Nelson Mandela: Insights into the Life of a Global Icon

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then part of South Africa's Cape Province. His father was a chief and his mother was the third of his father's four wives.

Mandela was the first in his family to attend school. He studied at the University of Fort Hare and later at the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law.

In 1943, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), a key organization in the fight against apartheid. He co-founded the ANC Youth League and became actively involved in the struggle against apartheid policies.

Mandela was involved in peaceful protests and later in armed resistance against the apartheid regime. In 1961, he became the leader of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.

In 1962, Mandela was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow the government. He spent 27 years in prison, mostly on Robben Island.

Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, after international and domestic pressure on the South African government to end apartheid.

In 1993, Mandela and then-South African President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle apartheid and establish a multi-racial democracy.

In 1994, Mandela became South Africa's first black president in the country's first fully representative democratic election. He served as president until 1999.

During his presidency, Mandela focused on reconciliation between the country's racial groups, established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses, and promoted economic and social reforms.

After retiring from politics, Mandela continued his work through the Nelson Mandela Foundation, focusing on issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness and rural development. He passed away on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95. His legacy endures as a symbol of the struggle for justice, equality, and human rights.