She was born September 26, 1934. Her mother named her Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela. Her prophetic first name means “trial”. Her life has been, and is still, full of trials and tribulations. We know her as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. To African rebels globally, Winnie will always mean revolutionary royalty.
Winnie is the newly elected president of the Women’s League of the African National Congress. Her election, in the midst of slander and sabotage, is a testament to her loyal supporters and infallible character. Winnie is our global warrior queen. It is fitting that she be chosen as the keynote speaker for the Million Woman March. The march is being held in America. America is BLATANTLY breaking South Africa’s most racist records.
Despite years of sabotage by South African police, and the political and personal betrayal by her ex-husband Nelson, Winnie STILL reigns supreme as South Africa’s MOST revolutionary leader. She has not sold out. Unlike Nelson, Winnie is as bold and as Black a warrior as before his incarceration. She is fierce and fiery without apology or acquiescence. She is the epitome of a true African rebel.
Winnie recently told Essence magazine (October, 1997): “I was not made by a racist media and I will not be unmade by a racist media.What matters is what I mean to my people...without economic power, freedom is worthless.”
Winnie dares to demand more than symbolism from the government of the “New South Africa”. More Black South Africans are still MISERABLY poor and severely abused by the RACIST laws of South Africa. Winnie is a nuisance to South Africa’s public relations propogandists. Winnie is too African and too honest for the “multiracial” mythology that is being fabricated by the new regime, fueled by its old racism and new capitalism. Winnie is viewed as too “militant” (read: afrocentric/realistic) and “independent” (read: she refuses to sell out). Those who slander Winnie revere Nelson Mandela as a superior (read: passive) political ally. These are the same caucasian conspirators who imprisoned Nelson for 27 years, before they figured out how to use him to help them imprison millions of African people, behind bars of political fantasies, crafted by government wardens.
These same caucasian conspirators seek to frame Winnie as a conspirator in the murder of a 14 year old informant in 1989. I believe Winnie as she proclaims her innocence. She is undeniably FAR more credible than any South African news agency or political foe. Why should I believe ANYTHING that I hear about Winnie via South Africa’s media?!?! Why should I trust an apartheid regime that has been “revamped” by the inclusion of a few meek Black allies? America’s “democracy” is PROOF that labels mean NOTHING in political arenas.
All is fair in war. Africans are at war globally. Why should I mourn the death of any traitor? Those who conspire with our enemies and sabotage our revolution deserve to die. There will be millions of African casualties. All of us will not, and should not, be saved.
I will remain loyal to Winnie as she has remains loyal to the liberty of African people. I defy those who slander and frame her. I will pray for her victory and vindication.
Sister Winnie, my regal warrior queen: AMANDLA! May African Gods and Godesses bless you across oceans of time...