George The Poet performs a tribute to Nelson Mandela. Lyrics are included below.

My Mandela

You were born alone. Then
From your innocence we were torn and thrown into an
Unjust world that you inherited. But
Where your heart is is where you call a home.

In the midst of a violent era
You have the nerve to defy the terror. And
Fight the better fight, you have a right to get it right cos
Life shouldn’t depend on trial and error.
Nor should it depend on the ruthless clashing
Claiming generations of youth assassins. They
all can talk and say you ought to walk away but
“Struggle” is just the name for fruitless passion. You can
Picture how the world could potentially be and be-
Lieve that’s a day you’ll eventually see.
Or you can accept the unacceptable, not ex-
Pect it all to change and pretend to be free. What
To do? Do you fold? Do you
Back down, do as you’re told? Fade to the
Background, in the face of a crackdown
Aimed at you and your own?

27 years is a long time to hope.
27 years is a long time to pray.
27 years is 27 reasons for me to stand here with a strong mind today cos
I can’t claim to have faith if I
Only believe when it’s safe.
You lost everything, everything but the will to live, the
Will to persevere and still forgive…

Sometimes I wonder if they knew they were wrong. You
Weren’t a convict but you were convicted.
Sometimes I wonder if you knew all along, cos
Even in conflict you weren’t conflicted, see
Just like me, you were born alone but what you
Did for the place you called a home
Laid foundations for the future, you were the
Rock that became a cornerstone.

In the midst of a violent era, the
Hardest thing is to defy the terror.
Life shouldn’t depend on trial and error.
Your Mandela is my Mandela.