Nelson Mandela

**Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela** (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African politician and activist. On 27 April 1994, he became the first President of South Africa, elected in a fully represented democratic election. He was also the first black South African President.

Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa to a Thembu royal family.

His government focused on throwing out the legacy of apartheid by ending racism, poverty, inequality, and on improving racial understanding in South Africa. Politically a believer in socialism, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997 and adopted new Constitution of South African in 1996 that prohibits all discrimination, based on language, religion, handicap and sexual orientation, not only on racism. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

Mandela received more than 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"). Mandela was described as a hero, and his actions gave thousands of people homes.

Mandela was sick  for several years during his retirement. He was hospitalized in late summer of 2013 from a continuous lung infection. His parents were Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Nosekeni Nonqaphi . His given name was Rolihlahla, a Xhosa name meaning *pulling the branch of a tree* or informally, *troublemaker*. He was a member of the Thembu royal family. On his first day of school, he was given the name Nelson by his teacher Miss Mdingane. Giving children in Africa English names was a custom among Africans during that period. Mandela then lived with the local regent who sent him to school. He was the first member of his family to go to a school. He was expelled from Fort Hare University in 1941, because he led a group of students on political strike. After he was expelled, Nelson found a good job as a night watchman.

## Anti-apartheid activity 
In 1944, Mandela helped start the African National Congress Youth League. He was soon a high-ranked leader of the group.

A trial was later held and became known as the Rivonia Trial. Mandela was on trial because of his involvement in sabotage and violence in 1962. He was sentenced to life in prison,
 in July 1993]]
As South Africa's first black President, Mandela became head of the Government of National Unity which was under controlled by the African National Congress (or ANC). The ANC had no knowledge in politics, but had representatives from the National Party and Inkatha. In keeping with earlier promises, de Klerk became first Deputy President, while Thabo Mbeki was chosen second.

Although Mbeki had not been his first choice for president, Mandela soon trusted Mbeki throughout his presidency. This allowed Mbeki to organize policy details. Mandela moved into the presidential office at Tuynhuys in Cape Town. He would settle into the nearby Westbrooke Manor. Westbrooke was renamed *Genadendal*. Preserving his Houghton home, he also had a house built in his home village of Qunu. He visited Qunu regularly, walking around the area, meeting with local people who lived there, and judging tribal problems.

He faced many illness at age 76. Although having energy, he felt left out and lonely. He often entertained celebrities, such as Michael Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, and the Spice Girls. He became friends with a number of rich business people, like Harry Oppenheimer and British monarch Elizabeth II on her March 1995 state visit to South Africa. This resulted in strong judgment from ANC anti-capitalists. Despite his surroundings, Mandela lived simply, donating a third of his $552,000 wealth to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, which he had founded in 1995. In that same year, Mandela published his autobiography, *Long Walk to Freedom*.

Although in favor of freedom of the press, Mandela was important of much of the country's media because it was owned and run by many middle-class whites. Mandela became known for his use of Batik shirts, known as *Madiba shirts*, even on normal events. Mandela had never planned on serving a second term in office. Mandela gave his  speech on 29 March 1999, after which he retired. Mandela's term ended on 14 June 1999. Thabo Mbeki succeeded Mandela as President of South Africa.

## Nobel Prize 
 in July 1998
]]
He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership for his anti-apartheid activism in 1993. and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Though physically non-emotional with his children, he could be stern and demanding.

Mandela married Evelyn Ntoko Mase in October 1944. They had two children. Mandela remained married to Evelyn until they divorced in 1957. Evelyn died in 2004. He then married Winnie Madikizela in 1958. They had two daughters. The couple filed for separation in 1992. They divorced in 1996. Mandela married again  to Graça Machel, on his 80th birthday in 1998. She was the widow of Samora Machel. Machel was the former Mozambican president and ANC ally who was killed in an air crash 12 years earlier.

Though publicly criticizing him on several events, Mandela liked United States President Bill Clinton. Mandela personally supported him during his impeachment trial in 1998.

### Public retirement 
In June 2004, Mandela announced that he was retiring from public life. Mandela said "Don't call me, I will call you". Although continuing to meet with close friends and family, the Nelson Mandela Foundation denied invitations for him to appear at public events and most interview requests.

## Health 
 in London, England, April 2000
]]
On 27 March 2013, Mandela was hospitalized in Pretoria from a lung infection. It was reported on 28 March that he was responding well to treatment. Mandela was again hospitalized on 7 June from another lung infection, On 23 June, his condition was announced to be critical. On 26 June, it was announced that Mandela was put on life-support. On 4 July, Mandela's family announced that Mandela was under life-support and he was in a permanent persistent vegetative state. The next day, the South African government denied the fact that Mandela was in a vegetative state. Mandela was discharged from the hospital on 1 September 2013.

### 2013 death rumor 
Many South Africans thought that Mandela died overnight on 26 June after he was removed from his life support. The South African government said that Mandela is still alive despite the rumor that he died.
 delivers his speech at Mandela's state memorial service]]
On 6 December, Zuma announced a national mourning for ten days. He declared Sunday 8 December a national day of prayer: "We call upon all our people to gather in halls, churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and in their homes to pray and hold prayer services and meditation reflecting on the life of *Madiba* and his contribution to our country and the world." David Cameron, Barack Obama, Raul Castro, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey were there.

### Burial
On 28 June Mandela's family were arguing about where to bury Mandela. On 29 June the South African  government announced that a memorial service for Mandela will be held 10 to 14 days after his death at Soccer City. On 1 July it was announced that if Mandela were to die he might become the first non-British person to be honored at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth II honored Mandela with a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey in early 2014. This made Mandela the first non-British person to be honored at Westminster Abbey. Mandela was buried in the village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.]]In South Africa, Mandela is sometimes called by his Xhosa clan name of ***Madiba***.
Nelson Mandela was honored with the following:
* In 1990, Mandela received the Bharat Ratna Award in India. 
* In 1992 received Pakistan's Nishan-e-Pakistan.
* In 1992, he was awarded the Atatürk Peace Award by Turkey. He refused the award, because of human rights violations committed by Turkey at the time. He later accepted the award in 1999.
* In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk for their work during the civil rights revolution in South Africa.
* In 2007, Mandela was honored with a statue in Westminster Abbey, London, England.
* In 2009, the United Nations made 18 July Mandela Day.
* In 2012, the Praia International Airport in Cape Verde was renamed as the Nelson Mandela International Airport.
* In 2013, a statue of Mandela was unveiled in the South African embassy outside of Washington, D.C..
* The city of Johannesburg awarded him Freedom of the City.
* Sandton Square in Johannesburg was renamed Nelson Mandela Square in March 2004.
* The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was named in his honor.
* The Nelson Mandela Bridge, in Johannesburg was also named in his honor.
* Mandela was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President of the United States George W. Bush. 
* Mandela was awarded the Order of Canada.
* Mandela was the first living person made an honorary Canadian citizen.
* Mandela was the last recipient of the Soviet Union's Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.
* Mandela was honored with the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican government.
* A park in Leicester, England was named Nelson Mandela Park was named after Mandela. 
* Elizabeth II awarded him the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John.

## Movies
Mandela has been portrayed in movies and television. In the 1997 movie, *Mandela and de Klerk*, Sidney Poitier plays Mandela. Dennis Haysbert plays Mandela in *Goodbye Bafana* (2007). In the 2009 BBC television movie, *Mrs Mandela*, Nelson Mandela is played by David Harewood. In 2009, Morgan Freeman plays Mandela in *Invictus* (2009). Terrence Howard also plays Mandela in the 2011 movie *Winnie Mandela*. Mandela appeared as himself in the 1992 American movie *Malcolm X*. In *Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom* he was played by Idris Elba.

## Legacy
By the time of his death, Mandela had come to be widely considered "the father of the nation" within South Africa. He is also seen as "the national liberator, the savior, its Washington and Lincoln rolled into one". Throughout his life, Mandela had also faced criticism. Margaret Thatcher attracted international attention for describing the ANC as "a typical terrorist organization" in 1987. She later made favors to release Mandela from prison. Mandela's imprisonment was often seen as "a symbol of oppression".

## References 
## Other websites 
*Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
*Mandela: An Audio History
*The Elders
*CBC Digital Archives&nbsp;– Nelson Mandela: Prisoner, president, peacemaker
*Nelson Mandela Day – official site
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