Mandela, noun
- Origin:
- Surname of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, President of South Africa from 1994 and leader of the African National Congress.
Used attributively in Special Combinations (mostly nonce). Mandelamania, MandelaMobile, Mandela Plan (see M Plan), Mandelarand, Mandela release fever, Mandela University: see quotations. See also Madiba.
1990 E. Prov. Herald 12 Feb. 6As ‘Mandelamania’ sweeps the world, two anti-apartheid leaders who recently spent a day at his prison home say the man is greater than the myth that has built around him.
1991 S. Macleod in Time 22 July 8Despite the hardships, Robben Island became known as ‘Mandela University’ to younger inmates because of the lessons in politics that Mandela taught them.
Used attributively in Special Combinations (mostly nonce). Mandelamania, MandelaMobile, Mandela Plan (see M Plan), Mandelarand, Mandela release fever, Mandela University:see quotations.
- Derivatives:
- Hence (nonce) Mandela adjective, of the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990, and the changes which followed.1990 Sunday Times 27 May (Mag. Sect.) 6I needed respite from the New South Africa..so I sought frivolity in the company of acquaintances who struck me as being fairly safe custodians of the Old South Africa...They had both been at Sol’s entire birthday bash, and you don’t get more pre-Mandela than that, babe.