marry, start a home and join the councils of the community. During this occasion, he was named Dalibunga, which means the “Founder of the Bunga” (Mandela 27). After his circumcision and completion of Standard V, Nelson Mandela joined the Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo District. The institute was the highest learning institute for Africans that primarily offered secondary school education and trained teachers. This was the first instance where he wore his first pair of boots as a present from his guardian (Mandela 31). Despite his being of a Ngubengcuka origin and the college being of a Thembu origin, he received the same treatment as other students in the Institute (Mandela 32). Nelson Mandela completed his Junior Certificate after two years of a college that widened his horizons. He met students from different backgrounds, some from Transkei, Johannesburg and Basutoland (Mandela 33). He joined Wesleyan College in Fort Beaufort in 1937 which was a British outpost (Mandela 35). Here, he was given his first responsibility as a prefect by Reverend Mokitimi (Mandela 36). He later attended Fort Hare to study English, politics and Roman-Dutch law in his first year. In his new college, he got more involved in sports and drama. He also enrolled in the students Christian Association and was involved in Biblical evangelism in the neighboring villages (Mandela 39). His freedom fighter instinct was born when he was fired from the Johannesburg mines and arevolver recovered from his suitcase by a watchman that led to the arrest of his friend Bikitsha. In the Witkin, Sidelsky and Eidelman law firm, he was exposed to his first case of discrimination when he and his co-worker were bought new tea cups that they were supposed to serve their tea in. His friend Gaur was a real trouble maker in a way that their employer did not suspect. Gaur was a member of the ANC a thing that greatly influenced his freedom fighter instinct (Mandela 57). During the miners’ strike, Nelson Mandela became close friends with J. B. Marks, who was a member of the ANC. He was elected to serve under the president of the Transvaal region in 1947. During his time in ANC, he steered major demonstrations that were against apartheid rule in South Africa (Mandela 75-133). He was arrested on December 5, 1956 for treason and taken to the Johannesburg prison (Mandela 137-138). He was transferred to Robben Island together with other political prisoners which included Walter, Govan, Raymond, Kathy, Andrew and Elias in may (Mandela 252). Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 at 3p.m marking the end of his struggles (Mandela 388). He voted freely in Natal on April 27 to show his countrymen that he was no longer afraid of going to polling stations (Mandela 426). Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president of South Africa in 1994 (Mandela 428). 3. Role of Geography in The Book The district of Transkei in which the character was born is described as a beautiful country with rugged Drakensberg Mountains and many rivers that kept the landscape green. The fertile valleys where many trees grew give an answer as to why Nelson Mandela was given the name Rholilala (Mandela 13). The book is initially set in a village setup that shows how Nelson Mandela developed from a young village boy into an educated adult who would go on to conquer major cities as their leader despite his long struggle for freedom (Mandela 112). When Nelson Mandela moved to Mqhekezweni, which was more developed than Qunu, he was constantly mocked as a primitive village boy who could not use a fork and a knife (Mandela 26). The environment can be expressed as a character since The Free Orange State as described in the book gave him a perfect place for meditation from his extensive political activities in the city (Mandela 112). The sophistication associated with the city of Johannesburg played a key role in influencing how Nelson Mandela settled in the city’s way of life. First, he carried a gun as a means of protection from gangsters showing that the rates of crime are relatively higher in major cities. Second, cases of discrimination led to his lack of jobs and shelter and he even faced a bigger challenge in his first job at the law firm in terms of racial segregation (Mandela 53). The Robben Island in which he was imprisoned is located in the Indian Ocean offered a good location for political prisoners who would not easily escape. The geographical setting of the prison also ensured that only specific visitors were allowed to visit the prisoners (Mandela 259). 4. Recommendations The fertile valleys that are supplied by permanent rivers as described in the book are a clear indication of the breathtaking geographical features in the African continent. Nelson Mandela’s place of birth is surrounded by rugged mountains and the Indian Ocean. The city of Johannesburg is also portrayed as a large city with gold and diamond mines that attract a huge number of workers to the city. However, cases of discrimination such as in the Witkin, Sidelsky, and Eidelman law firm might provide a negative image of the continent. The harsh memories related to Robben Islands by the author are somehow disturbing. Despite this, the book is perfect for college students as they look forward to learning more of the African geography. Works Cited Read More