Open Letter to H.E. Macky Sall, Chairperson of African Union (AU) on forgotten African sports heroes

Late Dr. Nelson Mandela handing the Rugby World Cup to Pienaar in his days as President of South Africa. PHOTO; GettyImages

Your Excellency,

I salute you on behalf of all generations of African sportsmen and women.

Forgive me for writing you a public letter even though a copy of this will soon be on your desk at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is only for your information, for now.

I am inspired to make my humble contribution to the celebrations of the posthumous birthday of the great African son, the late, former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, that took place earlier this week.

The late Madiba, represents many things to many people all over the world, particularly Africans. Generally, though, he is revered by all as one of the greatest human beings that ever lived.

The man’s 27 years behind bars were not in vain. They were the price he had to pay for taking a courageous and noble stand against injustice, racial segregation and discrimination against Blacks in South Africa.

His being in jail became a rallying point for the greatest coalition of the Black race on earth at the time, awakening Black and African consciousness, and promoting racial equality and a level playing field for all of humanity.

In the course of that chequered struggle, fought on several fronts but mostly political, there were a few moments and events that were epochal and stood out. One of them that probably sent the most powerful message to the world was conceived by Tanzanian President, Julius Nwalimu Nyerere, championed by Nigerian Head of State, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, and executed by the Presidents of 25 African countries as well as those of Iraq and Guyana.

Former Governor of Atlanta in the United States of