UN / JONATHAN DEMME

The United Nations (UN) will be marking the first Nelson Mandela International Day around the globe on 18 July, to celebrate the South African leader, who turns 92 this year, and his contribution to a democratic South Africa.
As part of the celebrations the acclaimed documentary, “Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation,” was screened yesterday (15 July) at UN Headquarters, followed by a post-screening discussion with the film’s producer, Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme and co-producer Peter Saraf.

During an exclusive interview with UNifeed, Demme read from a statement written by the film’s director, Jo Menell, in which he said that Mandela reminds South Africans of their “shared humanity and common destiny” and that “the man, not the myth” and that it is “his example of tolerance and reconciliation” that South Africans “are trying so hard to emulate.”

Saraf recalled the heady days leading up the 1994 presidential elections while following Mandela around South Africa during the campaign.

He said that It was “one of the most exciting, politically charged, but just emotionally charged environment that you can imagine being in” as the country was seeing “a level of democracy emerging” for the first time.

Speaking about Nelson Mandela, the man, Demme light-heartedly recalled finding out that he “makes his own bed, everyday of his life, even when he stays at a hotel”, with Saraf noting that this action shows that he is an “uncompromising man, in every regard.”

The General Assembly designated 18 July as Mandela Day last year in recognition of his contributions to the creation of a "non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa” and for “his dedication to the service of humanity," as a humanitarian, a peacemaker, and advocate for racial and gender equality and a champion of sustainable development.