Leeds Communities Leeds Communities mark the passing of mark the passing of Dr Nelson MandelaDr Nelson Mandela

December 2013December 2013

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Celebration of Mandela Community Committee c/o LWICCT�0113 262 2270

Following the news of Dr Nelson

Mandela’s death on Thursday 5th December 2013, local social justice activists and

community organisations led by Leeds West Indian Centre Charitable Trust, organised a

meeting on Saturday 7th December to formulate plans to mark his passing as a

celebration of his life and legacy.

Three linked events were organised by the newly named Celebration of Mandela

Community Committee. A ‘Walk of Respect’,

which recognised his Long Walk to

Freedom, followed by a celebration of his

life led by young people from the Leeds communities; a ‘Traditional Wake’; and a

‘Funeral and Tributes’ programme.

The ‘Walk of Respect’ occurred on Saturday 14th December from the Mandela

Gardens, in Leeds city centre, to Mandela Community Centre based in the heart of the

African and African Caribbean communities in Leeds. Wreaths and flowers were laid at

both sites.

More than 300 people marched

through the centre of Leeds, chanting, singing Bob Marley songs, dancing and

blowing Vuvuzelas, celebrating the life of Mandela. They were led by two South Asian

Sikh drummers who kept up a steady beat that galvanised the marchers and the

supportive watching bystanders.

On arrival at Mandela Community

Centre the marchers were met by a saxo-phone player and African drummers who

began an impromptu drumming session. Speeches were made in praise of Mandela

and Dr Salim Essop who spent five years in prison on Robbin Island with Mandela

shared his experiences. Marchers signed a

book of condolence and continued the celebration at the Centre with contributions

about Mandela, poetry and dance.

Following the events at Mandela Community Centre a ‘Traditional Wake’ was

held at Leeds West Indian Centre, which is located in the same area of Chapeltown.

This event offered opportunities for people from all communities in Leeds to vent their

deep-felt feelings of respect and loss at

Mandela’s passing. There was selected readings from his books: ‘A Long Walk to

Freedom’ and ‘Conversations with Myself’; with African and English songs of praise and

struggle.

The final section of the weekend programme for Mandela occurred on

Sunday 15th December at Leeds West Indian Centre, which was the day of his

funeral. Once again members of Leeds ethnically mixed communities in Chapeltown

gathered to view live-streaming of

Mandela’s funeral from South Africa. Later

events included a presentation about the

Caribbean region support given to Mandela during the dark days of apartheid; steelpan

recitals by four young members of New World Steel Orchestra; gospel hymns;

poems; and African drumming and African ‘call and response’ chants.

Thus, with dignity and a celebratory

mood, the Leeds Chapeltown communities marked Mandela’s passing, remembered his

strength, commitment and compassion and

refocused themselves to emulate his ideals by continuing to organise and fight for

social justice and peace. PTO

Leeds Communities Mark of Respect to the Passing of Nelson Mandela

During June and July prior to

Mandela’s death various Leeds Chapeltown activists rallied in his support when he was

seriously ill in hospital. Prayers were held in various local churches and a 12-foot

well-wisher’s banner was erected on 10th July on the Chapeltown Road perimeter wall

of the Mandela Community Centre.

On 18th July a programme led by

Leeds West Indian Centre Charitable Trust celebrated Mandela’s 95th birthday at Leeds

West Indian Centre. Also, on 26th October at Mandela Community Centre a canvas

copy of an oil painting that was presented to him on behalf of the ‘People of

Chapeltown’, when he visited Leeds in 2001, was unveiled. On the same occasion

Mandela signed a canvas rededication

plaque for the Mandela Centre – a copy was also unveiled at the event in October.

Feedback quotes from Leeds

Mandela Funeral Programme

Walk of Respect

As a child attending the Leeds Chapeltown Saturday

supplementary school in the early 1990's I was

frequently taught about the global racial injustices

that black people faced and as part of this specific

curricula I was taught about the then current

struggles of Nelson Mandela.

As a child I was oblivious to the significance of

Nelson Mandela’s plight and did not take the

information seriously. However, as I sat watching

the initial news broadcasts of Mr Mandela’s death I

was filled with a sense of pride that I could sing

along with the South African national anthem! In

that moment I was extremely grateful to those in my

community that had taken the time to impart this

knowledge to me as a child to enable me to

participate in such a historical moment.

Subsequently, I was able to provide a decorative

service to the organisers of Mr Mandela’s life

celebration in Leeds which was very humbling.

However, it was being present at the Mandela Centre

as the crowds returned from their ‘Walk of Respect’

that made the biggest impact on me. Never before

have I seen such unity between Africans, Caribbeans

and Black British people, whereby the sense of a

commonality was so strong that I felt a sensation

within that I am unable to articulate. All I can say is

that I left the event feeling a desire to see a

continuation of that level of relationship between the

communities. Shirleecia Ward, Balloon Artist,

17th December 2013

Thanks for organising such an inspiring walk. Max Farrar, Emeritus Professor,

Leeds Metropolitan University,

19th December 2013

Traditional Wake

Carl just wanted to thank you for tonight – we found

it really inspirational. Well done for bringing it

together. Ratna Lachman, Managing Director,

JUST West Yorkshire,

15th December 2013

Acknowledgements

The

Leeds West Indian

Centre Charitable

Trust

in association with the

Celebration of Mandela

Community Committee

wish to thank the following

individuals for their support

◊

Marvina Babs-Apata ◊ Susan

Pitter ◊ Jason Pitter ◊ Carol

Sorhaindo ◊ Dr Carol Marie

Webster ◊ Heather Nelson JP ◊

Tony Stanley ◊ Claude

Hendrickson ◊ Calvin Wilkes ◊

Paul Auber ◊ Dr Carl Hylton ◊

Corrina Lawrence ◊ Okey Ebizie

◊ Val Daley ◊ David Odunkwe

◊ Blacka Brown ◊ Josephine

McJebuah ◊ Pauline Tomlin ◊

Maggie Assenso ◊ Kalenga

Mtonga Zimba ◊ Vince Smitten

◊ Dr Salim Essop ◊ John Essop

◊ John Ebo ◊ Junior Willocks ◊

Urban Muhammad ◊ Charmaine

Lund ◊ Terrence Holness ◊

Doreen Williams ◊ Abigail

Olalaye ◊ Ratna Lachman ◊

Napoli Clarke ◊ Khadijah

Ibrahiim ◊ Oluseyi Ogunjobi ◊

DJ Zebbie ◊ Shirleecia Ward ◊

Andrew Saddler ◊ Rob Barker ◊

Delroy Goodison ◊ Samantha

Gatewood ◊ Lloyd McKoy ◊ Niqi

Brown ◊ Ezz Witter ◊ Kate

Henderson ◊ Seikou Susso ◊

Francis Gregoire ◊ Winfreda

Dube ◊ M Mangui ◊ J Skeffers

◊ Revd Mark Harwood ◊ Revd

Gloria Hanley ◊ Joe Williams ◊

Louise Crumbie ◊ Kieron

Cooper ◊ R Alfreel ◊ T Kelly-

Martin ◊ Lutel James ◊ L Logan

◊ Debbie Jeffers ◊ Arthur

France MBE ◊ and the many

others who attended the

meetings and events.

◊

Thanks also to all the Organisations ◊ Marshals ◊

Musicians ◊ Caterers ◊ Venues

◊ Cinematographers ◊

Photographers ◊ Police Escorts

◊ and other supporters.

◊

We are grateful for the

financial support of Joseph Rowntree Charitable

Trust - West Yorkshire Racial

Justice Programme ◊ JUST

West Yorkshire ◊ Leeds City

Council International Relations

Department ◊ Leeds Black

Health Initiative ◊ Feel Good

Factor ◊

◊

Ph

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Summary compiled by Dr Carl

Hylton and

produced by Paul Auber

Celeb

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of M

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T 0113 262 2270