my time with MADIBA

NELSON MANDELA – THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE GAME CHANGER. LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER MATTHEW WILLMAN WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MADIBA AND HAS PUT TOGETHER A COLLECTION OF IMAGES DEPICTING THE GREAT MAN

At the age of 15, Matthew Willman’s world was turned upside down when his mother passed away and he was enrolled as a boarder at Thomas More College. “I became friends with kids from different backgrounds and it made me realise there is a bigger world out there, beyond the bubble we live in in the Highway area.

“Soon after my mother died, I saw Madiba at the opening of the ICC. I was inspired by his message of love and caring, and decided then and there to journey towards him.

“Having a dream and a goal is essential,” says Matthew. “It chisels and refines you, and makes you a better person. Even if you don’t achieve that goal, you are able to see beyond yourself.”

After matriculating from Thomas More College, Matthew studied photography at Natal Technikon and he “pulled out all the stops to get closer to Madiba”. In 2003, he began working with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, initially at no charge. “I was a little pip-squeak from Pinetown, travelling to Joburg whenever I was needed and waitoring at the Langostine to pay my bills.”

It’s astonishing to think of the nowiconic images that must have sat tucked away in Matthew’s bag while he served those tables!

“Many Tuesdays and Thursdays, I sat at the foot of my teacher, but I was contractually bound not to speak about it. Now I have the opportunity to tell the world a beautiful story about an exceptional man.”

The result is a collection of 126 images (chosen from tens of thousands) that tell the Madiba story. Entitled We Called Him Madiba, this book is Matthew’s tribute to the great man and is “an accurate account of Madiba, including his frailty”.

“It’s the common man who will create the Madiba legend through his stories. These images contribute to that, showing him during quiet times, the ache in his hands.

“Madiba was a man of duty. He knew what was expected of him as president and went out of his way to ensure that he greeted those around him, right to the end. His passion and sacrifice went beyond what most people know.”

Protocol dictated that Matthew sit to Madiba’s side, keeping a respectful distance and not addressing visiting dignitaries directly. “As the commissioned photographer, I was privileged to stand in front of Madiba rather than behind, with the other photographers,” Willman continues. “I was within the cauldron of bodyguards, capturing significant moments – both official and unofficial. Shoots were always exciting when Ma Winnie and Graça were around!”

Matthew ensured that he wore a suit when he was in Mandela’s presence, with the result that Madiba called him “My Prince Harry”. “One day, Madiba was feeling particularly mischievous and, clearly not in the mood to tackle the issues at hand, introduced me to the President of the World Bank as ‘His Prince Harry’.”

It’s through this time at the Nelson Mandela Foundation that Matthew met a number of his clients and subjects, many of whom have become friends – Annie Lennox, for example. One day, Madiba was running late and his assistant asked Matthew to entertain his visitors. Unaware of who he was speaking to, Matthew was shocked when someone pointed out that he had just met one of the music industry’s living legends. “We hit it off and Annie invited me to Umtata the next day to cover her SING campaign. I dropped everything to be there and that was the start of our journey together.” Money raised by SING is used to help prevent the spread of HIV in South Africa and also supports those currently living with HIV.

“As a Christian, my journey with Mandela was not to glorify him, but to witness courage and sacrifice intimately,” says Matthew. “Early on in my time with Madiba, he taught me that if you want to remain relevant, you must serve.”

Born with an innate creativity and

“Using the visual arts as an enabler, we aim to inspire individual change and help uplift vulnerable communities. We also seek to provide empowerment opportunities for visual artists so as to nurture and grow talent and ability.” having danced professionally for 18 years, Matthew has made it his mission to help those who show promise in the Arts through the Matthew Willman Foundation for the Visual Arts, which offers a number of scholarships, as well as grants for practical costs, from ballet shoes to exhibition fees. Funds from the sale of We Called Him Madiba will contribute to this fund.

Today, Matthew’s portfolio is nothing short of astounding, including work with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, US President Bill Clinton, Oxfam International, World Health Organisation and the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust.

Willman’s dedication to documentary photography combined with his personal commitment to developmental issues has taken him places few would contemplate, often confronting difficult realities. He has shot around the world, from Robben Island to the Inanda Heritage Route, The Royal Ballet School in London, Tromso in the Arctic Circle and Red Fern Aboriginal Centre in Australia.

During the early years of his career, Matthew worked extensively in the realm of HIV and AIDS. The heartrending stories took their toll and he shifted to focus on issues such as food security, access to water and sanitation.

“My role is to represent what is going on. I must be objective or I’d be doing the people I photograph and the viewer a disservice.

“I am both intrigued and inspired by people, who they are and what they shape themselves to be – none more so than Nelson Mandela. From 2004 to 2013, I was afforded many incredibly intimate experiences with a man who embodies the very spirit and conviction we all possess as South Africans. We Called Him Madiba is my tribute to him.” *