The memory and legacy of two of South Africa’s eminent sons and daughters will continue to be kept alive through this week’s launch of the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation.
The Foundation, whose main mission is to keep the values the two lived by, is chaired by Dr Pallo Jordan, assisted by Dr Frene Ginwala, Beverly Penny, Mavuso Msimang, Thembi Tambo, Dali Tambo, Rachel Tambo, Monhla Hlahla, Duma Nkosi and Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mondli Gungubele.
The Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation will grapple with issues of socio-economic upliftment and the advancement of education, women empowerment and the promotion of arts, culture and heritage initiatives.
“The Foundation is to make a contribution to the public memory of my parents. It is about the promotion and preservation of their legacy individually and as a couple. In many respects, they were two sides of a coin. Both joined the ANC independently of one another and they travelled a life together which was symbolic of so many people living in the 40s and 50s in South Africa,” says Dali Tambo.
People with passion
He says that his parents stood for many different values that encompass human rights, a compassionate society, integrity, honesty and service to the people.
“They believed in those values. They were married to each other but were also married to the struggle. The Foundation is aimed at being a home to the many different people and organisations around the country that have sought to keep their memories alive. My sisters and I felt that in forming the Foundation, we will bring these people together. There are so many people doing great things and the Foundation is a way to formalise that,” he says.
Tambo points out that the Foundation will guide all those well-meaning people to keep in the spirit of the memory of the couple. But the Foundation is not only about just honouring Oliver and Adelaide. It is also about honouring the other icons of the era and those who have come before.
“Part of the mission of the Foundation is to promote the liberation heritage. We want to ensure there is a will to remember the individuals who gave their lives for us to experience democracy today. It has taken many generations to get the freedom we currently have in the country. We want to talk about the nobility of their heritage and the high moral values and wonderful lives of the icons of the struggle,” says Tambo.
Care about heritage
In an age where the youth do not care enough about their heritage, Tambo feels that society needs to do more to educate them. New heritage should be created, but significance needs to be given to the heritage that already exists. Heritage builds nations and social cohesion. It builds a national wellness for people to know about their heritage and about their history.
Tambo says that this is especially important in such a multi-cultural society as South Africa. “Individuals need to feel proud of not only their cultural heritage but also of the national heritage. A great example of this is the United States. There you can not only be a proud of your native culture but also be a proud American. This is central for the way forward in South Africa.
Heritage is the show business of history,” he says. For Tambo, one’s present should be informed by one’s past. He says that the ANC has had generations of the highest calibre of leadership. This holds true today with the current leadership informed by the history of the movement and what it has stood for. And just like in the past, the leadership is facing serious challenges albeit different ones today, he says.
“Compromises need to be made in South Africa today. It will take time, which will lead to frustrations. These frustrations will also give way to varying degrees of political tension, but people need to have respect for one another’s cultures and recognise that the way forward will not necessarily be smoothsailing,” says Tambo.
Yet he recognises that there is a pureness of heart in their goals to do what is best for society and create a more egalitarian life for all. The tactics form part of what politics are about but the mission is to bring relief to the poor and develop a society based on merit, equal opportunities for all, access to services, education and nutrition, he says.
Reinforcing the value system
The Foundation will use the power of the name of the Tambos and the nobility of their value system to assist and encourage people, he adds. And while there is still a lot of work to be done, the Foundation will seek to interpret what Oliver and Adelaide would have done if they were alive.
“From my mother’s perspective she was always helping the elderly and the youth through community work. She was also committed to the alleviation of poverty and taking away the factors causing poverty. There are also the matters of women’s rights and quality healthcare for all. So there are clearly many avenues to drive the Foundation from her perspective,” he says.
The same can be said for his father. Both parents had strong values of non-racism. They were committed to uniting people and they were loved by everybody irrespective of skin colour, says Tambo. “The Foundation will continue their work and use their ideals and passion to bring all the people of South Africa together,” he concludes.
This article originally appeared in the Mail & Guardian newspaper as an advertorial supplement