Nelson Mandela

The map of his country

His Early Life

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on the 18th July 1918 in the village of Mvezo, in an area of South Africa called Transkei. He had thirteen siblings by the same father, and two mothers. His parents were Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Nosekeni Nonqaphi . He was a member of the Thembu royal family. His given name was Rolihlahla but on his first day of school, he was given the name "Nelson" by his teacher.

Sadly, his father died when he was twelve years old. Nelson was the first member of his family to go to a school. He studied hard at school and later attended the University in Johannesburg to study law and became a lawyer in 1942, aged 24.

In 1948 the South African government introduced a system called ‘apartheid’, which further fostered racial division in the country. Under new racist laws, black people and white people were forced to lead separate lives. They weren’t allowed to live in the same areas, share a table in a restaurant, attend the same schools or even sit together on a train or bus!

Apartheid

HIS ANTI-APARTHEIDACTIVITY

In 1944, Mandela helped start the African National Congress Youth League. He was soon a high-ranked leader of the group. He wanted to free South Africa without violence, but then he decided that if black people did not use violence, they would never regain their rights. So he started a South African guerilla movement with other people from the African National Congress because the government started killing and hurting people who protested against apartheid. They carried out many attacks, including bombings.

In 1952, Nelson Mandela together with his friend Oliver Tambo set up South Africa's first 'black' law firm in Johannesburg, specializing in cases that had to do with apartheid laws, and was dedicated to citizens poorer and more defenseless blacks.

Mandela was on trial because of his involvement in sabotage and violence in 1962. He was sentenced to life in prison, and was sent to Robben Island.

Robben Island and its prison buildings symbolize the triumph of the human spirit, of freedom and of democracy over oppression.

About Robben Island

The image of Hector Pieterson who was the first child shot dead by the South African police has become an icon of the Soweto uprising.

On June 16, 1976, thousands of children in Soweto, an African township outside Johannesburg, demonstrated against the government’s insistence that they be taught in Afrikaans rather than in English. When the police opened fire with tear gas and then bullets, the incident initiated a nationwide cycle of protest and repression.

Soweto Uprising

*BPC = Black People Convention

Using its usual tactics, the government banned many organizations such as the BPC*, and within a year the police had killed more than 500. These events focused worldwide attention on South Africa. The UN General Assembly had denounced apartheid in 1973; four years later the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose a mandatory embargo on the export of arms to South Africa.

June 16 is commemorated in South Africa as National Youth Day and it's a public holiday.On this day, South Africans pay tribute to the lives of these students and recognises the role of the youth in the liberation of South Africa from the apartheid regime.

In 1988 Mandela was transferred to Victor Verster Prison. In 1990, he was let out of Victor Verster Prison after almost 27 years. He left prison after State President of South Africa Frederik Willem de Klerk removed a ban on the African National Congress. He ordered Mandela's release. Mandela then received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, with de Klerk.

Mandela won the general election in April 1994. His inauguration was in Pretoria on 10 May 1994. Many people around the world saw his inauguration on television. The event had 4000 guests, including world leaders from different backgrounds. Mandela was the first South African President elected in a completely democratic election.

On the day of inauguration, he pledged to liberate all his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

10th May 1994A red-letter day

As president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela improved the living standards and structures of the black South African population, which had suffered for decades under apartheid. He also worked hard to make South Africa a country of equality, where people of all races and colours lived together in peace.

In 1999 Nelson Mandela retired as president and his successor was named Mbeki. But while he left politics behind, he continued to be an important figure around the world as a symbol of peace and equality. The same year he retired, he founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation, an organization that still works today to promote the principles of equality, freedom and peace.

Some facts about Mandela

1. Mandela's real name is Rolihlahla 2. He was married three times. He had six children and twenty grandchildren. 3. He was in prison from 1962 to 1990. During these 27 years he was allowed to see only one person and receive only one letter every six months. 4. Squares, statues and days of remembrance, such as July 18 in South Africa, were dedicated to him

Mandela with US President Bill Clinton in July 1993

5. He is the politician who has received the most awards in the world. About 250 awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and 50 honorary degrees. 6. He was also a champion of gay civil rights.7. He often entertained celebrities, such as Michael Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, and the Spice Girls.8. He became friends with a number of rich business people, like for example British monarch Elizabeth II on her March 1995 state visit to South Africa.

In South Africa, Mandela is sometimes called by his Xhosa clan name of Madiba. Nelson Mandela was honoured, for example, with the following: In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk.In 2007, Mandela was honoured with a statue in Westminster Abbey, London, England.In 2009, the United Nations made 18 July Mandela Day.Mandela was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President of the United States George W. Bush.Elizabeth II awarded him twice, the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John and the Order of Merit.

Mandela died on 5 December 2013 at his home at Houghton Estate, Johannesburg from complications of a respiratory tract infection, aged 95. He was surrounded by his family when he died. His death was announced by President Jacob Zuma.

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography credited to South African President Nelson Mandela. It was ghostwritten by Richard Stengel and first published in 1994. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years spent in prison.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a 2013 British-South African biographical film starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris. The film is based on the 1995 autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom.

Goodbye Bafana, or The Color of Freedom (US), is a 2007 drama film about the relationship between Nelson Mandela (Dennis Haysbert) and James Gregory (Joseph Fiennes), his censor officer and prison guard, based on Gregory's book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend.

The film also explores the relationship of James Gregory and his wife as their life changes while Mandela is under Gregory's watch. Bafana means 'boys'. Gregory lived on a farm and had a black friend when he was a child, which explains his ability to speak Xhosa.

Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.The story is based on the 2008 John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

The Springboks were not expected to perform well, the team having only recently returned to high-level international competition following the dismantling of apartheid—the country was hosting the World Cup, thus earning an automatic entry. Freeman portrays South African President Nelson Mandela while Damon played François Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks, the South Africa rugby union team.

Invictus, the film, was released in the United States on December 11, 2009. The title refers to the Roman divine epithet Invictus and may be translated from the Latin as "undefeated" or "unconquered". Invictus is also the title of a poem, referred to in the film, by British poet William Ernest Henley

" Invictus " is a short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849-1903). It was written in 1875 and first published in 1888. Nelson Mandela had the poem written on a scrap of paper on his prison cell while he was incarcerated. This is a inspiring poem which simply means, we must strive to make each day a good one no matter what our circumstances maybe. How we think determines how we feel.

A song about Mandela...

On Mandela Day itself, citizens are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time in service to others in need. These 67 minutes are in appreciation of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for justice, equality and human rights for all.

Some Quotes...

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