May 10th marks the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president. More than 22 million South Africans had turned out to cast their ballots in the country’s first fully representative democratic election, with an overwhelming majority electing Mandela and his African National Congress party to lead the country. Mandela spent 27 years as a political prisoner of the South African government for opposing South Africa’s apartheid system. True to his promise, Mandela served one term as President, voluntarily stepping down in 1999.
If you would like more context on the matter, please consider Imani M. Cheers, an associate professor of digital storytelling at the George Washington University. Cheers is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. As a professor of practice, she uses a variety of mediums including video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting and involving people of the African Diaspora. Her scholarly focus is on the intersection of women and girls, technology, health, conflict, agriculture, and the effects of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa.
Cheers moved to South Africa with her family less than a year after Nelson Mandela was elected President. Cheers recalls meeting the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1995. "Madiba was the epitome of a revolutionary. The lawyer and anti-Apartheid activist was profoundly humble and a bit shy during our brief interaction. Those few moments in his presence changed the trajectory of my life. I knew from that moment on, I wanted to be an activist and advocate for equality."
If you would like to speak with Prof. Cheers, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at [email protected].
-GW-