1.


February 11th, 1990.

The prisoner walked free, as Nelson Mandela stepped out into the bright African sun. 


February 11th, 2011.

The power of the people of Egypt, of Cairo, of Alexandria was felt in the coolness of the African evening. 

The power of the people was felt.

In Tahreer, 

that square whose symbolism will ripple across the world,

vanquishing the tyranny of generations.


Freedom!

Tahreer!

Inkululeko!


February the eleventh. 


A shared and joyous day

for us all.

Madiba returns! 

Let freedom reign!

Amandla!

The Struggle Continues!


2.


February 11th 2020.

That unrealised yearning.

That defiance squashed under the jackboot of tyranny that now silences Tahreer. 


February 11th 2020.

The defiled dream of the prisoner.

The savaging of the voices of hope for "a better life for all".


This is what betrayal tastes like.

Afzal Moolla was born in Delhi, India while his parents were in exile, working as political exiles against Apartheid in South Africa. He then travelled wherever his parent’s work took them, spending time in Egypt, Finland, and Iran. Afzal works and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This piece was first published on Afzal Moolla's personal blog.