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Life of Nelson Mandela
Serving as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid philanthropist,revolutionary and politician.
Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo, Pondoland, in the Transkei region of the Union of South Africa. His given name is Rolihlahla Dalibhunga.
His father’s name is Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Henry Mandela and his mother’s name is Nonqaphi Nosekeni Fanny Mandela (née Mhkathi).
Now we will take a look at the life of Nelson Mandela.
Childhood life of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is a South African anti-apartheid philanthropist, revolutionary and politician. He was the first black president of South Africa. He served as President from 1994 to 1999, and was the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, in the Transkei region of South Africa. His father’s name was Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and his mother’s name was Nosekeni Fanny Mandela.
When he was nine his father died. This caused him to grow up under the care of his mother and her family since they were not wealthy enough to provide for him themselves.
Growing up without a father figure has been cited as one reason for why Nelson Mandela turned to violence later on in life during his fight against apartheid rule in South Africa.
Middle age life of Nelson Mandela
In 1942 he joined the African National Congress Youth League and became its first secretary-general. He became involved with militant anti-colonial politics from an early age onwards, joining his father’s African National Congress (ANC) and becoming one of its youngest members.
In 1944 Mandela helped found Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), which would become the leading arm of the ANC’s struggle against apartheid.
In 1962 Mandela was arrested for sabotage and sentenced to five years in prison; he served 27 months before being released. In 1990 he helped lead negotiations that resulted in South Africa’s transition to democracy.
Educational life of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a lawyer and a politician who became the first black president of South Africa.
Mandela’s educational life began at the age of 8 when he started attending a Methodist mission school. In 1942 Mandela went to University College, Johannesburg, where he studied law.
In 1944 he transferred to the University of Fort Hare, but this university closed its doors because of the recent Nationalist victory in 1948. After that Mandela continued his studies at the University of Witwatersrand and graduated with honors in 1951.
Nelson Mandela achievements
He was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. He was also an honorary member of the Order of Canada, and became a member of the Order of Companions of O.R. Tambo in 1998.
Nelson Mandela’s struggle for equality for black people and people around the world has been an inspiration to millions across all continents.
Nelson Mandela struggles
Mandela showed an early interest in politics and the law. After studying at the University of Witwatersrand, he worked as a lawyer for a firm of Johannesburg lawyers led by Walter Sisulu.
In 1952, he became the leader of the African National Congress Youth League; he left this position in 1959 to become an underground operative for Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
In 1962, Mandela was arrested for sabotage and sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour. He served 27 years before being released in 1990; he became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 through a democratic election by universal suffrage.
Mandela’s legacy is that of an international symbol of freedom who preached reconciliation between white and black people after apartheid had ended.
Interesting Facts about Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela attended school at Healdtown, Fort Hare University College and the University of Witwatersrand.
He became involved with the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and took part in the nonviolent protest against apartheid in the 1950s. He was arrested for treason in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela became an international icon of resistance against oppression and racism.
In 1994 he was elected president of South Africa, the first time that a majority-black country had elected a leader by universal suffrage.
He worked as a lawyer for many years before he became involved with politics.
Death of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was also known by his Xhosa clan name Madiba. Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei, and died on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95.
He is best known for being a leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and for his work as a political leader and philanthropist after his release from prison in 1990.
