Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

Watch the video of his story here

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliːɬaɬa manˈdeːla]) (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary,politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. He had just spent 27 years in prison.

He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"); he is often described as "the father of the nation".
Mandela (...) received more than 250 honours internationally, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna.

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"No one in my family had ever attended school [...] On the first day of school my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why this particular name I have no idea."

— Mandela, 1994

 Listen to his most famous and remarkable speeches here

Famous quotes

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

 In my country we go to prison first and then become President.


 No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.

You know, you can only lead them from behind.

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