Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, statesman, and philanthropist who fundamentally changed the course of his nation’s history. After spending 27 years in prison for his role in the liberation movement, he emerged to negotiate the peaceful transition from white-minority rule to a multiracial democracy. He served as the first democratically elected President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, earning global reverence as an icon of peace and reconciliation.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela |
| Clan Name | Madiba (often used as a term of affection and respect) |
| Born | July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa |
| Died | December 5, 2013 (aged 95), Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Political Party | African National Congress (ANC) |
| Presidential Term | May 10, 1994 – June 16, 1999 |
| Key Distinction | Longest-serving political prisoner (27 years); Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1993) |
| Writings | Long Walk to Freedom (Autobiography) |
Early Life, Education, and Political Awakening
-
Xhosa Heritage: Mandela was born into the Thembu royal family of the Xhosa people. He was given the birth name Rolihlahla, a Xhosa term colloquially meaning “troublemaker.” The name Nelson was given to him by a teacher at a mission school.
-
Legal Education: He was groomed for a leadership role among his people and received a superior education for a Black South African of his time. He was expelled from the University College of Fort Hare in 1940 for participating in a student protest. He later completed his BA and began studying law at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
-
First Black Law Firm: In 1952, he and his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, opened the first Black-owned law firm in South Africa, Mandela & Tambo, providing free or affordable representation to Black people facing the oppressive apartheid laws.
The Anti-Apartheid Struggle
-
African National Congress (ANC): Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and co-founded the radical ANC Youth League, advocating for direct action against the white minority government’s policies of racial segregation (apartheid).
-
Defiance Campaign: In 1952, he was a key organizer of the Defiance Campaign, encouraging people to peacefully defy apartheid laws, an action that led to his first conviction and subsequent ban from attending gatherings.
-
Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK): Following the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, where police killed 69 unarmed Black protestors, Mandela concluded that non-violent tactics alone were ineffective. He co-founded the ANC’s militant wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation,” or MK), in 1961 and became its commander-in-chief, leading a campaign of sabotage against state infrastructure.
-
Arrest and Trial: He was arrested in 1962. In the subsequent Rivonia Trial (1963–1964), facing charges of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, Mandela delivered his powerful “I Am Prepared to Die” statement from the dock, which garnered massive international attention. He and seven co-accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Long Walk to Freedom (1964–1990)
-
Robben Island: Mandela served the first 18 years of his sentence (1964–1982) at the maximum-security Robben Island Prison, subjected to hard labor and the lowest classification of prisoner. During this time, he became the ultimate symbol of resistance to apartheid globally.
-
Unconditional Release: Amid growing international sanctions and increasing domestic pressure, President F. W. de Klerk unbanned the ANC and other political organizations. On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison, walking out hand-in-hand with his then-wife, Winnie Mandela, to a cheering global audience.
Presidency and Reconciliation (1994–1999)
-
Negotiations and Nobel Prize: Mandela and de Klerk led the multi-party negotiations that dismantled the apartheid state and established South Africa’s first democratic, multiracial government. They jointly received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for their work.
-
First Black President: In April 1994, the ANC won South Africa’s first fully representative democratic election. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the country’s first Black President.
-
Truth and Reconciliation: Mandela’s administration focused on racial reconciliation, famously embracing symbols of the former white regime (like the Springboks rugby team). He established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to investigate human rights abuses during apartheid. The TRC granted amnesty to perpetrators who confessed their crimes fully, prioritizing truth over vengeance.
-
Retirement: True to his word, Mandela declined a second presidential term, stepping down in 1999. He spent his retirement advocating for peace, reconciliation, children’s rights, and the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Nelson Mandela is globally revered for his moral integrity, his sacrifice, and his commitment to forgiveness, forever earning him the title of “Father of the Nation.”