PRIMARYSOURCEHANDBOOKR61
from the Inaugural Address
by Nelson Mandela
SETTING THE STAGEThe son of a tribal chief, Nelson Mandela became a leader in the
African National Congress (ANC), a political party that called for racial equality. In 1964,
Mandela, who had advocated acts of sabotage against the government, was sentenced to life
in prison, where he became an international symbol of South Africa’s struggle against
apartheid. After his release, Mandela agreed to work peacefully for racial justice. In 1993,
Mandela was awarded a Nobel Prize, and the next year he became president of South Africa.
The selection below comes from a speech he gave in 1994 when he was inaugurated as pres-
ident of South Africa.
1.What challenges do you think Mandela expects
as the first black president of South Africa?
2.Do you think Mandela was speaking only to the
audience gathered before him? Explain.
3.What does Mandela mean when he says that
South Africa must never again be thought of as
the “skunk of the world”?
4.What are some examples of Mandela’s use of
repetition in his speech?We are both humbled and elevated by the honor and privilege that you,
the people of South Africa, have bestowed on us, as the first President of
a united, democratic, nonracial, and nonsexist South Africa, to lead our
country out of the valley of darkness.We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom.
We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.
We must therefore act together as a united people, for national
reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.Let there be justice for all.
Let there be peace for all.
Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
Let each know that for each the body, the mind, and the soul have
been freed to fulfill themselves.Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will
again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the
indignity of being the skunk of the world.Let freedom reign.
The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!
God bless Africa!
▲ Nelson Mandela