Aujourd'hui le vendredi 18 Juillet, c'est le 90ème anniversaire de Nelson MANDELA, un grand de ce monde qui est pour moi une légende vivante. Visitez son site internet qui est dans mes liens favoris et vous trouverez ce texte qui donne tous les noms et surnoms de cet homme exceptionnel.

The world needs more people like Nelson Mandela.
He was 34 when he became a lawyer.
He was 34 when he became actively involved in politics.
He was 46 when he was sentenced to life in prison.
He was 72 when he was released.
He was 75 when he received the Nobel Peace prize.
He was 77 when he became South Africa's first black democratic President.
He was 81 when he established the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
He was 84 when he launched his global HIV/AIDs campaign, named with his prison number '46664'.
This year, he is 90.

A conciliator, nation builder, peacemaker, leader of social development, passionate champion of the poor and marginalised, and a global icon.

Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is sometimes called by other names.

Each name has its own special meaning and story. When you use them you should know what you are saying and why. So here is a brief explanation of each name.

Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is sometimes called by other names.

Each name has its own special meaning and story. When you use them you should know what you are saying and why. So here is a brief explanation of each name.

Rolihlahla – This is Mr Mandela’s birth name: it is an isiXhosa name which means “pulling the branch of a tree”, but colloquially it means “troublemaker”. His father gave him this name.

Nelson – This name was given to him on his first day at school by his teacher, Miss Mdingane. Giving African children English names was a custom among Africans in those days and was influenced by British colonials who could not easily, and often would not, pronounce African names. It is unclear why Miss Mdingane chose the name “Nelson” for Mr Mandela.

Madiba – This is the name of the clan of which Mr Mandela is a member. A clan name is much more important than a surname as it refers to the ancestor from which a person is descended. Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who ruled in the Transkei in the 18th century. It is considered very polite to use someone’s clan name.

Tata – This isiXhosa word means “father” and is a term of endearment that many South Africans use for Mr Mandela. Since he is a father figure to many, they call him Tata regardless of their own age.

Khulu – Mr Mandela is often called “Khulu”, which means great, paramount, grand. The speaker means “Great One” when referring to Mr Mandela in this way. It is also a shortened form of the isiXhosa word “uBawomkhulu” for “grandfather”.

Dalibhunga – This is the name Mr Mandela was given at the age of 16 once he had undergone initiation, the traditional Xhosa rite of passage into manhood. It means “creator or founder of the council” or “convenor of the dialogue”. The correct use of this name when greeting Mr Mandela is “Aaah! Dalibhunga”.

Other names – Of course, Mr Mandela’s family use many terms of endearment for him. His grandchildren use variants of “Grandfather”, like “Granddad” for instance. Mrs Graça Machel frequently uses “Papa”.