Nelson Mandela, the African leader and hero who fought for many years in defense of his principles and values, and the rights of his people, and over time became an icon of the struggle in the world.
About Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Mavizo, South Africa. He was a national leader and a fighter to end apartheid in South Africa. For 20 years he has led peaceful activities aimed at countering the government's repressive policies, but when he realized the failure of those activities, the military junta was adopted as the only way to achieve its goals.Mandela was arrested for 27 years, and when he was released he took over as the country's first black president. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with William de Klerk in 1994. He died at the age of ninety-five years.
The beginnings of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the town of Mavizu on the banks of the Mbash River in Transkay, South Africa. He was born at the time of his birth as Rolihlala Mandela, meaning
in Arabic (pulling a branch of the tree), or (brawler) according to the slang in his area.His father was an adviser to tribal leaders in the region, so he was expected to become a leader. But in a dispute between him and the local governor of colonialism led to the removal of his title and wealth. So the father moved with his family to a small village just north of a narrow grassy valley, where there are no roads but a few walkways.The family lived in small huts and depended on local crops for their livelihood. Mandela shared their different toys. A friend suggested to his father that he baptize him, and that is what actually happened in the Methodist Church. Thus, Mandela became the first person in his family to go to school, where he was asked by the teacher in accordance with the prevailing custom - or rather the bias within the British education system in South Africa - to change his name to become Nelson Mandela.Mandela's father died when he was 9 years old, leading to a major change in his life. He was taken care of by a member of the ruling Thembo Dynasty. He traveled to the governor's residence and adapted quickly to the new environment. But he did not forget his beloved village of Kono.During that period, Mandela studied geography, English and history, and was particularly interested in African history, especially when he had the opportunity to listen to various tribal leaders when they came to the Grand Palace on official occasions.Their conversations were full of stories and stories that tell how Africans lived in peace and fraternity before the eggs came to their land and spread their differences. Also, listen to stories that tell how Africans share land, air and water with whites, who monopolized everything for themselves.Mandela was appointed adviser to the ruling family and received secondary education at Clarke's Inner School. He once said that his academic excellence was the fruit of his "hard work". Mandela was also an athlete, especially in running and boxing, but he received a lot of ridicule from his classmates because of his rural origin, but eventually managed to make friends with many students, including Matuna, his first female friend.
Nelson Mandela's achievements
Mandela enrolled at Fort Hare University in 1939, which was then the only campus for black students in South Africa. Mandela received all the required courses, but he focused his attention on Dutch-Romanian law in order to get a job in public institutions, which was then the best profession for black men.The following year, Mandela was elected a member of the Student Council. His colleagues were then dissatisfied with the university's food, prompting them to threaten to boycott the university. Mandela stepped down and resigned. The university saw this behavior as disobedience, so I met with Mandela and kept him away from the university for the rest of the year, and his good at being expelled from university or returning from his decision to resign from the membership of the Council.After Mandela left Forteur University, he settled in Johannesburg, where he worked in various jobs, and then joined the University of Johannesburg to study law. Mandela soon became involved in anti-apartheid movements in the country and joined the ANC in 1942.Together with other youth groups, he worked to transform the party into a popular movement that drew its strength from the ranks of peasants and workers. These young people, headed by Mandela, saw the methods as totally ineffective. In 1949, the party adopted a new policy based on strikes, civil disobedience and boycotts, to achieve all the objectives of the full citizenship of blacks, the redistribution of lands between them and the whites, , As well as compulsory education and free for all children.Mandela was a believer in the peaceful option, leading protests and peaceful activities against the government and its racist policies, prompting him to be arrested along with 150 other people and charged with treason.At the same time, the ANC was internally divided, as some of its members believed that peaceful activities were no longer effective in the face of policies of repression and abuse by the Government.In 1961, there was a shift in Mandela's point of view, embracing the idea that armed struggle was the only way to achieve the desired change. He and other militants took part in the establishment of the armed wing of the African Conference Party, known as the Ucomonto Weiswe. Mandela also led the three-day workers 'strike in the same year, and the authorities arrested him and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment.But was again tried in 1963 and sentenced to life imprisonment.Mandela spent 18 years in prison on Robben Island, where he was ill and had no medical treatment since he was a black prisoner. The prison did not stand in the way of his university ambition. He received his bachelor's degree in law through the correspondence system with the University of London.In 1982, Mandela and other ANC leaders were transferred to Pulseur prison.In 1985, President Pieter Willem Botha released Mandela in return for abandoning the armed struggle, but of course he refused. Negotiations between the Government and Mandela continued without agreement until 11 February 1991 when Mandela was released, the death sentences abolished in the country and all restrictions on political parties, including the ANC, were lifted.Nelson Mandela was elected President of the African National Congress in 1991 and negotiated with the then President of the country, Frederick William de Klerk, for the first multi-ethnic elections in the country. In 1993, Mandela and Clerk received the Nobel Peace Prize for their joint work to end apartheid in South Africa. Thus, the country's first democratic elections took place on 27 April 1994, making Mandela the first black president in the history of South Africa.After taking office, Mandela sought to move the country from minority to black majority rule, using the love and enthusiasm of the people for sport to promote reconciliation between whites and blacks by pushing blacks to encourage rugby.Mandela also worked to protect the national economy from collapse and to plan for the reconstruction and development of the country. In 1996, Mandela signed a decree to legislate a new constitution for the country and established a strong central government based on majority rule while guaranteeing minority rights and freedom of expression. When the general election came in 1999, Mandela announced his reluctance to run, and his desire to leave politics.But continued its activities to raise funds for the construction of schools and health centers in rural areas of South Africa. He also published a number of books that recount his suffering and struggle, including: "My Long Journey for Freedom".In 2004, Mandela officially announced his retirement from public life and returned to live in his village of Kono.In 2007, Mandela held a meeting with a number of world leaders aimed at establishing a working group to address all crises and problems occurring in different countries.This group has been called the Council of the Wise, whose objectives have been to spread world peace, achieve gender equality, support initiatives to address humanitarian crises, and promote democracy.Mandela continued to fight AIDS, which was rampant in South Africa. His last public appearance was in the final of the 2010 World Cup.
The most famous words of Nelson Mandela
Good mind and good heart are always a great combination.
To deprive people of their rights is to challenge their own humanity.
It always seems impossible until it is done.
Money does not create success, but freedom does.
Good mind and good heart are always a great combination.
To deprive people of their rights is to challenge their own humanity.
It always seems impossible until it is done.
Money does not create success, but freedom does.
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Nelson Mandela's personal life
Nelson Mandela married three times. His first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mays (1944-1957), had four children.His second marriage was with Winnie Madikizila (1958-1996) and had two children. He married a third time from Graça Machel and stayed with her until his death.
The death of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela suffered from many diseases such as lung infection and was admitted to the hospital several times during the last three years of his life. On the fifth day of December 2013, he died at his home in Johannesburg, grieving around the world for the great loss of humanity in the death of this symbol, which has been and still is a source of inspiration for the various people involved in civil rights.
Quick facts about Nelson Mandela
- The first black president of South Africa.
- Degree holder in law.
- He was a skilled angel.