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Nelson Mandela

President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist (1918-2013) · South Africa · Politicians · Died at 95

Nelson Mandela is read about 9,840 times a day, in 234 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

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Twenty-seven years in prison for sabotage against apartheid, then four years later: South Africa's first Black president. The gap between those two facts is where the world's attention locks.

ActivistsPoliticianPoliticsStand UpLawScreenwritingActivismSouth Africa

A life in dates

2019Nelson Mandela Award for Health PromotionNamed after him, WHO Public Health Prizes and Awards2018Nelson MandelaNamed after himJuly 2018, statue in Cape Town, South Africa2017Dare Not LingerBook published after his death, book by Nelson Mandela and Mandla Langa2015World Rugby Hall of FameAward2014Nelson Mandela PrizeNamed after him7 June 20142013Died5 December 20132010Honorary Doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran CanariaAward2006Giuseppe Motta MedalAward2005Honorary Doctor of Paris 8 UniversityAward2004Honorary Doctor of the University of AntwerpAward2002Order of Mapungubwe in PlatinumAward2000Gandhi Peace PrizeAward1999Collar of the Order of Isabella the CatholicAwardOrder of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st classAward1998Secretary General of the Non-Aligned MovementOffice1998-19991997Royal Order of the SeraphimAward1996Order of the ElephantAward1995Grand Collar of the Order of Prince HenryAward1994President of South AfricaOffice1994-19991993Nobel Peace PrizeAward1992Princess of Asturias Award for International CooperationAward1975“I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”In their wordsNelson Mandela on friendship, From his unpublished autobiographical manuscript written in 1975. Source: From Nelson Mandela By Himself: The

1964“I must deal immediately and at some length with the question of violence. Some of the things so far told to the Court are true and some are untrue.”In their words20 April 1964Transcript in the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court (20 April 1964)

“I have already mentioned that I was one of the persons who helped to form Umkhonto. I, and the others who started the organization, did so for two reasons.”In their words20 April 1964Transcript in the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court (20 April 1964)

“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.”In their words20 April 1964Transcript in the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court (20 April 1964)

1962“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”In their wordsStatement on charges of inciting persons to strike illegally, and of leaving the country without a valid passport.

1961“Ethiopia has always held a special place in my own imagination and the prospect of visiting attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England and America combined.”In their wordsOn a 1961 conference held in Ethiopia, as quoted in Rivonia Unmasked (1965) by Strydom Lautz, p. 108; also in ‪Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Nelson

1918Born18 July 1918

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Mandela in Umtata, 1937Mandela in Umtata, 1937Mandela and Evelyn in July 1944 at Walter and Albertina Sisulu's wedding party in the Bantu Men's Social Centre[57]Mandela and Evelyn in July 1944 at Walter and Albertina Sisulu's wedding party in the Bantu Men's Social Centre[57]Mandela's former home in the Johannesburg township of SowetoMandela's former home in the Johannesburg township of SowetoThatched room at Liliesleaf Farm, where Mandela hidThatched room at Liliesleaf Farm, where Mandela hidLime quarry on Robben Island where Mandela and other prisoners were forced to carry out hard labourLime quarry on Robben Island where Mandela and other prisoners were forced to carry out hard labour

In their own words 10

,
Nelson Mandela
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.

    Feb 1, 1975, Nelson Mandela on challenges, Letter to Winnie Mandela (1 February 1975), written on Robben Island. Source: From Nelson Mandela By Himself:, Own words

  2. I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.

    1975, Nelson Mandela on friendship, From his unpublished autobiographical manuscript written in 1975. Source: From Nelson Mandela By Himself: The, Own words

  3. I must deal immediately and at some length with the question of violence. Some of the things so far told to the Court are true and some are untrue.

    Apr 20, 1964, Transcript in the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court (20 April 1964), Own words

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Awards

World Rugby Hall of Fame2015
Honorary Citizen of Paris2013
Freedom of the Royal Borough of Greenwich2012
Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle2010
Honorary Doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria2010
Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership2007
Ahimsa Award2006
Giuseppe Motta Medal2006
Ambassador of Conscience Award2006
Honorary Doctor at Karolinska Institutet2005
Honorary Doctor of Paris 8 University2005
Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John2004
Honorary Doctorate, The Open University2004
Honorary Doctor of the University of Antwerp2004
Four Freedoms Award - Freedom Medal2002
Order of the Lion, Bakili Muluzi2002
Order of Mapungubwe in Platinum, Thabo Mbeki2002
Gandhi Peace Prize2000
Honorary King's Counsel2000
Honorary doctor of Leiden University1999
Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic1999
Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau1999
Presidential Medal of Freedom, George W. Bush1999
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class1999
Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia1999
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav1998
Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada1998
Royal Order of the Seraphim1997
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1997
Order of the Nile1997
Order of the Elephant1996
Honorary Doctor of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne1996
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry1995
Order of Merit1995
Alan Paton Award1995
Gold Olympic Order1994
Nobel Peace Prize1993
J. William Fulbright Prize1993
Honorary Doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel1993
Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation1992

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Nelson Mandela

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About this person

Born into Thembu royalty in 1918, Mandela studied law and joined the African National Congress in 1943, co-founding its Youth League a year later. After the National Party imposed apartheid in 1948, he rose through the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People, arrested repeatedly for sedition. When non-violence failed, he co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 and led a sabotage campaign until the Rivonia Trial sent him to prison for life in 1964. Released in 1990 under international pressure, he negotiated apartheid's end with President F. W. de Klerk and won the 1994 election that made him president. His administration built the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, expanded healthcare, and pursued land reform, though he kept the liberal economic framework he inherited. He served one term, declined a second, and spent his final years fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS through his foundation until his death in 2013.

Country
South Africa
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1918 to 2013 · aged 95

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