As we celebrate International Nelson Mandela Day 2023 today i.e. 18th July, it is important to remember the legacy of the first black President of South Africa and his contribution to the country. To celebrate the day, we are sharing ten interesting facts about the life of Nelson Mandela and the impact he had on South Africa.
- Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mwezo, a small village in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chieftain of the Thembu people.
- He attended the University College of Fort Hare and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he studied law. He also became actively involved in anti-apartheid politics during his time at the university.
- Mandela became leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1950s and was instrumental in launching the campaign of defiance against apartheid. He was arrested several times, including for inciting a strike in 1961 and sedition in 1964.
- In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for subversion and conspiracy to overthrow the government. He served a prison sentence of 27 years and became an international symbol of freedom during his imprisonment.
- In 1990, he was released from prison following pressure from various international leaders and organizations such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Amnesty International.
- After his release from prison, Mandela negotiated a transition to multiracial democracy in South Africa. He was elected President of South Africa in 1994 and held the position till 1999.
- As president, Mandela worked hard to bring about racial reconciliation in South Africa. He created programs such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to promote forgiveness and healing among the various racial groups in South Africa.
- In 1993, Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring reconciliation and democracy to South Africa.
- Despite leaving office, Mandela remained active in public life and an advocate of human rights around the world. He also founded The Elders, an independent group of global leaders who use their collective experience and influence to address some of the world’s most difficult problems.
- In 2009, Mandela’s birthday (July 18) was declared International Nelson Mandela Day by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize his achievements and promote global peace and understanding.
- In 1992, Nelson Mandela had a cameo in the Spike Lee biopic Malcolm X. He played the role of a teacher in the film.
- Apart from politics, he was interested in boxing. In his biography, he said, “I didn’t like the violence of boxing. I was more interested in the science of it—how you move your body to protect yourself, how you use plans to attack and retreat, and how you propel yourself during a fight.”