The Exhumation of Three Mandela Corpses by Mandla Mandela...

The content of this research focuses on two broad themes: The exhumation of three Mandela corpses by Mandla Mandela, and a study on Xhosa and in some instances, specifically Tembu culture and burial tradition. The Mandela family feud will be examined and a study of how traditional Xhosa culture has or has not changed today, as these aspects of the topic are vital aspects of research that will enable allow a conclusion to be drawn about whether Mandla Mandela’s actions were or were not culturally and ethically correct. According to Maylie (2013: a and b) the Mandela ‘family row’ began in 2011 because Mandla Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s eldest grandson) had the bodies of his uncle, Thembekile Mandela (eldest son of Madiba), his aunt, Makaziwe†¦show more content†¦It is also important to realise that traditionally, in Xhosa culture it is considered best to be buried where you were born (Ngqulana, 2013). Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo in 1918, and moved to Qunu when he was 2 years old (Maylie, 2013). If Mandla Mandela had wished to justify his actions, he could have claimed that he was simply following tradition by making way for his grandfather to be buried in Mvezo, his birthland, with his children and grandchildren. Mandla Mandela excused his actions by stating that he had ‘promised his grandfather he would improve the lives of those in Mvezo through development’ and that ‘the museum [was] a part of that effort.’ (Maylie, 2013). Although having Nelson Mandela’s body buried in Mvezo would be a lucrative tourist attraction, it would generate income that, if used for the benefit of the Mvezo community, would indeed ‘improve [their] lives’ (Maylie, 2013 ). Mandla Mandela’s spokesman, Freddy Pilusa, said Mandla Mandela had in the past said he wouldnt oppose ‘a repatriation of the remains’ (Maylie, 2013 ). implying that he was acting ethically and honourably and wasn’t attempting to force any family member or elder to support his actions. However, in anger, Mandla Mandela later began slandering his relatives, calling several ‘illegitimate’ offspring (Maylie, 2013 ). King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of