In what year was Mandela born? Statesman and politician Nelson Mandela - biography, life story and interesting facts

Nelson Mandella, whose biography will be presented below, is considered one of the greatest people in Africa, who almost from childhood set himself a clear goal and spent his entire life achieving it. In the end, he succeeded and did exactly what he wanted, despite the huge number of obstacles in his way.

Youth

Nelson's father had four wives. Together they brought him 13 children, one of whom was Nelson himself. His real name is Kholilala, which in the local language means “tree plucker”, or simply “prankster”. It was Kholilala who was the first in the family to go to school, where, in fact, he received the name Nelson, better known to the general public. At that time, there was a similar tradition when children of local tribes received European names. As Mandela himself recalled, on the very first day, when all the students came to school and still knew nothing at all, their teacher gave everyone a name. Why Kholilala received such a nickname as Nelson, he never knew.

As soon as the future president turned nine years old, his father, who was the leader of the village, died. The role of guardian is taken by the regent Jongintaba. Nelson Mandella loved to study and devoted quite a lot of time to this activity. As a result, he received a certificate of junior secondary education a year ahead of schedule and continued his studies. In 1939, Kholilala entered the only university in the country where black people could receive education. He never completed his studies, and due to the fact that the regent planned to marry him by force, he ran away from home. He worked in a mine for some time, then was fired from there, was able to contact his guardian and even more or less improve relations. After this, Nelson gets a job in a law office. While working in absentia, with the help of Jongintab, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and continued his studies, which for various reasons was never completed.

Struggle

Since 1943, Nelson Mandella has been involved in various non-violent actions that impede certain government actions. Since 1944, he became a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and took part in the creation of the Youth League, which can be considered a more radical direction of the congress. Since 1948, when it became clear that the new government was not going to do anything against the existence of the apartheid policy, he began to take a more active part in the political life of the country. Already in 1955, the Congress of the People was organized, where Nelson Mandela took an active part, for which he is still known. It was then that the Freedom Charter was adopted, which became the main document of the ANC. It is interesting that the future president fought not so much for the rights of the black population, but for the equality of whites and blacks in the country, and actively opposed both the existing policy of white supremacy and radical organizations that sought to expel all light-skinned people from the country. In 1961, Nelson Mandella became the leader of the armed resistance to the authorities. Various acts of sabotage, guerrilla actions and much more are being undertaken. Initially, it was planned that no one should get hurt during such actions, but in fact this was not always possible. The resistance did not last long, and the leader himself considered it simply a last resort when all other attempts to change the situation became simply useless. In 1962 he was arrested.

Jail

The trial lasted until 1964. In this situation, what is Nelson Mandela known to most? With your speeches during this process. He and his arrested comrades were found guilty and sentenced to death, but for various reasons the punishment was changed to life imprisonment. Conditions of imprisonment for black people, especially political prisoners, were appalling. They worked more than the rest, but received much less food and water. This is exactly how Nelson Mandella existed for many years, until 1982. The prison in which he served his sentence was located on an island called Robben. In 1982, he and the rest of the “old” leaders were transferred to another place of detention in order (allegedly) to prevent them from communicating with the “younger” generation of activists who disagreed with the government. There he remained until 1988, when he was once again transferred to the last place of his “imprisonment” - the Victor-Verster prison.

Liberation

Personal life

During his long and difficult life, Nelson was married three times. With his first wife he had four children, one of whom died in infancy, and another child died in a car accident, and Mandela was in prison at that moment, and he was not allowed to attend his own son's funeral. He had two daughters from his second marriage, but no children from his third. There were a total of 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren at the time of death. Despite a difficult life full of dangers, a long prison sentence, armed struggle, and the fact that most of his strength was taken away by the struggle for his own ideals and values, he devoted a lot of time to his family.

Resignation

After his resignation from the presidency, Nelson Mandela (photo below) continued to be active. He called for a more active fight against AIDS, was a member of an organization whose goal was to stop all armed conflicts in the world, supported Gaddafi as an excellent leader who did a lot for his country, and was an honorary member of 50 different universities.

Quotes

He gained fame not only through his activities, but also through his speeches and phrases. Nelson Mandella's quotes are quite famous, especially some of them. He talked about how there is no point in being angry, since it is tantamount to drinking poison and hoping that it will kill your enemies. According to him, the time allotted to a person must be used as wisely and effectively as possible, and most importantly, remember that any right thing can be started at any minute. When they told him about forgiveness, he declared: “I cannot forget, I can forgive.” He spoke about his work for the benefit of the freedom of all people in the spirit that this process is endless: “When you climb one mountain, you see many others that are just waiting for you to conquer them.” From his point of view, freedom is not a process of permissiveness, but a life that a person lives, respects others, and this is the only way to achieve real freedom. There are many other, no less famous phrases and sayings of this great man.

Death and will

The famous man died in December 2013 in the presence of relatives, at the age of 95. According to his will, part of his inheritance will go to the family, part will go to the ANC, only on the condition that the money is used to continue establishing peace on the planet and similar activities. Another part is intended for the closest employees and associates. The rest will go to four educational institutions. From 1984 to 2012, he received many different awards from different countries, and many items are dedicated to his name, ranging from landmarks to postage stamps, banknotes and much more.

From Clint Eastwood to Barack Obama, from Pope Francis to Mikhail Gorbachev, everyone admired him. And today, on Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the site has collected several quotes and facts from the biography of this amazing man, politician, freedom fighter.

1. The man who changed the world grew up in a small African village and was the only member of his family to receive an education. His father passed away when Nelson was only 9 years old. He was later adopted by the regent Jongintaba.

“Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world.”

Fort Beaufort Methodology College class. One of the earliest known photographs of Nelson Mandela, 1937 - 1938

2. Nelson Mandela's policies improved and saved millions of lives. During his presidency, 3 million people gained access to telephone lines, power lines and drinking water, and 1.5 million children received education. 500 clinics and 750 thousand houses were built, providing a roof over the heads of 3 million citizens.

“One of the highest achievements for a man is to do his duty, regardless of the consequences.”

3. In 1944, Nelson Mandela led the African National Congress (ANC) in his fight for African freedom and racial equality. But in 1962, on charges of treason, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and placed in a Johannesburg prison, where the future president of South Africa spent 27 years of his life.

Nelson Mandela: “I am grateful for the 27 years I spent in prison because it gave me something to focus on. Since I was released, I have lost this opportunity.”

“Never falling is not the greatest achievement in life. The main thing is to get up every time.”

Nelson Mandela, 1960

4. During his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela managed to graduate from the University of London in absentia with a Bachelor of Laws degree. Later, his candidacy was nominated for the position of honorary rector. In February 1985, South African President Peter Botha offered Mandela his release in exchange for "an unconditional renunciation of violence as a political weapon." The revolutionary responded to the proposal with an ultimatum refusal, saying that only free people have the right to negotiate, and not prisoners.

“It’s not so hard to change society, it’s hard to change yourself.”

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, 18 of them in solitary confinement.

“No one is born hating another person because of their skin color, background or religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, we should try to teach them love, because love is much closer to the human heart.".

Nelson Mandela voting in the 1994 elections

6. Mandela was a true master of disguise. The black freedom fighter was wanted for 17 months. During this time, he managed to pretend to be a worker, a cook, and when he was arrested, he was in the role of a driver.

“Difficulties and adversities destroy some people, but create others”.

Mandela's prison number "46664" - a symbolic number for the fight against HIV

7. Nelson Mandela starred in Spike Lee's 1992 film Malcolm X. He played the elderly Malcolm, but flatly refused to utter the main phrase of the African-American fighter for the rights of blacks, and the director had to cut off the key monologue in the film.

“A bright head and a bright heart always make a formidable combination. And when you add a sharp tongue or a pencil to it, you get something explosive.”.

8. After Nelson Mandela's 54-year-old son Makgaho died of AIDS, the political leader called on the African public to treat the disease as an “ordinary” disease and stop persecuting people living with HIV.

“We must use time wisely and remember: a just cause can begin at any moment.”.

Nelson Mandela: "Freedom cannot be partial"

9. African Madiba silk shirts became popular all over the world thanks to Nelson Mandela. The shirts were named after the politician's clan and were created by designer Dezre Buirski.

“If you have a dream, nothing will stop you from making it come true as long as you don’t give up.”.

Children sing songs of congratulations to Nelson Mandela, July 18, 2013

State and political figure of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), former President of South Africa (1994-1999) Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 near Umtata (Eastern Cape Province of South Africa).

His great-grandfather was the leader of the Tembu tribe. One of the leader's sons, named Mandela, became Nelson's grandfather. The surname was formed from his name. At birth, Mandela received the name Rolihlahla, which means “cutting off the branches of trees,” and translated from figurative local language, fidget, troublemaker, troublemaker. At school, where African children were given English names to make it easier for teachers to pronounce them, Mandela began to be called Nelson, after the British admiral.

Nelson Mandela attended Fort Hare College, from which he was expelled in 1940 for participating in a student strike. He worked as a watchman at a mine in Johannesburg, and served in a law office in Johannesburg.
In 1943, Mandela began studying law at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he studied until 1948, but never received a law degree. Later he studied at the University of London, but also did not graduate. Nelson Mandela did not receive his LLB degree until 1989, during the final months of his imprisonment. While in prison, he studied by correspondence at the University of South Africa.

In 1944, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League and soon became one of its leaders. In the 1950s, he was one of the most active fighters against apartheid in southern Africa. He was arrested by the police several times.
From late 1953, the South African government banned Mandela from speaking at public events for two years and renewed the ban for five years in 1956. Nelson Mandela was accused of treason in 1956 and acquitted in 1961.

After the events in Sharpeville (1960), when 67 Africans were killed as a result of riots, the South African government banned the ANC. Mandela went underground. In June 1961, ANC leaders decided to switch to armed methods of fighting against apartheid. The ANC military organization was formed, led by Mandela. In June 1964, he was arrested by South African security forces and sentenced to life imprisonment.

During his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela gained worldwide fame. A movement for his release began in South Africa and other countries. He spent 18 years in prison on Robbon Island (1964-1982), in 1982 he was transferred to Cape Town prison, where he spent six years, after which he was hospitalized due to tuberculosis. In 1985, Nelson Mandela rejected South African President Peter Botha's offer of release in exchange for renouncing his political struggle.

In 1990, amid the crisis of the apartheid system, Mandela was released and in 1991 led the ANC.

In 1993, Nelson Mandela and South African President Frederik de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end apartheid.

In 1994, South Africa held its first national elections with an African majority, resulting in Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa's first black president.

In 1996, under his leadership, a new constitution of the Republic of South Africa was developed and adopted, which guaranteed equal rights to all South Africans regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
While remaining as president of the country, Mandela resigned as leader of the ANC in December 1997, and did not stand as a candidate for the presidency of South Africa in the 1999 elections.

Retiring from government affairs, Mandela.

Nelson Mandela is the author of several books, among which “No Easy Way to Freedom” (1965) and “I Am Ready to Die” (1979) occupy a prominent place.
He was awarded many government awards from dozens of countries around the world (including the USSR, Russia, USA, Great Britain, Canada, India, etc.).

In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July as International Nelson Mandela Day in recognition of the former South African president's contributions to peace and freedom.

In 2011, Nelson Mandela was named after a study conducted by the Reputation Institute, which involved more than 50 thousand people from 25 countries.

How will Nelson Mandela be remembered?

Editor's response

In South Africa on the night of December 5-6, 2013, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela. Millions of people will remember him as the man who defeated apartheid peacefully. He became an outstanding political figure who made enormous contributions to world democracy and the fight for human rights. AiF.ru has prepared 10 main facts from the life of the legendary fighter against the regime of racial segregation.

1. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mvezo near the city of Umata in South Africa. He came from the Xhosa people and was a representative of the junior branch of the Thembu dynasty, which ruled in one of the regions of South Africa. At the age of nine, Mandela lost his father; on his father's side he had twelve sisters and brothers. The regent Jongintaba became his guardian.

2. When Mandela was born, he was originally given the name Holilala. When he went to Methodist primary school, the teacher began to call him Nelson in the European manner. Nelson Mandela continued his studies at the Clarkbury Boarding Institute and then at the Methodist College in Fort Beaufort.

3. In 1939, Mandela entered the University of Fort Hare. It was the only university in South Africa that accepted people other than whites. However, Mandela soon took part in a student strike and left the university. After this, the regent Jongintaba tried to arrange two weddings - to forcefully marry Mandela and his son. However, the young people did not intend to marry anyone and fled to Johannesburg. There, Mandela first worked as a mine guard, then as a clerk in a law firm, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in absentia from the University of South Africa. He then studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, but did not graduate.