Nelson Mandela : The Inspiring Biography of a Freedom Fighter and Peacemaker of 20th Century

Nelson Mandela was one of the most influential and inspiring leaders of the 20th century. He dedicated his life to fighting against racial oppression and injustice in South Africa and beyond. He endured hardship, imprisonment, and sacrifice for his ideals of freedom and equality. He emerged as a peacemaker and a statesman who led his country to democracy and reconciliation. He left behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and hope for humanity.

In this blog, we will explore the biography of Nelson Mandela, from his birth to his death, and learn about his remarkable achievements, challenges, and contributions to the world.

Historical and social context of South Africa

Before we delve into Nelson Mandela’s life story, it is important to understand the historical and social context of South Africa, where he was born and lived. South Africa was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century and later by the British in the 19th century. The white minority ruled over the black majority and other racial groups, such as the Coloureds (mixed-race) and the Indians. The white settlers exploited the land and resources of the native people, who were subjected to discrimination, dispossession, and violence.

In 1948, the National Party, which represented the Afrikaners (descendants of the Dutch settlers), came to power and implemented a system of racial segregation known as apartheid. Apartheid literally means “apartness” in Afrikaans. It divided the population into four racial groups: white, black, Coloured, and Indian. Each group had different rights, privileges, and restrictions. The whites enjoyed political and economic dominance, while the nonwhites were oppressed and marginalized. They had to live in separate areas, use separate facilities, carry identity documents (pass books), and obey harsh laws that restricted their movement, education, employment, voting, marriage, and citizenship.

The apartheid system sparked resistance from various groups and individuals who opposed its injustice and inequality. Some used peaceful methods such as protests, petitions, boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience. Others used violent methods such as sabotage, guerrilla warfare, bombings, and assassinations. The most prominent anti-apartheid organization was the African National Congress (ANC), which was founded in 1912 as a political party that advocated for the rights of black South Africans. The ANC later formed alliances with other groups that represented different races, classes, genders, religions, and ideologies.

Early life of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, a small village in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His full name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, but he was also known by his clan name Madiba. He belonged to the Xhosa-speaking Madiba clan of the Tembu group, one of the many ethnic groups in South Africa. His father Henry Mandela was the chief of the Tembu group and a counselor to the king of the Thembu people. His mother Nonqaphi Nosekeni was Henry’s third wife out of four.

Mandela grew up in a rural environment where he learned about his culture, traditions, values, and history from his elders. He also took part in the activities and initiation ceremonies of his local tribe. He attended a Methodist missionary school where he received a Western education and learned English. He was given the name Nelson by his teacher on his first day of school, following a common practice at that time.

Mandela’s father died when he was nine years old. He was then adopted by Jongintaba Dalindyebo, the regent of the Thembu people who was a friend of his father. He moved to Mqhekezweni, the royal residence of the Thembu king. There he received a privileged education and exposure to politics and leadership. He attended Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Wesleyan College where he excelled in academics and sports. He also developed an interest in African history and nationalism.

Mandela enrolled at the University of Fort Hare in 1939 to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree. There he met other future leaders such as Oliver Tambo and Robert Sobukwe. He also joined the Student Representative Council (SRC) where he participated in student politics. However, he was suspended from the university in 1940 for joining a protest against the quality of food. He then returned to Mqhekezweni where he faced pressure from Jongintaba to arrange a marriage for him. Mandela refused to accept this arrangement and ran away to Johannesburg with his cousin Justice.

Education and career of Nelson Mandela

In Johannesburg, Mandela worked as a mine security officer while looking for other opportunities. He met Walter Sisulu, a real estate agent and an ANC activist, who became his mentor and friend. Sisulu helped Mandela to find a job as a clerk at a law firm and to enroll at the University of the Witwatersrand to study law. Mandela faced racism and discrimination at the university, where he was one of the few black students. He also struggled with his studies and failed some courses.

In 1944, Mandela joined the ANC and became one of the founding members of its Youth League, along with Tambo, Sisulu, and others. The Youth League aimed to transform the ANC into a more radical and militant organization that could mobilize the masses against apartheid. Mandela rose to prominence in the ANC as a charismatic and eloquent leader who advocated for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. He also met and married Evelyn Ntoko Mase, a nurse and a cousin of Sisulu. They had four children: Thembekile, Makaziwe, Makgatho, and Makaziwe (the first Makaziwe died in infancy).

Mandela held various positions in the ANC, such as the secretary and later the president of the Transvaal branch, the national volunteer-in-chief, and the deputy national president. He played a key role in organizing and leading several campaigns against apartheid laws, such as the 1952 Defiance Campaign, the 1955 Congress of the People, and the 1956 Treason Trial. He also established South Africa’s first black law firm with Tambo in 1952, specializing in cases resulting from apartheid legislation.

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Resistance and imprisonment of Nelson Mandela

In 1956, Mandela was arrested along with 155 other activists and charged with treason for their involvement in the Freedom Charter, a document that outlined the vision and demands of the anti-apartheid movement. The trial lasted for four years and ended with the acquittal of all the accused. During this time, Mandela’s marriage with Evelyn deteriorated and they divorced in 1958. He then married Winnie Madikizela, a social worker who later became a prominent anti-apartheid activist herself.

In 1960, after the Sharpeville massacre, where police killed 69 protesters who were demonstrating against the pass laws, the ANC was banned by the government. Mandela went underground and formed a new military wing of the ANC called Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). He believed that armed struggle was necessary to overthrow apartheid, as peaceful methods had failed. He received guerrilla training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in 1962 to lead sabotage attacks against government targets.

He was arrested again in August 1962 and sentenced to five years in prison for inciting workers to strike and leaving the country without permission. In June 1964, he was brought to stand trial along with other ANC leaders in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. He was charged with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government by violent means. He gave a famous speech in court, saying:

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent 27 years in prison, mostly on Robben Island, where he was confined to a small cell without a bed or plumbing and forced to do hard labor in a lime quarry. He suffered from harsh conditions, isolation, censorship, and abuse by prison guards. He also contracted tuberculosis due to poor ventilation. Despite these difficulties, he maintained his dignity, vision, and leadership. He studied Afrikaans to communicate with his warders and fellow prisoners. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law by correspondence from the University of London. He also wrote letters to his wife Winnie and his children, who were also harassed and detained by the authorities.