Political Odyssey Of Chief Madu Ndigba(a belief in totems by an African leader) An Allegory. Part 8

CHAPTERVII



HAD MADIBA A TOTEM?

The search for the utility of the totem continued during the visit of South Africa, to enable Chief Madu Ndigba study the totem belief in this land. During, the trip to South Africa, Chief Ndigba made sure, that he visited places of interest. His traveling companion, the young lady, lobbied her way and ensured that she accompanied the Chief to Robin Island. For nearly 400 years, Robin Island, 12 kilometers from Cape Town was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here that rulers sent those they regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society. To go to Robin Island is still an experience of immense power. It is similar to that of the Nazi concentration camp and hides outs, a cold, damp, barren and lonely place. Fresh water and trees were completely absent. Very little communication could be achieved between the outside world and islanders. The waters surrounding the island were infested with patrolling hungry sharks. The stormy weather conditions characteristic of the southern tip of Africa became known as the Cape of Storms.

Very few places in the world exemplify and symbolize the struggle for freedom against oppression of basic human rights, as Robin Island does. The power to eradicate apartheid was believed to have been strongly supported by the presence of this far away Prison Island. Where many of the leading members of South African political parties and ANC members were incarcerated, famous among them was the former president Mr. Nelson Mandela. The history of Robin Island is indelibly linked to that of the fight against white domination and against the colonialization of all tribal or Native cultures across the world by European empires.

Magic Of Robin Island

Those imprisoned on the island succeeded on a psychological and political level in turning a prison 'hell-hole' into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation. Robin island came to symbolize, not only for South Africa and the African continent, but also for the entire world, the triumph of human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. What lesson would our chief learn from the life of Nelson Mandela, Madiba? He bought a souvenir of Mandela's dress, but he latter discovered tha Mandela had no totem, yet his presidency had been one of the most succeesful rule after apartheid, a legacy which was hard to beat.
It should be borne in mind that Chief Ndigba was from a country, with sit-tight syndrome Political Leaders as would be amplified latter.