Description

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, serving as the first black president from 1994 to 1999. Born into the Thembu royal family, he studied law and became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the ANC in 1943. Mandela, influenced by Marxism, co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, leading a sabotage campaign. Imprisoned for 27 years, he was released in 1990, negotiating an end to apartheid and becoming president in the 1994 election. Mandela focused on reconciliation and economic reform, receiving global acclaim and the Nobel Peace Prize.