The Mother of the Nation, Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela Mandela, was born on 26 September 1936.
This month sees the first birthday since her tragic passing in April. The women of BONA remember this feminist icon on what would have been her 82nd birthday.
SEE ALSO: City of Joburg gives Mama Winnie its highest honour
“Girls are constantly being told to keep quiet, act like a lady, be seen and not heard, and be fulfilled by the roles of mother and wife alone. As a young girl growing up constantly hearing this narrative, I cannot explain the importance of Winnie Madikizela Mandela. This incredibly complex woman was unwaveringly herself, whether it pleased others or not. She started and finished the debate on whether women can do it all. She was a warrior, caregiver and a source of strength for those around her. Unfortunately as her daughter Zenani rightly stated at her funeral, patriarchy distorted our view of this phenomenal woman and prevented many of us from celebrating her while alive. We vilified her for actions that many of her male counterparts were also guilty of, and pushed her into the background in an effort to propel men forward. I can only hope that we learn and do better with the incredible women that are still alive and inspiring girls around the globe. I will be eternally grateful for her sacrifices and teachings. Lala ngoxolo mama.” – Bongiwe Tshiqi, editor
“Superheroes were created to represent the best of humanity, inspire us, and create representations of what the world could look like if we were brave and lived in the fire of our values and ethics. When I think of Mama Winnie, I think of a woman and a leader that represented the highest of what we could be – courageous, defiant, dedicated to an ideal higher than us, tireless in love for people, in particular the liberation of women who remain the most vulnerable of society. I think of my mother and grandmother – women who’ve taught me to be brave and powerful, and whose lives have allowed me to be who and where I am. We are lucky to have had Mama Winnie as a real world hero – a shining light for millions of women who hope to leave the world better than they found it. Happy birthday Mama! Siyakukhumbula!”- Gugulethu Mhlungu, deputy editor
“I admired Mama Winnie’s passion for the women of our country. She was an inspiration to many of us, and helped to show the world just how strong the women of South Africa are. Through every hardship she faced, giving up was never an option. And, because of her quest for a better life, I have learnt to fight that much harder for myself. This is something that I also teach my young nieces. It is important for us to continue to build Mama Winnie’s legacy if we hope to emancipate the women of this country from all forms of oppression.” – Amanda Mtuli, features editor
“Winnie Mandela represented selflessness, hope and power. Her strength and will for fearlessly fighting at the forefront of apartheid are just some of the qualities I admired about her. Everything she stood and fought for so faithfully was a marvel for me to read about over the years. She has inspired me to fearlessly fight for what I believe in. I am saddened, however, by the fact that she was not celebrated enough. I feel that South Africa still owes her a great deal for the sacrifices she made, and giving her youthful years to fighting for our freedom.” – Matshidiso Nkokou, copy editor
“Growing up, I distanced myself from politics and anyone involved because I thought all politicians were power-hungry capitalists. As much as I was knowledgeable about the women that led the fight for our freedom, I didn’t know much about what they really went through. I was too absorbed in my own struggles of trying to be the best mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. The news of Mama Winnie’s death came with a much needed wake-up call for me, and a history lesson that changed my life. My social media feeds were filled with moving tributes from young women sharing stories of how she inspired them. Historical facts and quotes about her blew my mind. I was immediately overwhelmed with grief and shame. I was sad that I didn’t celebrate her while she was still alive. Because I could not let her death be in vain, I made a conscious decision to be an unapologetic, brave, assertive and loving woman. I will continue to do my share by writing empowering and positive stories about my fellow black sisters who are fighting for equality and against patriarchy. The struggle continues. Womandla!” – Fundiswa Nkwanyana, feature writer
“Mama Winnie represented the strength of the women in South Africa. She was brave, bold and fearless in her fight for equality and democracy. When I look at the women around me, I am reminded of the strides taken by Mama Winnie and her peers that have allowed us to occupy spaces that were previously out of reach. I don’t take for granted what her contribution has been for the women of South Africa today, and use that to propel me into creating an even better future for the next generation of South African women.”- Kwanele Mathebula, content producer
“Every time I remember Mama Winnie, the first image that comes to mind is a black and white picture of her, dressed in a black leather jacket, fist in the air with a perfectly round Afro and lips curved into the words ‘amandla!’ Even though nothing about the apartheid struggle was glamorous, she looked effortlessly beautiful in all her images and seemed to assume her role as a leader with style and grace. I see her reflected in the lives of the women in my life – my mother, grandmother and sisters. These women are an incredible force to be reckoned with and take success in their stride, while also tackling life and its challenges with beauty, grace and humility. I see Mama Winnie in so many women I have encountered, which makes the words “she didn’t die, she multiplied” ring true. I hope that as young women, we will keep her spirit alive so that our children and grand-children can see her spirit multiplied in our generation and future generations to come.“ – Ayanda Sitole, digital editor
“Winnie Mandela symbolises strength. She inspired the nation to fight for what you believe in and let your voice be heard, even when everyone is trying to silence you. Her bravery and resilience are qualities that we should all inspire to inherit, especially as women in the society where we find ourselves increasingly under threat on a daily basis. It is up to us to continue to uphold all that she stood for through our actions and how we treat ourselves and others.” – Ayanda Ngcobo, fashion editor
“Mama Winnie will forever be remembered for her strength and bravery. She did her part, and now it is up to us to continue what she started. Because of her strong character and resilience, I have learnt to proudly speak my mind and show my strengths. This has taught me that in life, you don’t have to please people in order for them to like you; your responsibility is to be yourself. When I think of her, I think of words such as power, determination, resilience and femininity. I try and apply those in my life so that I can make a difference firstly in my life which I then want to use to make a difference and inspire others. You have to start with yourself so that it will be easier for others to follow in your steps.” – Grace Mantjiu, beauty editor
“Winnie Mandela inspired me to fight for what I believe in, and was also an inspiration to many other women. She sacrificed a lot for her family, and South Africa as a whole by dedicating her to fighting against apartheid. She will be remembered as a strong and loving woman who fought gave up a lot for us. She was indeed the greatest gift to everyone!” – Ntwenhle Gcabashe, food editor
“I will remember Mama Winnie for being strong, fearless and beautiful. Even though she went through so much, she remained strong because the fire inside her burnt brighter than the fire around her. Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo!” – Nokwethemba Dlamini, Zulu translator
