Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given :
(A) We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
(Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given :
(A) We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
(Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)
This extract is from Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech, recorded in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, delivered on South Africa's transition to democracy after decades of apartheid. Mandela declares that political emancipation — the end of white minority rule and the winning of equal political rights — has 'at last' been achieved. He immediately widens the definition of freedom, pledging to liberate the people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, and gender and other forms of discrimination, showing that political rights alone are not enough for true liberty. His triple repetition, 'never, never, and never again', is a solemn vow that the oppression of one group by another will not recur in this land. The final sentence, 'The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement', deliberately echoes and inverts the old imperial claim about the British Empire — instead of glorifying colonial dominance, Mandela uses the same image of permanence to celebrate the everlasting significance of the freedom his people have won. Candidates choosing Option (A) must answer ALL four sub-questions (I–IV) set on this extract, not on Option (B).
Marking Scheme
- 1This passage itself carries no independent marks; its 5 marks are distributed across the four sub-questions set on it: I (MCQ) = 1 mark, II (SA) = 2 marks, III (Fill in the blank) = 1 mark, IV (VSA) = 1 mark.
- 2Full marks require the candidate to answer only the sub-questions of the extract they have chosen (A or B), consistently.
- 3Credit in the sub-answers depends on textual reference to 'political emancipation', 'poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination', and the closing image of permanence.
Hint
Choose only ONE extract, (A) or (B), and answer all of its sub-questions (I–IV); do not attempt both.
Quick Oral Answer
This is the passage for Option (A) — Mandela's speech from Long Walk to Freedom — where he says political freedom alone is not enough; true emancipation must also free people from poverty and discrimination.
Analysis & Explanation
This extract from Nelson Mandela's inaugural address (First Flight, 'Long Walk to Freedom') redefines freedom as more than a political event.
Concept
- Delivered after South Africa's first democratic elections (1994), ending apartheid.
- Mandela distinguishes political emancipation (the vote, end of racial rule) from complete emancipation (freedom from poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination).
Key points
- 'Never, never, and never again' is anaphora — it turns the pledge into a solemn vow against any return to oppression.
- The closing line reverses the imperial boast 'the sun never sets on the British Empire', reusing the image to celebrate liberation instead of conquest.
Common mistakes (exam caution)
- Candidates must pick ONE extract, (A) or (B), and answer all its sub-questions (I–IV); mixing answers from both extracts forfeits marks since only the chosen set is evaluated.
- A strong reading identifies: (1) the two kinds of freedom, (2) the resolute, hopeful tone, and (3) the reversed imperial imagery.
Common Mistakes
- 1Attempting sub-questions from both extract (A) and extract (B) instead of choosing only one.
- 2Treating 'political emancipation' and 'complete freedom' as identical, missing Mandela's distinction between the two.
- 3Not reading the full extract carefully before answering, and so missing the tone and the significance of the final reversed 'sun never sets' image.
Interesting Facts
Nelson Mandela delivered this speech at his inauguration as South Africa's first Black President on 10 May 1994, after 27 years in prison.
'Long Walk to Freedom' is Mandela's autobiography, first published in 1994, tracing his life from a rural Xhosa childhood to the presidency.
The line 'the sun shall never set' deliberately echoes and inverts the old British imperial boast that 'the sun never sets on the British Empire', turning a phrase of colonial pride into a celebration of freedom from oppression.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to answer questions on both extracts (A) and (B)?
No. You must choose ANY ONE of the two given extracts and answer all its sub-questions; answers based on the other extract are not evaluated.
What does 'political emancipation' mean in this extract?
It refers to the end of apartheid and the achievement of equal political rights (such as the right to vote) for all South Africans regardless of race, following the 1994 elections.