Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa’s first black head of state from 1994 to 1999 following a brutal apartheid era that he fought actively against.
The word Ubuntu comes from the Xhosa/Zulu culture, the community into which Nelson Mandela was born, and has been summarized in the phrase, “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” in the Nguni language of Xhosa, Zulu, or Ndebele. The concept of this phrase can be translated to mean, “A person is a person through other persons,” or “I am because we are.”
In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela’s birthday as the internationally recognized Nelson Mandela Day, and on this day we wish to honor Mandela’s legacy.
Affectionately known by his clan name, which represents a person's ancestry and is used as a sign of respect and affection, “Madiba” called on the people of the world to honour him by helping their communities.
In 2018, Damari McBride, a Brooklyn-based portrait photographer went on assignment with PWB to document the story of Nourish – a South African non-profit organization based in the province of Limpopo that is dedicated to uplifting local communities, promoting social responsibility and encouraging environmental education.
Photo by Damari McBride
Nourish recognizes the irreparable damage of apartheid, much of which has trickled down on one hand into anti-poaching and conservation initiatives that see Black Indigenous people who poach as “the enemy,” and on the other hand into Indigenous peoples who have been disenfranchised from their land and natural heritage who see poaching as a lucrative source of income in a disparate, capitalist society.
Nourish’s work is designed around nurturing these systemic issues at the community level, by finding integrated sustainable solutions to issues plaguing conservation such as wildlife crime, poverty, low levels of education and food insecurity. They believe that by developing connection, understanding, skills and opportunities for immersive learning, that youth may be inspired in different directions than poaching.
The spirit of Ubuntu is the underpinning principle by which the late former President Nelson Mandela led his life and it is a beautiful teaching to consider carrying. In this spirit, we invite you to watch “Beyond the Gun”, our award-winning short film about this project (above).
We can only look after and care about our planet when we look after and care for one another, and when we see others as a version of ourselves, we are more likely to understand and have compassion for each other.
Happy Nelson Mandela Day!
