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In Honour of Madiba was written in 2013 and is for flute, viola and harp. A version has since been made with piano instead of harp. The flautist is also required to play alto flute. It celebrates the life of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who is affectionately known as Madiba.
The piece is in three sections – slow, fast, slow – and the main theme of the slow sections follows the shape of some phrases in the South African National Anthem, ‘Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika’. Hence the anthem is hidden in the general texture of the music without it actually being quoted.
The piece was conceived at the time Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital at the age of 94 for approximately three months (he celebrated his 95th birthday whilst in hospital). I felt it was time for a concert piece to be written that reflected on some of his life, notably his long stay in prison during the apartheid years and to praise his vision for a New South Africa for people of all races to live in peace and harmony as well as to reduce the widespread poverty through education.
The duration of this piece is approximately 7.5 minutes.
