HISTORY
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and the country’s first black president (1994–1999). A member of the Thembu royal family, he studied law and joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943, co-founding its Youth League.
Mandela played a key role in the fight against apartheid, leading the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People. Initially advocating non-violent resistance, he later co-founded uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 for armed struggle. Arrested in 1962, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial and spent 27 years in prison.
Released in 1990, he helped negotiate the end of apartheid with F.W. de Klerk, leading to the 1994 multiracial elections, where he became president. His government focused on reconciliation, land reform, poverty reduction, and healthcare expansion. He declined a second term and was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki in 1999.
Mandela became a global icon of democracy and social justice, receiving over 250 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Revered in South Africa, he is affectionately known as Madiba and regarded as the “Father of the Nation.”
EARLY LIFE
Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, Cape Province, and was given the name Rolihlahla, meaning “troublemaker.” He later became known as Madiba, his clan name. His great-grandfather, Ngubengcuka, was a Thembu king, but Mandela’s lineage made him ineligible for the throne.
His father, Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, was a counselor to the Thembu king. After his father’s death in 1930, he became a ward of Jongintaba Dalindyebo in Mqhekezweni.
His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief and royal counselor, later dismissed for defying a white magistrate. His mother, Nosekeni Fanny, was a devout Christian and sent him to a Methodist school, where his teacher gave him the name Nelson. He later studied at Clarkebury Boarding Institute, Healdtown, and began a BA at Fort Hare University, but was expelled for joining a student protest.
Mandela grew up in Qunu, herding cattle and following Xhosa traditions. After his father’s death in 1930, he was sent to Mqhekezweni, where he was raised by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo. There, he embraced Christianity, attended a Methodist school, and developed an interest in African history. At 16, he underwent the ulwaluko circumcision ritual and was given the name Dalibunga.
Facing an arranged marriage, he fled to Johannesburg in 1941, where he worked as a mine security officer and later pursued law through a legal firm. He completed his BA at the University of South Africa and graduated in 1943.
INTERESTING FACTS
- Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s first black president (1994–1999), elected in a fully representative election.
- His government worked to dismantle apartheid and racial segregation.
- He studied law and became one of South Africa’s first black lawyers.
- In the 1950s, he led the ANC Youth League.
- After the ANC was banned, he organized a secret military movement, shifting from peaceful protests to armed struggle.
- Imprisoned from 1962 to 1990, he was sentenced to life but released when the ANC was legalized.
- While in prison, he became a symbol of resistance for the oppressed.
- Mandela is regarded as the “Father of Modern South Africa” for his role in ending apartheid.
- He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and over 250 other awards.
- After retiring, he founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation to fight HIV/AIDS and support education and rural development.
- In 2009, the UN declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day, honoring his 67 years of activism.
ACHIEVEMENTS
-
First Black President of South Africa (1994–1999)
- Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected and black president, leading the country through a peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy.
-
Led the Fight Against Apartheid
- He played a key role in dismantling apartheid, working to end institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination.
-
Established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995)
- Created to investigate past human rights abuses, promote healing, and foster national unity after apartheid.
-
Co-Founded uMkhonto we Sizwe (1961)
- Helped establish the ANC’s armed wing to fight against apartheid after peaceful protests were met with violence.
-
Spent 27 Years in Prison, Becoming a Global Symbol of Resistance
- His imprisonment made him a powerful symbol of justice and resilience for oppressed people worldwide.
-
Won the Nobel Peace Prize (1993)
- Shared with F.W. de Klerk for peacefully negotiating the end of apartheid and laying the foundation for democracy.
-
Promoted Racial Reconciliation and National Unity
- Instead of revenge, he focused on forgiveness and nation-building, earning respect from people across racial and political lines.
-
Improved Education and Healthcare in South Africa
- His government worked to expand schools, improve healthcare access, and reduce poverty, especially for disadvantaged communities.
-
Founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation (1999)
- After retiring, he established this foundation to fight HIV/AIDS, promote education, and support rural development.
-
Inspired Global Humanitarian Efforts
- The United Nations declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day (2009), encouraging people worldwide to dedicate 67 minutes to community service in honor of his 67 years of activism.