"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." Nelson Mandela
Qunu is where Nelson Mandela has acknowledged he spent the happiest years of his youth, diligently doing his herd-boy duties, playing in the river and sailing down the “Sliding Stone”.
When Nelson’s father was persecuted and deposed as Mvezo chief by the white magistrate their family took refuge at Qunu. It is the place where the young Rolihlahla in colonial tradition was named Nelson on his first day at school.
Qunu today is a cluster of villages surrounded by open veld and rolling hills. The hills and valleys are covered with lush green grass and dotted with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats. A cock crow wakes up the community and at sunset the herdsmen bring the cattle to the Qunu river to drink, where the young Nelson enjoyed swimming and enriching his imagination with the games played at the riverbank.
The
young boys today run the scattered roads - expertly whistling
high notes - to the semi-equipped soccer playgrounds to
play or cheer their peers. Alternatively, the smooth sloping
granite stones provide a natural playground or roller
coaster.
The community of Qunu is very hospitable and prepared to share their experiences and the story of their favourite son. They still continue to do subsistence farming using traditional practises.
The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre is located at Qunu and comprises the second component of the Nelson Mandela museum.
Qunu comes alive during the Festive season as Madiba himself hosts a children’s Christmas party, which is a highlight of the year.
A Presbyterian church that used to house Madiba’s Qunu Primary School sponsored by the South African Heritage Resources Agency.
The rolling hills
Unique Tembu/Xhosa women in their colourful traditional outfits and white ochre tattooed faces to enhance their beauty and to protect their delicate skins from the harsh summer sunrays.
Clean fresh non-polluted air
Unique bull horns facing the sun and catching the moon.
The church in which Nelson Mandela was baptised
The streams in which the young Nelson R Mandela swam
The pastures where the young Nelson Mandela herded cattle & sheep
The Mandela family graves
The retirement home of Nelson Mandela
Practically a Mandela village – in the genealogical sense
The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre (under construction)
