Short biography of Nelson Mandela and quotes

A short biography of Nelson Mandela, followed by his famous quotes, an introduction to his autobiography and the film made about his life.

Nelson Mandela short biography

Nelson Mandela jeune vers 1950
Nelson Mandela as a young man around 1950

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo, South Africa. He was the son of a tribal chief, a member of the royal family of Thembus.

Nelson Mandela’s real name was Rolihlahla, but a teacher, as was the custom and influenced by the English language, gave him the name of Nelson.

He spent his childhood in Qunu, but his father died in 1927. The regent of the Thembus adopted Nelson.

His education continued at Clarke bury College, then Healdtown High School, and finally at the University for the Black Population in Fort Hare.

In 1941, a dispute with his guardian caused him to leave his town and move to Johannesburg.

He became involved in politics, first participating in meetings held at Walter Sisulu’s house. With the friends he met there, he founded in 1944 the Youth League for the ANC (African National Congress) party.

The organization advocated peaceful opposition and the abolition of apartheid laws. Nelson Mandela became head of the Transvaal ANC in 1952 and opened the first black law firm in Johannesburg.

For having written part of a “Freedom Charter”, Nelson Mandela is arrested, but is acquitted.

After having four children with Evelyn Ntoko Mase, whom he married in 1944, Nelson Mandela entered into a second union in 1958 with Nomzamo Winnifred Madikizela, with whom he had two daughters.

The situation worsened in South Africa when in 1960, sixty-nine demonstrators of a dissident party of the ANC died after police repression. The ANC was banned.

Noting that the peaceful opposition was ineffective, Nelson Mandela set up Umkhonto weSizwe, or “the spear of the nation” in 1961, which fought with arms and carried out sabotage operations.

In exile to continue the fight, he travels throughout Africa and even reaches London. The press reported his exploits, but Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 and his comrades in 1963. He was then sentenced to life imprisonment.

While imprisoned, the group managed to continue their studies, while the protests against apartheid grew. Nelson Mandela is erected as an icon of the struggle, and his release is demanded by a large part of the population.

Despite attempts to negotiate his release, Mandela was not released from prison until 1990, when Botha was replaced by President Frederik de Klerk.

Upon his release, Nelson Mandela was elected president of the ANC in 1991. He received the Nobel Peace Prize with Frederik de Klerk in 1993 for his efforts to negotiate between whites and blacks and for his resistance to the threats he received.

His work was crowned with success in 1994, on April 27, when he participated for the first time in free elections in which both whites and blacks could run. He was elected President of the Republic a few days later, on May 9. His term of office was marked by the desire to restore a “rainbow nation”, i.e. a new South African society after the end of apartheid.
Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 at his home in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. His funeral took place ten days later, on December 15 in Qunu.

→ Biographies to discover

Nelson Mandela a écrit Un long chemin vers la liberté
Nelson Mandela has written an autobiography, this one is titled: A Long Road to Freedom

Nelson Mandela quotes

→ 50 quotes that made history in the 20thcentury

“By shining our light, we offer others the opportunity to do the same.”
Nelson Mandela quote, From Inaugural Address – May 10, 1994

“None of us, acting alone, can achieve success.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural Address – May 10, 1994

“I have learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“It is difficult to explain to someone who is narrow-minded that being ‘educated’ means not only being able to read and write and have a degree, but that an illiterate person can be a much more ‘educated’ voter than someone who has degrees.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“A man who deprives another man of his freedom is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and narrow-mindedness.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“I am not really free if I deprive someone else of his freedom. Both the oppressed and the oppressor are robbed of their humanity.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“Politics can be strengthened by music, but music has a power that defies politics.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“To make peace with an enemy, you must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes your partner.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

“To be free is not just to throw off your chains; it is to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Quote source: Nelson Mandela, A Long Way to Freedom, 1994

→ General Knowledge Quotes

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  • Margaret Thatcher Quotes

Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela wrote an autobiography, published in 1994: A Long Road to Freedom. It recounts his life from his childhood to his election as President of South Africa and his term in office.

Nelson Mandela: announcement of his death

In 2013 Nelson Mandela was hospitalized four times since December, each time for recurrences of lung infections.

These health problems could be related to tuberculosis contracted on the island prison of Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town, where he was detained eighteen years during his struggle against apartheid.

His health condition worsened in May and especially June. According to CBS, Nelson Mandela had to be “resuscitated” on his arrival at the hospital. His liver and kidneys were only functioning at 50% and he was “unresponsive” and “had not opened his eyes for days”.

Nelson Mandela turns 95 on July 18. He died on December 5 on a Thursday evening at his home in Johannesburg. His funeral took place on December 15 in Qunu.

Nelson Mandela: The Film

Based on his autobiography, a film about the life of Nelson Mandela will be released on December 18, 2013. British actor Idris Elba plays the role of the first black president of South Africa.

This short biography will have given you the essential elements to understand his long history.

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92 thoughts on “Short biography of Nelson Mandela and quotes

  1. do you know what? this man is a talented artist, he has carved peace and freedom on the wall of time, and the next generation must cultivate silence to learn the greatest lesson of life: humility, among leaders African Mandela remains a model of heroism not only for the South African people but he is for all of Africa and of the African, the father of freedom, his work will remain etched in the history of the world like a stain of oil on a white shirt. May God bless Africa and its people.

  2. for once a just and good man comes into the world to try to fix the world he had to die!! But whatever happens the soul of this great man forever and ever in this world Rest in peace

  3. Peace to his soul, very great man, he was and will remain a very great man

  4. Why did we lose Mandela it’s a heroic soul that just faded

  5. his body is no longer on this earth but his actions and struggles have made him immortal. may God in his infinite light welcome you and from where you are, guide and have a protective gaze on Africa.

  6. Nelson Mandela is a star. Even when it has died out, it continues to shine and light up the whole world. Mandela is medicine. Even when he is finished, he continues to heal people.

  7. yes I agree, we have lost a great man. He has done so much for South Africa, it even rubs off on the whole world. 🙁

  8. Father of South Africa. You Nelson Mandela we will always be very grateful to you. Rest in peace and may the earth be light to you

  9. Father of South Africa and of Africa as a whole, it is very true that you have withdrawn from this world filled with injustices and overwhelmed with criminals, your Spirit will always be there because you have been and remain a model for follow for all of Africa. While God in his mercy watches over you and fills you with his eternal light wherever you are. REST IN PEACE

  10. To tell you the truth, you INIMAGINABLE…………, rest in peace. because you have nothing more to prove.

  11. PAPA Nelson, you are a whole that the almighty God has given to the whole world to make you an example. you are an angel reincarnated in the human body. we will miss you forever. finally rest

  12. may god accept him and send us a replacement because africa is sending us.

  13. he has shown the settlers that he is not a coward. he is the man of the century.

  14. Africa has lost a great revolutionary man, capable of defending the interests of his continent. May his soul rest in peace: Amen.

  15. his the man who taught me everything I thank him from the heart, a great tribute to Nelson Mandela

  16. Nelson Mandela, I love you with all my heart. God grant that you are an example for African leaders, especially for all the sons and daughters of the whole world. Finally, God bless you.

  17. i am very happy with nelson may god give him peace as his family and may god reserve him a place in his paradise may god bless him in every corner

  18. he knew how to fight for his nation and on the part of africa he is a person who knew how to work for african humanity and for the abolition of apartheid which is a crime against humanity. so he will always remain engraved in our memories he is the root of our liberation because he knew how to guide the freedom of the black race

  19. every big baobab that has aged has a big hole in the middle and it is who holds the village because the day it falls it announces the death of the chief.

  20. I am currently in 1èreES class and I am starting to prepare SciencesPo Paris. I wanted to know which books you would recommend to me to acquire knowledge on economic theories to know for the competition. Indeed, I am thinking of taking the Advanced Economics or Political Science option and I would like to deepen myself now on this notion of economic theories. Thank you in advance

  21. Nelson Mandéla your name will always be engraved in our hearts, you are and will always remain for me the hero with a true pure heart. Rest in peace :’) ♥♥♥♥

  22. NELSON MANDELA WAS FOR ME A MODEL NAME ONLY FOR THOSE TO DO BUT ALSO FOR HIS CHARACTER

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