This anthology of poetry is first and foremost a tribute to Madiba - Nelson Mandela, the inspiration for the volume and the subject of the title poem. Th e collection features poems written at various points in Brandt's career as a writer, cultural analyst and academic. 'Marie Village Beauty' goes back a long way to his childhood and is a first experiment with Guyanese Creole. Notably, there is also a tribute to Stephen Lawrence, a young black Briton who sadly lost his life in terrible circumstances and has been mourned by the nation ever since.