Quick answerNelson Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African political leader. Nelson Mandela is best known for Fighting apartheid, 27 years in prison, Becoming the first Black president of South Africa, Nobel Peace Prize 1993 and Reconciliation after apartheid. His insistence on reconciliation made him one of the most admired figures of the twentieth century.
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was the South African anti-apartheid leader who spent 27 years in prison and then led his country to democracy as its first Black president. His refusal of bitterness, and his insistence on reconciliation, made him one of the most admired figures of the twentieth century.
Key facts
| Born | 1918 in Mvezo, Cape Province, Union of South Africa |
|---|---|
| Died | 2013 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Field | Politics |
| Known for | Fighting apartheid, 27 years in prison, Becoming the first Black president of South Africa, Nobel Peace Prize 1993, Reconciliation after apartheid |
Overview
Mandela was born Rolihlahla Mandela in the village of Mvezo, in the Transkei, the son of a chief of the Thembu people, and was given the English name Nelson by a teacher. His birth name, Rolihlahla, means 'pulling the branch of a tree', or, colloquially, 'troublemaker'. He studied law at Fort Hare and the University of the Witwatersrand, and in 1944 he helped found the Youth League of the African National Congress, which campaigned against apartheid, the system of racial segregation imposed by South Africa's white government.
After the ANC was banned and peaceful protest failed, he helped found its armed wing, was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, spending 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. Released in 1990, he negotiated the end of apartheid with President F. W. de Klerk, with whom he shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, and in 1994 he became South Africa's first president elected in a fully democratic vote. He served one term, stepping down in 1999, and spent his retirement working for children's welfare and against HIV/AIDS.
Frequently asked questions
When was Nelson Mandela born?
Mandela was born Rolihlahla Mandela on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, in what is now South Africa's Eastern Cape. He was given the name Nelson by a teacher at school, and 18 July is now celebrated around the world as Nelson Mandela International Day.
What is Nelson Mandela famous for?
Mandela is famous for leading the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, spending 27 years in prison for it, and then, as the country's first Black president, guiding a peaceful transition to democracy. He is remembered worldwide as a symbol of freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation.
How did Nelson Mandela die?
Mandela died on 5 December 2013 in Johannesburg, aged 95, after a long illness with a recurring lung infection. He had been in and out of hospital during 2013, and South Africa held ten days of national mourning, followed by a state funeral in his home village of Qunu.
Where was Nelson Mandela born?
Mandela was born in Mvezo, a small village in the Transkei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape, on 18 July 1918. He was the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Thembu people, and he grew up in the nearby village of Qunu after his father died.
How long was Nelson Mandela in prison?
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, from his arrest in 1962 until his release on 11 February 1990. He served 18 of those years on Robben Island, off Cape Town, where he worked in a lime quarry, and the rest at Pollsmoor and Victor Verster prisons on the mainland.
Related people
- Mahatma Gandhi — Called Gandhi one of his greatest influences
Quotes by Nelson Mandela
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