Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born to Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Nosekeni Fanny in Mveso, a small village in the Transkei region of South Africa. His father was a chief and counselor to the Thembu royal family.

Mandela began his higher education at the University College of Fort Hare, the only residential college for Black people in South Africa. He studied law and became involved in student politics, leading to his expulsion for participating in a protest.

After being expelled from Fort Hare, Mandela moved to Johannesburg to avoid an arranged marriage. He worked as a night watchman and later as a law clerk, while completing his bachelor's degree through correspondence with the University of South Africa.

Mandela married his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, a nurse and social worker. They had four children together but later divorced in 1958 due to political differences and personal tensions.

Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), a political party that aimed to end apartheid and achieve racial equality in South Africa. He soon became a founding member of the ANC Youth League, which sought to radicalize the organization.

Mandela and other ANC leaders launched the Defiance Campaign, a non-violent protest against apartheid laws. He was arrested and sentenced to nine months of hard labor, suspended for two years, for his role in organizing the campaign.

Mandela was arrested and charged with inciting workers to strike and leaving the country without a passport. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but during his trial, additional charges of sabotage were added, leading to a life sentence.

After 27 years in prison, Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. His release was a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid, symbolizing the beginning of the end for the oppressive regime.

Mandela was elected as the first Black president of South Africa in the country's first fully democratic elections. His presidency marked the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era of racial reconciliation and democracy.

After serving one term as president, Mandela stepped down from office, choosing not to run for re-election. He continued to work for peace and social justice through the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, after a long illness. His death was mourned worldwide, and he was remembered as a symbol of resilience, forgiveness, and hope.