Barack Obama delivering 2018 Nelson Mandela Day lecture on July 18 in Johannesburg, South Africa
‘It’s poverty of ambition to want to have more and more…and more’—Obama at Mandela lecture
Former United States President, Barack Obama delivered the 2018 and 16th Nelson Mandela annual lecture which also marked 100 years since the birth of the late leadership icon.
Obama spoke negatively of individuals who want to acquire more and more wealth without giving out to the needy.
Obama said “It’s poverty of ambition” to want to acquire more and more…and more without giving out more and more…and more”.
The Democratic party leader said impactful life demands giving and all about acquiring.
Barack Obama spoke to an audience of 15,000 people in South Africa’s main city, Johannesburg
He described late Mandela as an inspiration to young people in the late 70s.
“Madiba’s light shone so brightly that in the late seventies he could inspire a young college student on the other side of the world to re-examine my own priorities – to reconsider the small role that I might play in bending the arc towards justice,” remarked Mr Obama.
“And now an entire generation has now grown up in a world that by most measures has gotten steadily freer, healthier, wealthier, less violent and more tolerant during the course of their lifetimes. It should make us hopeful.” Obama said.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 and he died on 5 December 2013. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.
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