What does nelson mandela mean when he writes that all of the african peoples sacrifices seemed as if they end in smoke and dust

Indulgences were a way of tricking catholics into giving the church money. johan tetzel was preying on the citizens of germany by making them think that the purchase of papal indulgences was legitimate, and necessary. they demoralized the catholic church, as well as the catholic people. indulgences taught that in order to achieve salvation one did not have to be good, he simply must have the money to buy an indulgence.