Keeping it REEL

By Marius Redelinghuys

As Mandela Rhodes Scholars in residence, living the legacy of Nelson Mandela and delivering on the promise of leadership is a central element of the scholarship and also of every individual scholar.

In reflecting on the promise of leadership, by asking the question, how Mandela Rhodes Scholars contribute to delivering the promise of leadership, we are compelled to attempt to define leadership. Seeking such a definition is fraught with difficulties, but a common element of leadership — whatever its purpose or playground — is its contextual nature and its inseparability from a set of circumstances within a specific time frame. Accordingly leadership, its various facets and the purposes of a particular leader are shaped and formed by a community, in addition to the experiences, interaction and personal characteristics of the individual.

Such a simplified definition of leadership clearly illustrates three central components of leadership: the self, the other and the context. We are readily reminded of the notion that “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” and in the Mandela Rhodes Family (a term of endearment among the 2009 scholars) this is very true, however the cohort is also incredibly sensitive to, and aware of, immense differences in terms of background, vision, ambition and fields of study, expertise or interest. Perhaps it must also be noted — tongue in cheek — that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your Mandela Rhodes Family! A reality which makes the interaction and exchange of ideas so much more dynamic, interesting and at times frustrating but very rewarding.

As a whole, the Mandela Rhodes Scholars past and present draw from the experiences, passions, expertise and innovation of a pool of young and promising current and future African — and closer to home, South African — leaders. The beauty of the contribution of Mandela Rhodes Scholars specifically in delivering on the promise of leadership, then, lies in the very organic nature of the community espoused by the African dictum – umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu or motho ke motho ka batho.

There exists an incredibly dynamic relationship between Mandela Rhodes Scholars that almost escapes words: we do not only learn and teach one another as scholars in our moments together, but we continuously learn from and teach those around us, in our respective spheres whether they be personal, professional, social, academic, political or otherwise combining to form an incredibly powerful exchange in community. The very idea of community is central to leadership — it is about a community of which the self is surrounded by others in a particular context or contexts — Ubuntu or Botho. The Mandela Rhodes Scholars are nothing if not a community of young Africans with a track record of dedication and commitment to living the legacy of Nelson Mandela in four very important respects: through reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship and leadership (REEL) — combining to bring about truly transformational leadership.

How do we as Mandela Rhodes Scholars keep it REEL?

We believe our greatest immediate contribution to delivering on the promise of leadership in Africa is premised on the acknowledgement that no man is an island and therefore all talents should and must take into account such a reality that is invariably interwoven with the responsibility of service. This, we translate among others to mean an immense sensitivity and consciousness of the centrality of being in a community or communities, and a constant reference to the core principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship and leadership in all endeavours.

We further assert that even the most basic constant awareness coupled with the will to implement these very REEL principles is a step in the right direction towards delivering to Africa the accountable, transparent, fair, just and transformed (and transformational) leadership it deserves not only politically, but in all spheres of our existence — in our relations as a continent, as countries, as communities and individuals in families, in friendship circles, in business, in parliaments and institutions of government, as well as in our schools, churches, shopping centres and markets. One African keeping it REEL is an immense contribution, and thus far the Mandela Rhodes Foundation has contributed at least 94 such Africans and is continuing to contribute to living the legacy.

“True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past.” — Nelson Mandela

Mandela Rhodes Scholars keep it REEL by acknowledging the centrality of the past to informing our futures, without getting trapped and paralysed in it, whilst constantly focusing on reconciliation. Reconciliation in its broadest sense can be defined as the process of making compatible or consistent with, and particularly then a vision for Africa that promotes human rights, human dignity, a common humanity that seeks to end human suffering and heal the wounds of a deeply divided, exclusionary and oppressive past. Reconciliation for us and in our contribution as scholars is not overtly political and is rooted in the restoration of humanity and human dignity — a celebration and acknowledgement that transcends demographic boundaries — a celebration only truly possible when we collectively undergo a conversion to accept these fundamentals about humanity, confess the transgressions of the past and become active participants of the new vision for a collective better future for Africa and her inhabitants.

“Make every home, every shack or rickety structure a centre of learning.” — Nelson Mandela

Mandela Rhodes Scholars keep it REEL by being enabled to pursue formal education, being further equipped with, as Nelson Mandela said “the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world”. However, the commitment to education acknowledges the importance of education in every sphere of our lives and beyond the formal institutions of learning — it is a constant, ongoing, dynamic process involving the exchange of ideas, views and experience across generations, communities and between groups and individuals. Furthermore, it is the bedrock upon which Africa will prosper!

“There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” — Nelson Mandela

“The ways in which we will achieve our goals are bound by context, changing with circumstances even while remaining steadfast in our commitment to our vision.” — Nelson Mandela

Mandela Rhodes Scholars further keep it REEL through a commitment to entrepreneurship in all its forms, but notably and vehemently involving the rejection of the very notion of settling for second best. Scholars contribute to delivering the promise of leadership to Africa innovation and ambition, results of the dynamics of recognising and living in community with scholars and fellow Africans. Scholars are true entrepreneurs through possessing an enthusiastic vision — the driving force for our enterprise: an Africa that can claim and stand full its rightful place globally. Scholars promote this vision not only with passion, compassion, responsibility and prudence but do so with flexibility and responsiveness in mind acknowledging the centrality of the other and the context.

“The mark of great leaders is the ability to understand the context in which they are operating and act accordingly.” — Nelson Mandela

From Reconciliation through to Leadership, keeping it REEL is fundamentally about the context, the community and the self and the accompanying continuous interplay.

Mandela Rhodes Scholars are committed to a leadership model that acknowledges the past, articulates a bold vision for a better future, tirelessly and selflessly works towards its attainment. In addition, rooted to principle and bound by ethical considerations in shaping and improving the lives and livelihoods of those around us. In essence being the change we want to see in the world thus living the legacy by building on the example of Nelson Mandela and further setting an example to those around us.

REEL leadership echoes Nelson Mandela, affirming that “you can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself … great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility”.

By keeping it REEL, we as Mandela Rhodes Scholars contribute to delivering on the promise of transformational leadership individually, collectively, across our continent and across generations. The firm commitment of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and its successive cohorts of scholars to leadership that is both transforming and transformational is a holistic model. That creates and empowers citizens who have been and are being transformed, ready to transform and continue transforming their communities and respective contexts by assuming their roles through active leadership in the principles of reconciliation, education and entrepreneurship.

Written on behalf of the 2009 Mandela Rhodes Scholars at the request of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and published in The Promise of Leadership coffee-table book.