Danny Schechter has had a long association with the higher echelons of the ANC, so he had privileged access to its leaders when he was commissioned to write a book about its most famous son.
Danny Schechter has had a long association with the higher echelons of the ANC, so he had privileged access to its leaders when he was commissioned to write a book about its most famous son.
He spoke to Nelson Mandela’s closest friends, Robben Island cell mates, ministers and family members to gain an unprecedented insight into the statesman's thinking.
Schechter’s book Madiba A to Z: The many faces of Nelson Mandela was published in the US in October 2013 and in South Africa only in December.
The timing was fortuitous, as it came shortly before Mandela’s death and will most certainly enjoy better sales following the world’s heightened interest in all things Madiba.
Speaking on a somewhat dodgy Skype connection from his home in New York, Schechter was not impressed with the way his compatriots covered Mandela’s funeral last week. He said the various networks followed the same narrative and fell into “displaced discussions” about the Obama ‘selfie’ and his handshake with Cuban leader, Raul Castro.
Returning to his book, Schechter explained that it was written in such a way that readers would not necessarily have to read each chapter in the usual order. The chapters are designed so that they can provide vignettes about the life of Mandela offering a little more insight into the way he thought, and what he thought about, rather than churning out yet another Mandela biography.
Schechter says his book aims to provide 'snacks' of information on the life of Mandela, each snack beginning with a letter in alphabetical order.
He succeeded in his stated goal because the book is easy reading in self-contained chapters. You can choose which topic or aspect of Mandela you'd like to learn about. For example, under the letter ‘I’ there is a chapter entitled Indigenous which explains how Mandela grappled with the powerful traditionalist influences of Xhosa culture. On the one hand, he rejected an arranged marriage. On the other hand, he followed the tradition of being buried at his ancestral home.
It is interesting, however, that with all the access Schechter had to the Mandela entourage over many years, he admits in a chapter entitled Unknown that there were still many significant facets of Mandela’s personality he was never allowed to see. He says, “There are many sides to Mandela that many do not know.”
The book is crammed with anecdotes that you will remember for years and enjoy relaying to your friends, but for me the most interesting chapter was the one about Waiting. It describes what Mandela was doing while the entire world waited for him to walk free from the Victor Verster prison on 11 February 1990.
We watched the prison gate on television screens for hours while the SABC commentator scratched and scrounged for something to say.
I had always wondered what was keeping him and now I know – so will you if you read the book.
Danny Schechter was commissioned to write “Madiba A to Z” by the producers of the new movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Madiba A to Z: The many faces of Nelson Mandela
By Danny Schechter
Published by Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd in 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4314-1000-2
Recommended selling price: R156
