The Episcopal News Service is reporting that Reverand Sipo Elijah Mzimela “a leader in the struggle to end apartheid and a cabinet minister of former South African President Nelson Mandela, died Feb. 2 from complications of pneumonia.”  More recently, Rev. Mzimela was the owner and operated the African Arts store, Pambili, in the Artisan building in Downtown Decatur until it closed in 2010.

According to the Episcopal News Service, “the funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Bishop of Atlanta Robert Wright will preside.”

Read more about Reverand Mzimela’s extraordinary life over on the ENS website.  (The AJC once had a great interview with Rev. Mzimela on its website at one point years ago, but it looks like it’s no longer available unfortunately).

The AJC has a very intriguing interview with Pambili’s shopkeeper, Sipo Mzimela, about his upbringing and eventual return to South Africa as Nelson Mandela’s minister of corrections.  Recapping a 5 hour interview, the AJC article tells of Mzimela’s experience before and during Apartheid, his escape to depressed, communist Czechoslovakia, then to Germany and finally the US.  

A great read! I am continually amazed by the hidden stories/histories that exist in our small 3 square-mile city.

Check out Sipo’s shop, Pambili (in Decatur’s Artisan building), for an array of South African imports.