Nelson Mandela is one of the world’s most famous revolutionaries, politicians, and philanthropists, whose birthday is celebrated every year by millions of people all around the globe for his many achievements in the bringing the society together despite the differences.
Nelson Mandela didn’t live an easy life – the history of Nelson Mandela is filled with not only outstanding achievements and respect from international leaders but also years of imprisonment and other obstacles. Find out more about Nelson Mandela on this glorious day!
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1. Who is Nelson Mandela?
The future icon was born on July 18, 1918, under the name of Rolihlahla Mandela in the Transkei region of South Africa. He spent his childhood by the elders of his tribe, listening to the stories about the great warriors of resistance and dreaming of a day when he would make a difference.
During his studies at a primary school in Qunu, his was given the name Mandela, like any children attending this school who got Christian names in addition to their birth names. He went on to graduate from a secondary school and enrolling in the University College of Fort Hare, which he didn’t complete due to being expelled for taking part in protests. Later he did get a BA degree.
In 1942 he joined the African National Congress and did some great work there. At the same time, he got married and had two sons and two daughters with his wife before divorcing her in 1958. Soon he became a lawyer, and his career was going very well until the Treason Trial of 1956, where he was persecuted along with other activists.
For the next few years, he took part in various protest organizations until 1964, when he and 7 other people were accused of a 1963 sabotage. Mandela faced the death penalty but was instead sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from prison in 1990, and, from then, the most fruitful part of his career began.
In 1994 he became the first democratically elected President of South Africa. In 1998 he was married for the third time at the age of 80. After serving as the President for one term, Mandela continued his work as a philanthropist and politician until his death in Johannesburg in 2013 at the age of 95.
2. Nelson Mandela facts
As one of the most fascinating historical figures of the 20th century, Nelson Mandela has a lot of unique facts in his biography. Here are some of the most outstanding ones:
- Although Mandela came from a royal family, he was the first one in his family to attend school.
- While going to college, Nelson Mandela didn’t just focus on activism: he also attended the drama club, excelled in sports, and joined a ballroom dancing class.
- After obtaining a law degree, he and his partner opened a law firm in 1953, which became the first African law firm in South Africa at the time.
- Nelson Mandela often assumed other identities and used disguise to avoid being revealed as himself during his travels around the country to organize protests.
- His most famous speech is the “I am prepared to Die” speech during his trial that lasted for three hours.
- During his career, he received over 260 awards, with the most valuable being the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
3. Nelson Mandela quotes
Nelson Mandela is an iconic figure for millions of people around the world, not just for hist social work and philanthropy, but also for his many touching quotes that are still cited by his fans. Here are 5 of the most inspirational things Nelson Mandela ever said.
- If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.’
- I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
- It always seems impossible until it’s done.
- Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
- Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.
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