Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( /m AE n d ɛ l ə / ; Xhosa:   ; 18 Julayi 1918   - 5 Disemba 2013) kwaba zaseNingizimu Afrika sobandlululo wamavukelambuso, umholi wezombangazwe, futhi UMuphi owakhonza njengesithunywa uMongameli waseNingizimu Afrika kusukela ngo-1994 kuya 1999. Wayengumuntu ikhanda lokuqala wezwe black zekhethelo ngowokuqala akhethwe ngendlela omele ngokugcwele ukhetho yeningi. Uhulumeni wakhe wagxila ekunciphiseni ifa lobandlululo ngokulwa nobandlululo oluyisikhungo futhi wagqugquzela ukulugiswa kwengxabanongokobuhlanga. Ideologically isizwe sase-Afrika kanye sezenhlalo, wakhonza njengephayona uMongameli we -African National Congress (ANC) party kusukela ngo-1991 kuya ku-1997. Abantu abangama-Xhosa, uMandela wazalelwa emndenini wasebukhosini abaThembu eMvezo, eBritish South Africa . Ufunde umthetho e- University of Fort Hare nase- University of Witwatersrand ngaphambi kokusebenza njengommeli eGoli . Lapho, wazibandakanya kwipolitiki elwa nobumboni kanye nobuzwe base-Afrika, wajoyina i-ANC ngonyaka we-1943 futhi wabumba iNhlangano Yentsha yayo ngo-1944. Ngemuva kokuthi uhulumeni we- National Party omhlophe kuphela asungule ubandlululo, okuwuhlelo lokubandlululwa ngokobuhlanga oluhlomulisa abelungu, yena ne-ANC bazibophezela ekubhukuleni. UMandela waqokwa njengoMongameli wegatsha le- Transvaal le-ANC, wenyuka waba yimbangi ngokubandakanyeka kwakhe eMkhankasweni Wokuhlubuka ngo-1952 kanye neCongress of People yango -1955.