Cool Facts About Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918, the son of a chief of the Thembo people.
Nelson Mandela was the first member of his family to go to school. He recognised that education was very important and later campaigned for all South African children to have access to schooling.
Mandela spent most of his life fighting racial prejudice and seeking equal rights for black people. He became a lawyer and fought against injustice.
The African National Congress was formed in 1912 and aimed to bring together African people to fight for change and equal rights.
Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1942 and became involved with setting up its youth league.
In 1948 the racist Nationalist Party of South Africa introduced a new policy of apartheid or separateness. This meant that white and black people had to live, learn and spend their leisure time separately. Only white people could vote in elections and they held most of the power and wealth of the country.
To challenge the new policy of apartheid the African National Congress started a campaign of civil disobedience. This meant disobeying the government by means of strikes and other peaceful means of protest.
In 1963 Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for political offences. He served 27 years as a prisoner, 18 of them on Robben Island.
In 1993 Mandela and the white South African president FW de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1994 the first elections where all the people could vote were held in South Africa. Mandela became the first black president of South Africa.
Mandela’s parents named him Rolihlaha which means ‘pulling the branch of a tree’ or ‘troublemaker’.
Mandela was the first of his family to attend school. His teacher gave him the name Nelson when he was aged 7.
Nelson Mandela ran away to Johannesburg when his adoptive father, the ruler of the Thembo people, announced he had arranged a marriage for him. Mandela was married three times and had six children.
As a young person Mandela enjoyed boxing and running.
The law firm Mandela and Tambo was the first black law firm in South Africa.
He spent 27 years in prison, 18 of them on Robben Island.
Whilst on Robben Island he was only allowed one visitor and one letter every six months.
Mandela’s book The Long Road to Freedom was written in secret when he was still a prisoner.
A nuclear particle, a spider and a woodpecker are named after him.
Mandela drew inspiration from a poem, Invictus, by William Ernest Henley. He was also inspired by the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi.
“Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”
“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”