Why is mandela sometimes called madiba

So here is a brief explanation of each name:. His father gave him this name. This name was given to him on his first day at school by his teacher, Miss Mdingane. Giving African children English names was a custom among Africans in those days and was influenced by British colonials who could not easily, and often would not, pronounce African names. This is the name of the clan of which Mr Mandela was a member.

A clan name is much more important than a surname as it refers to the ancestor from which a person is descended.

Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who ruled in the Transkei in the 18 th century. Shortly after Nelson Mandela's death Thursday, his clan name Madiba emerged in condolences around the world and became a trending topic on Twitter. The clan or family name represents a person's ancestry. The meaning is deeper than a surname and is used as a sign of respect and affection. The origin of Madiba comes from a chief who ruled in the 18th century, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

His favorite, the one repeated by people around the world, was Madiba. Mandela was a member of the Xhosa people and this was his Xhosa clan, or family, name. The Xhosa are a Bantu ethnic group from Southern Africa. Nelson Mandela or Madiba is one of the many noted members of this group.

There are approximately 8 million Xhosa throughout South Africa. Their language is the second most popular after Zulu. Before the end of apartheid, the Xhosa were denied South African citizenship, although they were allowed to retain their homelands.

One important facet of Xhosa culture is the importance of helping others.