‘He instilled a deep love for martyrdom in the hearts of generations of fighters in Lebanon and nurtured a spirit of sacrifice and discipline that was evident in his funeral procession.’

Nkosi Zwelivelile MD Mandela MP, grandson of Nelson Mandela and Chief of the Mvezo Royal House, reflects after attending the funeral of the leader of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on Sunday 23 February 2025.

Attending the funeral of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was an experience of a lifetime. His funeral truly embodied the expression: ‘as we live so we shall die’. To witness the widespread veneration and respect that he earned amongst so many from all over the world was indeed a spectacle to behold.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was not only the liberator of Southern Lebanon, he liberated all of us from any notion of awe or fear of the military might of Apartheid Israel and its imperialist allies.

He instilled a deep love for martyrdom in the hearts of generations of fighters in Lebanon and nurtured a spirit of sacrifice and discipline that was evident in his funeral procession.

He united the forces of the Palestinian Resistance and nurtured the bonds of cooperation amongst both religious and secular formations in the struggle.

His funeral was a vivid expression of the high esteem in which he was held in life and an even greater depiction of how he continues to inspire millions around the world as a revolutionary icon of resistance and peoples power.

The Zionist entity mustered the biggest bomb payload to eliminate him but they only succeeded to elevate his status and stature in the eyes of freedom loving people of the world.

You may also want to read

‘The Saint of the Poor in this town’

24 October 2020 - Updated on 15 November 2024

SANZAF’s Abdusamad Akoojee, a giant who fell in love with the poor

29 January 2021 - Updated on 20 July 2021

Hasan Çelebi (1937–2025): A master calligrapher’s enduring legacy

26 February 2025

Tribute to a global polyglot

8 September 2020 - Updated on 20 July 2021

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will be remembered as one of the greatest heroes in the march to liberate Al Quds and all of Occupied Palestine. His name will be raised high amongst the many generations of great martyrs that we will celebrate in a free and liberated Palestine.

We salute this brave Lion of Lebanon!

We salute this great icon of freedom and liberation!

Long live the undying spirit of Syed Hassan Nasrallah!

Long live!

Nkosi Zwelivelile, Royal House of Mandela, Mvezo Komkhulu