This is from an email I received from Sue Mey yesterday. As you know Sue is one of my favorite patterns designers. She lives in South Africa and is one of the most prolific designers in the world today. I think she has done a wonderful tribute to one of the most influential leaders the world has seen in several decades. The pattern is available from Sue's site. You have to register to download the pattern but it is free.
Nelson Mandela, also known by his clan name "Madiba", one of the world's most revered statesmen, has passed away at the age of 95.
Jailed for 27 years, he emerged in 1990 to become South Africa’s first black president four years later and to play a leading role in the drive for peace in other spheres of conflict. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He continued traveling the world, meeting leaders, attending conferences and collecting awards after stepping down as president in 1999. He was also involved in peace negotiations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and other countries in Africa and elsewhere. After his official retirement, his public appearances were mostly connected with the work of the Mandela Foundation, a charitable fund that he founded. The fight against Aids was one of Mandela's primary concerns and he used his gravitas to raise awareness about the issue on the global stage. In 2004, at the age of 85, Mr Mandela retired from public life to spend more time with his family and friends and engage in "quiet reflection". In November 2009, Mandela's contributions to world freedom were rewarded with a unique gesture by the United Nations General Assembly. The body announced that his birthday, 18 July, would be known as Mandela Day. On his 89th birthday, he formed ‘The Elders’, a group of leading world figures, to offer their expertise and guidance "to tackle some of the world's toughest problems". He also played a key role in the decision to let South Africa host the 2010 football World Cup and appeared at the closing ceremony. His charisma, self-deprecating sense of humor and lack of bitterness over his harsh treatment, as well as his amazing life story, explain his extraordinary global appeal.
I made this pattern from a public domain photo of Madiba in one of his bright and highly patterned print shirts that became known as a ‘Madiba shirt’.
Sue Mey
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