MANDELA’S FAMILY Each Xhosa belongs to a clan that traces its descent back to a specific forefather. Mandela was often called Madiba as a sign of affection. This is his clan name - the name of the Thembu chief who ruled in the eighteenth century and after whom his succession is named. Not only an appointed chief of the Thembu, Mandela’s father was a known custodian of Xhosa history and respected counsellor to the King of Thembuland. Although a member of Thembu royalty, Mandela was not in line for the throne. Rather, like his father, he was groomed to counsel the rulers of the tribe. Named Rolihlahla by his father at birth, it’s literal meaning in Xhosa is ‘pulling the branch of a tree’, but according to Madiba, it’s colloquial meaning more accurately would be ‘troublemaker’. He said: “I do not believe that names are destiny or that my father somehow divined my future, but in later years, friends and relatives would ascribe to my birth name the many storms I have both caused and weathered. My more familiar English or Christian name was not given to me until my first day of school.”
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