A Ritzy discussion – what can Brixton learn from Mandela?

What lessons did Mandela leave behind for the community of Brixton? Our Features Editor, Keith Lewis, went along to the Ritzy to find out.

“You need to ask why Mandela came to Brixton,” starts Symeon Brown, a journalist and one of the panellists of the discussion that followed the Ritzy’s screening of Mandela’s biopic.

Hosted by Elizabeth Pears, News Editor at The Voice, the panel also included Rachel Heywood, Labour Councillor (Coldharbour Ward) and Tony Moody, founder of the Lambeth Cricket Academy.

“Mandela asked specifically to come here, of all places in the UK,” Symeon continued. “It was a powerful gesture and the reasons for his visit were symbolic.”

One of Mandela’s beliefs was that if not everyone is free, nobody is free. So his fight went beyond Soweto, and South Africa. His principles transcended geography and were embraced by communities from Harlem to Brixton. The struggle was, therefore, always global.

Certainly Brixton has long been a centre for the struggle of the British Black Community (most notably the Black Panthers).  Mandela’s visit then, was seen by many to represent a thank you for Brixton’s support of the anti-apartheid movement.

Symeon, also heavily involved with the Black Cultural Archives (scheduled to open in Windrush Square later this year), thinks that recording the details of history, such as that of the Panthers, is crucial.

“It allows history to survive above our own tendency to create memories of what we want to remember,” he said.

So if the film can capture and further propagate the messages of Mandela’s, and South Africa’s struggle to the young, then maybe it has already started to achieve something big. Elizabeth asks the panel: “As a role model, what can Mandela teach the young of Brixton today?”

“Mandela’s role model was by no means perfect. And that is important,” said Cllr Heywood.

Tony agreed. “He’s a good role model, but he wasn’t perfect. He shows us that life is real. Despite his mistakes though, he kept the dream real too.”

In fact, the film itself focuses on some of Mandela’s family troubles and the sacrifices that he had to make – most notably his relationship with Winnie Mandela.

Symeon suggested that there’s a really strong message in Mandela’s story: “Change takes a long time and this is a good message for the young. Today, we expect things too quickly.”

When asked about the film, Symeon diverted a full blown critique by adding that it has one thing over the book.

“It’s accessible,” he said. “How many youth do you know that would pick up a book the size of Mandela’s autobiography?”

“Could Mandela’s story be used to encourage the young to vote then?” asks Elizabeth. After all, according to Cllr Heywood, only 20% of people voted in the last local election. And today in Brixton, issues such as inequality top the list of challenges the council face – issues more than familiar to Mandela.

“People talk of change in Brixton,” said Cllr Heywood, “but sadly, the inequality gap is growing.”

The Councillor conceded, however, that to increase voter numbers politicians have to do more to make things relevant to younger voters.

On a lighter, conclusory note, the Councillor told the audience about the idea of a monument to Mandela over at the Town Hall. She invited the community’s ideas about how to commemorate him, and one was immediately forthcoming.

“Let’s invite Winnie Mandela to Lambeth,” Tony said. “We can make that happen, with Brixton and all its creative juice.” He said it with serious enthusiasm and the idea was greeted with a rapturous applause, a kin to that at the end of the Mandela biopic itself.

If you haven’t already, visit some recollections from the day Mandela came to Brixton here.