Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013) was a prominent anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Here is a brief biography of his life:

Early Life:

• Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then part of South Africa’s Cape Province.
• His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief of the Thembu people, and Mandela was given the Thembu royal family’s hereditary forename, “Rolihlahla,” which means “pulling the branch of a tree” or metaphorically, “troublemaker.”

Education:

• Mandela attended a local missionary school and later the Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Wesleyan College in Fort Beaufort, where he pursued a formal education.
• He went on to study law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand, qualifying as a lawyer in 1942.

Political Activism:

• In 1944, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), a political organization that aimed to fight against the oppressive policies of apartheid, which segregated South Africa along racial lines.
• He was involved in various forms of nonviolent resistance against apartheid, including strikes and boycotts.

Defiance Campaign and Imprisonment:

• In 1952, Mandela played a key role in organizing the ANC’s Defiance Campaign, which advocated nonviolent resistance to unjust apartheid laws.
• As the government intensified its crackdown on the ANC and other anti-apartheid activists, Mandela was repeatedly arrested and eventually stood trial for treason (1956-1961). He was acquitted in 1961.

Formation of MK and Rivonia Trial:

• In 1961, Mandela co-founded Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), also known as MK, an armed wing of the ANC. MK engaged in sabotage activities against government infrastructure.
• In 1962, Mandela was captured by the apartheid authorities and sentenced to five years in prison. In 1964, while still serving this sentence, he was sentenced to life imprisonment during the Rivonia Trial, alongside other ANC leaders.

27 Years in Prison:

• Mandela spent 27 years in prison, primarily on Robben Island, where he endured harsh conditions and limited communication with the outside world.

Release and Negotiations:

• In 1990, amidst growing international pressure and internal unrest, then-South African President F.W. de Klerk announced Mandela’s release.
• Mandela emerged from prison on February 11, 1990, and immediately resumed his leadership role in the ANC.

End of Apartheid and Presidency:

• Mandela played a crucial role in negotiating an end to apartheid and the transition to multiracial elections.
• In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections, in which Mandela was elected as the country’s first black president.

Post-Presidential Life:

• After his presidency, Mandela remained actively involved in various causes, including HIV/AIDS awareness and global peace initiatives.
• He passed away on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95.

Nelson Mandela’s legacy is one of resilience, forgiveness, and a commitment to justice and equality. He is celebrated worldwide for his contributions to the struggle for human rights and social justice.