Entertainment
Winnie Mandela: Flawed Heroine?
South African activist, Winnie Madikizela Mandela has died at the age of 81 after battling a long illness. She was once married to former South Africa’s beloved President, Nelson Mandela of blessed memory but she never cowered in his shadow she was an activist in her own right.
When Gertrude and Columbus Madikizela had their fourth daughter in 1936, they gave her the name Nom Zamo if indeed parents have premonitions of their children’s lives, Winnie Mandela was aptly named “Nom Zamo’ in their native Xhosa Language while literally means “she who strives: for more than six decades, she spent her life striving for justice for herself, her family and her country until her death on Monday April 2nd 2018 at the age of 81.
Her famed marriage to the symbol of anti-apartheid was bound to make her a collaborator in the fight against racial segregation in that country, but her struggle actually began before the two met at a time when it was a rarity for black people to go to school. She attended the Jan H Hopmeyr School of social work and earned a degree in social work at the age of 20.
It was not until two years later that she met a handsome fourth-year-old man at a bus stop where she was trying to get home from her job as a social worker, Rolih Lahla Nelson Mandela a tall charming man and soon enough a romance ensued between them.
Winnie was weary that the man was married and had three children already. He convinced her that the marriage had become strained as a result of his involvement into politics. Eventually, Mandela’s first wife Evelyn Mase filed for divorce, citing adultery on the part of her husband that same year, 1958 Mandela and Winnie got married, their happiness was doomed to be short lived.
In five years, the couple had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziwa but due to his work in fighting against apartheid Mandela was frequently picked up and charged to court. However, in 1963, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of planning a violent over throw of the government.
The responsibility of continuing the struggle fell on the young wife’s shoulders and she carried on where Mandela stopped, she was arrested and detained several times often tortured, but her spirit was never broken she led the political party ANC like an Athena. In 1969 she was kept in solitary confinement for 18 months.
Even when she was banished to exile in 1977, her house was bombed twice by apartheid operatives, but her work was not without controversy. She was widely criticized for endorsing the killing of political opponents and quoted in 1986 as saying: “with our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country (Necklacing as in the burning of people with tyres around their necks).
She was also said to have a security force known as Mandela United Football Club whose role was to kill opponents and turncoats Most notoriously, she and her body guards were accused of slitting the throat of 14 years-old-Stompie Moeketsi who they suspected to be a police informer. She was given a six year jail term but offered the option of a fine.
Her criminal accusations also included several cases of intimidation and blackmail, little wonder publications described her as a “tarnished symbols. When Mandela was released from prison in 1990, she was on his arm and sang the “Bring him home song”. She was by default the frist lady of the new democratic South, Africa.
Like it was before Mandela’s conviction the love was short lived the couple separated in 1992 and finally divorced in 1994. Winnie’s affair with a young lawyer, Dali Mpofu proved too bitter a pill for the old man to swallow, still she was part of his cabinet as deputy minister of Arts, Culture Science and Technology until she was sacked in 1985 after allegations of corruption, she later included her maiden name in full appellation going by Winnie Madikizela Mandela.
In 2003, she was again found guilty of embezzlement and given a suspended sentence of three years, but she returned to politics as a member of parliament from 2009 until her death. Every hero has an achilles heel, perhaps Winnie Mandela’ hubris was her unflinching conviction in whatever she believed in, even when it seemed like the end did not actually justify the means.
She was unflinching and blessed or is it cursed with a scatting tongue. She once reportedly called Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu ( another revered figure in South Africa) a cretin, Mandela himself was not left out of her sharp criticism His Concilliatory approach to the new South Africa with something she did not agree with Mandela did not go to prison and he went in there as a burning young revolutionary”, she once said an interview. But look what came out, Mandela let us down, he agreed to a bad deal for the blacks.
Nevertheless, her devotion to Mandela continued until he died. Many observers believed that the two were sole mates and never actually stopped loving each other even if she went to court to prove that their divorce was a fraud and he completely left her out of his will. Graca Machel whom Mandela later married also had a courteous relationship with her and once said.
“It is unfortunate that in our lives we don’t interact very easily, but I want to state very clearly that Winnie is my hero, Winnie is someone I respect highly since her passing on Monday several nes outlets have described her as a flawed hero mugger and controversial, but she would not have minded her life she repeatedly said was dedicated to the struggle against shite rule, in her words: “I was married to the ANC, it was the best marriage I ever had, I am not sorry, I would never be sorry, I would do everything I did again if I had to everything”, Winnie is survived by two daughters, eight grandchildren and a nation in mourning source, net news ltd.
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.