The year 2018 marks the centenary of the late Nelson Mandela’s birth who became the first President in 1994 in a fully representative democratic election in South Africa. He devoted his life to democracy, human rights, equality and reconciliation.

As part of Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebration, South African Embassy hosted Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebration Concert on Oct. 31st afternoon in collaboration with Dankook University at its Nanpa Music Hall, located in Yongin Campus while the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. were on hand in large numbers including Chile Amb. Fernando Danus, Cote D’ivoire Amb. Silvestre Quassi BILE, Romania Amb. Mihai Ciompec etc., to name just a few.

Nelson Mandela was an advocate for ‘forgiveness and reconciliation’ and fought to end racial discrimination in South Africa. He was a politician and a leader who dedicated his entire life to the human rights movement to usher in equal opportunities for all. He also united the people of South Africa, despite its history of division and antagonism, according to South Africa observers.

Under the batton of Prof. Doc-Ki Kim, conductor, Opera <Nabucco> Overture, Hungarian Rhapsody Op. 68, Pining for Mt. Geumgang, African Dream, Opera <Nabuco> Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate, and last but not least A Wonderful day in Oct. by South Africa Amb. Nozuko Gloria Bam were performed.

By her welcome remarks, South African Amb. Bam said: “The Embassy is humbled by Dankook University’s commitment to honour former South Africa President Mandela’s legacy in this way and for allowing South Africa and the ROK to sing with one voice today”.

As 2018 marks the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, this provides a unique opportunity for people around the world to reflect on his life and times and to promote his legacy, says Nelson Mandela Foundation. In 2018 the Nelson Mandela Foundation will seek to create appropriate platforms for such engagement.

Nelson Mandela established the Foundation as his post-presidential office in 1999. As he stepped away from public life he gave us a robust social justice mandate in the areas of memory and dialogue. The Mandela Day campaign was introduced in 2009 as a tool for the world to honour him by interpreting his legacy in the contexts of working to meet the needs of local communities.

By any measure Nelson Mandela’s impact, both locally and globally, has been unparalleled. But the unfinished business of his life-work looms large. The South Africa of his dreams remains tantalisingly out of reach.

We will use his centenary year to continue working to make these dreams a reality, says Nelson Mandela Foundation, adding we will strive to fulfil his wish that the Foundation become fully sustainable. He initiated its endowment strategy in 2007 during the lead-up to his 90th birthday.

According to Nelson Mandela Foundation, Madiba’s dreams require us, in 2018 especially, to focus its work around four primary objectives: the eradication of poverty and inequality, the dismantling of structural racism, the building of institutions of democracy, and the broadening of freedom of information. Core programmes at the Foundation underpin each of these objectives.

No single person, family, institution or country owns the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Ultimately it belongs to everyone who is working for social justice, wherever they are in the world. Our aim in 2018 is to make that legacy more available to those committed to continuing struggles for justice, says Nelson Mandela Foundation. The future of humanity hinges on these struggles.