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Nelson
Mandela Bio..
Nelson Mandela was born on the 18th of July,
1918 as Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Nelson Mandela's
father (Hendry Mphakanyiswa Gadla) was the chief
of a village next to the Mbashe River. When
Mandela was seven years old, he attended a school,
becoming the first member of his family to do
so.
Nelson attended Wesleyan College in Fort Beaufort,
then went on to study at Fort Hare University,
where he became friends with Oliver Tambo (went
on to become an anti-apartheid politician).
Mandela completed his degree via correspondence
at the University of South Africa.
During his studies at the University of Witwatersrand,
studying law, Nelson Mandela became involved
with politics. Mandela felt strongly about fighting
for the political, social and economic rights
of the black majority in South Africa. He joined
the African National Congress group in 1942
and then soon founded his own group called the
Youth League soon after. Mandela worked closely
with the African National Congress (ANC) party.
Mandela lead an armed group from the African
National Congress party, known as Umkhonto we
Sizwe from 1961. Nelson Mandela was arrested
in 1962 for encouraging workers to strike and
for leaving the country illegally. He was also
later found guilty for planning armed action
against the government and remained in prison
for 26 years. Whilst in prison he released a
statement to the ANC containing the following
words..
"Unite! Mobilize! Fight on! Between the
anvil of united mass action and the hammer of
the armed struggle we shall crush apartheid!"
Nelson Mandela was released from prison on the
11th of February, 1990. He then went on to become
president of the ANC party, then President of
South Africa, also becoming the first black
head of state. Mandela lead the country between
1994 and 1999.
Mandela continues to support worthy causes around
the world, including the fight against HIV/AIDS
in Africa and for human rights everywhere. He
has become a respected world leader and has
been bestowed with many awards and medals, including
"Honorary Companion of The Order of Canada",
"Order of St. John", "Presidential
Medal of Freedom", "Lenin Peace Prize",
"Order of Merit", and many more.
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Pop Monk - Profile of South African leader Nelson Mandela