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Survery: Mandela Biggest Influence for Africa's Youth

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2013 file photo, a giant statue of former President Nelson Mandela overlooks Mandela Square in Johannesburg. Mandela's fight for freedom and human rights makes him the most influential person among Africa's youth, according to a survey conducted across the continent. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2013 file photo, a giant statue of former President Nelson Mandela overlooks Mandela Square in Johannesburg. Mandela's fight for freedom and human rights makes him the most influential person among Africa's youth, according to a survey conducted across the continent. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)
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Survery: Mandela Biggest Influence for Africa's Youth

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2013 file photo, a giant statue of former President Nelson Mandela overlooks Mandela Square in Johannesburg. Mandela's fight for freedom and human rights makes him the most influential person among Africa's youth, according to a survey conducted across the continent. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2013 file photo, a giant statue of former President Nelson Mandela overlooks Mandela Square in Johannesburg. Mandela's fight for freedom and human rights makes him the most influential person among Africa's youth, according to a survey conducted across the continent. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

Former South African President Nelson Mandela's fight for freedom and human rights makes him the most influential person among Africa's youth, according to a survey conducted across the continent.

Mandela's legacy is alive seven years after his death, according to the poll of young people in 14 African countries in which 86% of respondents said his values are still relevant today.

The results of the survey were released Friday, on the eve of Mandela's birthday, by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, the Associated Press reported.

Mandela's stand against inequality is pertinent in helping Africans combat COVID-19, which is surging across South Africa and the continent, said the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which welcomed the findings.

"The pandemic has exposed the gross inequalities around the world, the glaring gaps between the haves and the have nots, and many in Africa are finding their survival under threat because of lack of access to health care," said Luzuko Koti, the foundation's spokesman.

According to the survey's findings, 55% of respondents said Mandela more than anyone had the greatest impact on Africa.

The poll asked 4,200 young men and women aged 18 to 24 in Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A frog holding a taro-leaf umbrella. A parade of frolicking animals. An Ukiyo-e style Mount Fuji. Giant waves. A Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito carves these delicate designs on fallen leaves, giving life back to them.
The world of Lito’s delicate art, which he began in 2020 and posts on social media almost daily, has won fans from around the world. The leaf art has also given him solace after earlier struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a purpose in life — the joy of making people happy with his art, The Associated Press reported.
He enjoys working at night. From a pile of leaves treated with a wrinkle-free chemical, he picks one and places it on a cutting board.
First, he outlines the design on the leaf with a pen in his right hand. Then he takes a design knife in his left hand and starts cutting the leaf carefully. Slowly, the leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella — a simple design he demonstrated in a recent interview with AP.

More complex, highly intensive work on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.
His leaf-cutting works include titles such as “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals,” “Leaf Aquarium,” and “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Each piece includes his own twists, and often uses animals.
“I would rather finish it in one go when I am focused,” Lito, 38, said. He didn't want to disclose his real name for personal reasons.
Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience. But he had trouble fitting into what was considered the norm at school or at work, despite all his efforts. He struggled to interpret others' feelings and to avoid confrontations.
After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis that he felt explained why he has always done things differently.
He saw no point in forcing himself to do things the same way as other people, and began to adjust his life.
In early 2020, Lito came across the art of leaf cutting. He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.
Word of his skills has spread across social media, and he has published books on his leaf-cutting work. He holds a near monthly solo exhibition in various places in Japan.
“If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more. That’s my driving force for what's next,” Lito says.